The Alliance

DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE ALLIANCE

Gen 20

20:1 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman." 4 Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, "Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." 6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die." 8 Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, "What have you done to us? How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done." 10 And Abimelech asked Abraham, "What was your reason for doing this?" 11 Abraham replied, "I said to myself, 'There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' 12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife. 13 And when God had me wander from my father's household, I said to her, 'This is how you can show your love to me: Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother." '"  14 Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, "My land is before you; live wherever you like." 16 To Sarah he said, "I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated." 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, 18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.

NIV

Although this is the entire chapter 20 of Genesis, we find it impossible to break this up into smaller segments as the point takes the whole of the chapter and is singular in nature. We remember the same type of deception by Abraham and Sarah back when they entered Egypt and their dealings with Pharaoh. This account seems to mimic that one with the exception that this king did heard from the Lord and did not touch Sarah. It seems unlikely that she would have been the raving beauty of years ago when they encountered Pharaoh. In fact, she is now pregnant with Isaac. First we should consider the reason Abraham pulled up camp and took off toward this region.  He lived within view of the plains of what was Sodom and Gomorrah where there now is but smoldering ashes. Although he petitioned God for the sake of Lot, and the lord saved Lot on account of Abraham, we are not told that the Lord informed Abraham of Lot’s safety. Hence it could be that he no longer could look at what he may have thought was the end of his nephew. He needed a new view. So off he goes and enters this new kingdom of Abimelech. Having stated, with Sarah’s confirmation, that she was his sister, the king takes Sarah as his concubine, or second wife.  This was certainly an acceptable practice in those days, yet why would he take an old pregnant women? We should also note that he heard and listened to the Lord. This would mean that Abimelech was a righteous God fearing man. He knew the Lord God Most High and apparently had some relationship with him. But we are back to this question and the point we see in this chapter. Why would he take Sarah, an older woman who is pregnant? Abraham has a reputation of being a very wealthy, powerful man. We remember his defeat of four kings, with his trained men. Surely this defeat has reached the ears of many other kings and if a king had any wisdom at all, he would make every effort to forge an alliance with this man Abraham. It would be smart not to be on the wrong side of Abraham and become his servant. So Abraham is treated well where he travels and the king accepts this token of alliance willingly. This is the point of our lesson. There are always going to be people who have great wealth and power in our society. How we treat them has a great bearing on our faith in God. Do we attempt to forge an alliance with the rich and powerful in an effort to advance our cause, as Abimelech did? We know the Lord has given a teaching on that very truth.

James 2:1-4

2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

NIV

Surely nations form alliances, and for the most reasons of the weaker nations seeking the protection of the stronger, or for the reason of securing special trade agreements which benefit one more than the other.  But this is not the way of personal relationships in the family of faith. We should treat all people, no matter their wealth or power of influence the same. If we attempt to form some type of alliance with a person who has much of both for the purpose of our own gain, we have lost the reason for our lives. We are to bring honor and glory to our Lord and thus we have the greatest gift any man could ever have and we need to be giving it freely to all peoples. In the end of this chapter we see that after Abimelech has this discussion with God regarding the true identity of Sarah, he returns her to Abraham. He also gives Abraham sheep and cattle and slaves even adding more to the wealth of Abraham. But in return Abraham does pray for him and his household. There was still this alliance in that he not only gave him more wealth but told him his land was before him, live wherever you desire, my land is you land. It appears, although he was doing right by the Lord, in not touching Sarah and returning her to Abraham, he was also wanting to always be in the good graces of Abraham. It is not that we should try not to be in the good graces of certain people, but that we should not make an effort to be especially in the good graces of those who have more than us in hopes of some gain. It would seem that some churches might be guilty of this type of alliance making. Seeking the favor of the wealthiest in hopes of gain. We cannot fall prey to that type of trap.  Every person, no matter their wealth or position in life has no greater need then to know Jesus. We should not pick and choose only those who might bring us some form of gain to forge an alliance. We need to be in alliance with all men, so we can bring them to Christ. We should not think more of ourselves then we should nor we should think less of ourselves then we should. We have the greatest gain for another who does not know Jesus. Plus within the body of Christ we should treat all the same, with love and respect as brothers and sisters in the Lord. Each member of the body of Christ is gifted by God to serve the other members. In the body of Christ we are all co-heirs with Jesus. There is not one more righteous then another. There is none more worthy than another. There is no favoritism with God, and thus there should be none with us. We need to forge an alliance with all peoples in order they are blessed by God.