Fear God and Speak Truth

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

FEAR GOD AND SPEAK TRUTH

Gen 20:8-18

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

Page two, the rest of the story. Even a place where there is no fear of God, and a king that does not either fear or have knowledge of the God Abraham knows as the one true God can do what is right. Of course, Abimelech did have this conversation with God in the night and we think that God put the fear of himself in Abimelech telling that he is as good as a dead man. Even if Abraham was right about the place being Godless, or there is no fear of God in that place, at least the king now knows and has the fear of God. This could be true in that we cannot put that fear of God in someone, no matter how we witness to them, but then it has become more popular to share the love of God with others, rather than the fear of God. We should also take notice the Hebrew translated as fear, has a direct meaning of moral, reverence. It would be right to teach the reverence of God. However, keeping to the point that God certainly used a man that did not fear him, to both teach and bless Abraham. Then we are not sure that Abraham got the lesson as he gave this lame excuse that Sarah is truly his sister, in reality, half-sister, if both of them had the same father but not the same mother. Nevertheless, Abraham tried to excuse his behavior in this matter, instead of confessing up and telling Abimelech that he was wrong to do such a thing and ask for his forgiveness. Still, the king did not want anything on his conscience now knowing this God who came to him in his dream. Therefore, he blessed Abraham giving him sheep, cattle, men, and maidservants, and the freedom to roam all the land of his kingdom. He also told Sarah that in addition, a thousand shekels of Silver would vindicate the offense against her, which would have been by Abraham. Now Abraham prays for him, after all, he received from the king's hand, and might have learned a valuable lesson about, first, trusting God, and second, speaking the truth. Is this not how we live, trusting God and speaking the truth? Or do we try to protect ourselves by putting up our façade so people cannot know the real us, but only what we let them see? Do we speak the truth, or cover up our misdeeds, again guarding our own weaknesses by our feeble human efforts? Should we not live rightly before God and men, trusting God to make things right, making our path smooth before us, so we can be truthful with one another about ourselves. Is this not what God desires? Should we not live in reverence to God, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It comes down to fearing God and speaking the truth.