Restoration

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

RESTORATION

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

There is restoration through the truth spoken between these two men, Abimelech and Abraham. What could have brought about a great conflict ended well for both of them. Again, we cannot judge Abraham's exact motive for deceiving Abimelech by saying Sarah was his sister rather than his wife, but it seems he did so for self-protection. When we hide the truth or hide from it, we try to protect ourselves from some form of pain, either emotional or physical. Abraham feared he would be killed because the king of the land would want Sarah for his wife. That may have been acceptable of a husband in those days, although that proved wrong; husbands today are required to love their wives, to treat them with love and grace, to protect them, rather than self-protection. Abimelech wanted to make things right, but then we wonder if his motive was self-interest. God had visited Abimelech in a dream and given him the choice of death or life. Who, in their right mind, would choose death? Of course, he was motivated to make things right. When he summoned Abraham, who had wronged him, he gave Abraham sheep, cattle, and male and female slaves. We might have thought Abraham should have given Abimelech something for the trouble he caused. However, this was all about the work of the LORD. We do not know how long Sarah was in the household of Abimelech, but it must have been long enough so that he knew all the women in his household- his wife and all the slave women- could not have children. It would have been very obvious they were all now barren because of Abraham and Sarah. Restoration was the way to healing for Abimelech. The shift from deception to praying for Abimelech healed Abraham as well. It is always good to clear the air, speak the truth, and find a path to communion and fellowship with one another. Whenever there is any kind of conflict, which should not exist among believers, but unfortunately, being human, it does happen, we need to find a path of restoration. If we are in fellowship with the Lord, he will show us the way. Restoration will never happen when we refuse to listen to Him, want our own way, insist the other person was wrong, and expect them to repent and seek our forgiveness. Abimelech was wronged, and because he heard from the LORD, he initiated the restoration. Let us always be in alignment with the way of the Lord, and always be the one who desires and initiates restoration.