"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Today's Blog Title: "A Covenant with Abimelech"
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 21:22-34
Today's Key Verse: "And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do."
This is the third part of Chapter 21. In part one, we saw the birth of Isaac, Abraham's son. In part two, we looked at the forced Departure of Hagar and Ishmael, from the household of Abraham and today in part three, we will look at Abraham's Covenant with Abimlech.
In verse 22 we see the return of Abimlech. You recall that in Chapter 20, was our first look at the Philistine king. In that first meeting, Abraham had told the king that Sarah was his sister and The king took her to his palace, to be part of his harem. The Lord came in a dream to the king and told him not to touch Sarah, for she was Abraham's wife. We read that the Lord had shut the wombs of all that were in Abimlech's household, until Sarah was returned back to Abraham.
It would appear that from verse 22, that Abraham and Sarah were still living in the region of Gerar. The king came to see Abraham, and this time he also has Phichol, his army commander with him. It is with the words "God is with you" that Abimlech, and Phichol introduce their desire to form a treaty with Abraham. Even though Abimlech was a pagan king, he knew that the true and Living God, was with Abraham in all that he did. Wow!!!! What a testimony of God's power.
Abimlech then tells Abraham to, "swear to him by God" that Abraham would not deal with him falsely, or his offspring or his posterity. He knew that this oath was a binding one, and that "God" would be witness to the act and a witness against anyone who might break it. He reminds Abraham of the kindness that he had shown him, and here the word "kindness" basically would describe covenant loyalty.
After Abraham swears to the agreement, Abraham now brings up the dispute between the two, concerning a well. For shepard's, and those that attended to goats, water rights and wells were a big deal. Abimlech tells Abraham that he was unaware of the problem, but he would settle the issue promptly. In verse 27, we now read about the first use of the word covenant, for a parity treaty. This was a treaty, that was a binding agreement between two equals, like a business contract would be today.
In verse 28, we now see where Abraham made the occasion all the more binding, by his presentation of seven ewe lamps to the king. Beersheba, would be the well they swore an oath to, and the well of the seven ewes.
In the closing verses of Chapter 21 we see that Abraham plants a tamarisk tree, in the hope that it would mark the spot of this treaty. As always, we now read that Abraham called on the name of the Lord. Abraham did more than pray to the Lord, he made a public notice in the Lord's name, telling everyone about the "Everlasting Lord".
Closing Question and Comment: Have you made a binding Covenant to the Lord? Today we saw how a pagan king told Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do." Abimlech realized that the True, and Living Almighty God was with Abraham, so that it would seem that Abimlech feared Abraham, because of the Lord watching over him and wanted Abraham to swear a treaty with him.
Because of the shed blood of His Son Jesus Christ, we have a binding Covenant through Jesus to the Almighty God as believers, and God is faithful to meet the needs of those who are his.
I have a maker, He formed my heart
Even before time began, my life was in His hands
He knows my name, He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls, and hear me when I call
I have a Father, He calls me His own,
He'll never leave me, no matter where I go
Heavenly Father, How we thank you, for Your Son Jesus Christ, and because of His shed blood we have a binding Covenant with You, and we know that we are called Your own, and that no matter where we go, you are always there with us.
Amen
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day and May You Go In Peace As You Serve the Lord and Love God More Today.
Yours In Christ
Cindi
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