“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him”(Proverbs 16:7)
Genesis 21:22-34 Lesson 69: Abraham Covenants With Abimelech
Our study brings us to one of Abraham’s finest hours. By so many acts of uncommon faith, prompt obedience, and rugged commitment, Abraham endeared himself to God. He was one of the shining stars of the patriarchal age.
He was called “the friend of God.” The result of that special friendship was so attractive and desirable that even men of no mean repute sought him out to curry his favor and court his friendship. First, it was Abimelech, king of Gerar – a Philistine, later it was Ephron the Hittite and the children of Heth (Genesis 23:5-15).
They were all too eager to cultivate the friendship of Abraham, the friend of God. A secret is here unraveled to all who crave the honor and favor of mere men and would win it at all costs. There is “the honor that cometh from God only;” won by faith and obedience. Once a man wins that, both friends and foes shall eventually come to give him honor and curry his favor.
Lesson 69: Abraham Covenants With Abimelech
Abraham was the progenitor of the Jewish race; in him first, we find the fulfillment of that scripture in Proverbs chapter 16 verse 7: “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
In Abraham, this witness was true as well as in his posterity. The prophet Zechariah prophesied of a coming day, during the millennial reign of Christ, when “ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, we will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23).
Every Jew then alive would have followed in the beautiful footsteps of Father Abraham. Today’s text introduces us to two great men – Abraham and Abimelech. In the latter we observe wisdom; in the former, we see wealth and, in the midst of it, the worship of Jehovah.
Triumph Of Faith And Godliness (Genesis 21:22-24; 39:2-4; Joshua 2:8-11; Daniel 3:28, 29 Deuteronomy 32:31; Isaiah 49:14; 61:9)
More than twenty-five years had passed since Abraham began his walk with God. He had lived a life of faith and godliness right before the eyes of his heathen neighbors. They had probably watched with not a little amusement and incredulity as this strange old man carried out his motions of worship to a God unknown to them.
To the idol-worshipping Philistines, everything about Abraham and his beautiful wife was eccentric, not the least of their names. They were called “father of nations” and “mother of princes” when as yet they had no child at such an old age. They spoke of and prayed to an invisible God and they seemed confident of their relationship with Him.
Abraham’s heathen neighbors did not have a long time to wait, however, before coming to a powerful conclusion that Abraham’s God was real! Abimelech encountered God in a heart-shaking dream (Genesis 20:1-8), he watched Abraham pray to God with an instant answer of healing for his family (Genesis 20:17). When that same God visited Sarah, gave Abraham a child at the age of 100 and made him rich and prosperous, Abimelech realized he needed to join with such a man.
The Testimony From An Adversary
“And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Philcol the chief captain of his host spake into Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest” (Genesis 21:22).
Coming from a potential adversary, these words were a testimony to the triumph of Abraham’s faith and godliness. Who says that faith does not work? And who says that godliness is not profitable? By the sheer force of Abraham’s faith and godly lifestyle, Abimelech and his countrymen moved from heathenish cynicism to bewilderment and then to active faith in God.
Joseph, Joshua, and the three Hebrew children recorded the same prodigy in Egypt, Jericho, and Babylon respectively. Potiphar, Joseph’s master, could not but see that “the LORD was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Genesis 39:3).
Likewise, Rahab acknowledged to Joshua’s spies, “I know that the LORD hath given you the land…for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:8-11). Even the arrogant Nebuchadnezzar had to eventually ascribe blessedness to “the Lord God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered the servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word….” (Daniel 3:28,29)
When is the church’s finest hour? It is when believers live their lives in total faith and transparent holiness before God and unbelieving men. It is when those unbelievers see the reward of holy living and are compelled to confess as Abimeliech did to Abraham, “God is with thee in all that thou doest”.
Evidence that the Philistines courted Abraham’s friendship against their volition lies in the fact that no sooner had he died than they closed up the wells he dug in Beersheba (Genesis 26:17,18). But, again, history repeated itself about a hundred years later when they had to go again cap in hand begging Isaac’s friendship (Genesis 26:23-31).
We must however not lose sight of Azariah’s prophecy here: “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him” (2 Chronicles 15:2). This reminds us that what Abraham, Joseph, Joshua and the three Hebrew boys had was a conditional blessing.
Wisdom Of Abimelech
Abimelech was a very wise man. He knew that if God was with a man you could not stand in opposition to him and prosper. His testimony to God’s presence with Abraham was immediately followed by a request:
“Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me…”(Genesis 21:23).
Jesus did observe that “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” How true! There is a consistent pattern here. Abimelech went out of himself to secure Abraham’s friendship. Potiphar abandoned his vast estate in Joseph’s hand.
The ungodly Rahab secured the friendship of Israel even though she had to deal treacherously and utter falsehood to her nation in the process. King Nebuchadnezzar issued a decree compelling all Babylonians to acknowledge the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. All these were unbelievers but they joined affinity with the people of God. They were wise. Many “believers” in these last days are not so wise. They avoid preachers of holiness.
Transactions Befetting Friends Of God (Genesis 21:23-32; Luke 6:31; Leviticus 19:16- 18; Matthew 18:15)
Two salient lessons stand out in the words of Abimelech to Abraham. Both lessons relate to the standard of human relationships required of all children of God. First was his direct reference to The Golden Rule: “According to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me” (Genesis 21:23)
The Lord Jesus has commanded us the rendering of justice, mercy, and love to all men and it holds in every sphere of human relationship. He said, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31) Secondly, what Abimelech requested from Abraham was a non-aggression pact.
The covenant was to be confirmed by an oath as was customary in those days: “For men verily swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife”(Hebrews 6:16). The reason men employ swearing is to invoke the name of a person or thing greater than themselves. For that same reason, Christ taught his disciples of all ages against swearing.
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne. Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea. Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil”(Matthew 5:34-37).
The significance of our Lord’s teaching is that the veracity of any true believer’s claims should rest, not on the strength of an oath but, on the platform of Christian character and integrity, the circumstances notwithstanding.
Christians And Conflict Resolution
Just before ratifying their covenant, Abraham pointed out an injury he had suffered from Abimelech’s servants. He had been violently cheated and he discussed his grievance with forthrightness and sincerity of heart: “Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.”
He could have harbored deep resentment and bitterness in his heart and pretended to enter into a covenant that he had no intention of honoring. That would have been the sins of hypocrisy, malice, and hatred all at once. Rather, he chose to speak out to the person concerned. His tender heart could not harbor any grudge against anyone.
We err from the express command of God if we hold anything against anyone if we broadcast to others his fault against us if we smile at the brethren but seek revenge for perceived or real offenses. In the Old Testament, the command was as clear as it is in the New Testament dispensation (Matthew 18:15). God told Israel through Moses:
“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people… Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people….(Leviticus 19:16-18)
By this standard of God’s word many claim to be in the kingdom today whose feet will never step on the threshold of heaven, much less enter there unless, of course, they repent from the malice and bitterness they nurse in the heart. Whereas Abraham would not dare to enter a mere human covenant with a grudge-filled heart, many church people today approach the Lord’s table at the Lord’s Supper with malice and enmity in their hearts. O what danger!
It was only after all hindrances were cleared and differences were resolved that the two friends freely entered into a covenant together. This is as it should be between saints. There should be sincerity, openness, humility, apologies, restitution, love, gracious acceptance, and mutual respect in our daily interactions with saints and sinners.
Test Of Faithfulness Amidst Greatness (Genesis 21:33; Deuteronomy 8:11-18)
“And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God” (Genesis 21:33)
Abraham was one friend of God who knew how to handle greatness. Many today don’t. Amid the peace and prosperity that surrounded him, Abraham remembered to “call there on the name of the LORD.” Earthly and material abundance could be a test of our faithfulness to God.
Conclusion
It is very easy to forget the Lord “when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein, and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold are multiplied.
Then thine heart be lifted, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:14-17).
The Lord’s command to us all in the light of the present material abundance that is evident in our country is: forget not.
Question 1: How did Abraham earn that special title ‘Friend of God’? How can we today?
Question 2: Describe how Abraham’s lifestyle influenced his heathen neighbors. How does that apply to believers today?
Question 3: In what way(s) did Abimelech manifest wisdom in our text? Mention others in the Bible who demonstrated wisdom.
Question 4: Explain two salient New Testament issues that arise from Abimelech’s covenant with Abraham.
