May the mumbling commence!
Abraham was called on the carpet by
a people that he assumed knew nothing or cared nothing about the Lord. Now it’s time for Abraham’s response. Read from Peterson’s The Message:
Abraham said, “I
just assumed that there was no fear of God
in this place and that they’d kill me to get
my wife.
Besides, the
truth is that she is my half sister; she’s my
father’s daughter but not my mother’s.
When God sent
me out
as a wanderer from my father’s house, I told her,
‘Do me a favor; wherever
we go, tell people that I’m your brother.’”
Then
Abimelech gave Sarah
back to Abraham, and along with
her sent sheep and cattle and servants, both male and female. He said, “My land is open to
you; live wherever you wish.”
And to
Sarah he said, “I’ve given your brother a thousand pieces of silver – that clears you of even a shadow of suspicion before the eyes
of the world. You’re vindicated.”
Then
Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his maidservants, and they
started having babies again. For God had shut down every womb in
Abimelech’s household on account of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. (Genesis
20:11-18)
Now read the same passage from the
NIV translation:
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.' Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my
mother; and
she became my wife. 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." '"
Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and
female slaves and gave
them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.
And Abimelech said, "My
land is before you; live wherever you like."
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."
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his
wife and his slave girls so they could have
children again, for the Lord had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife
Sarah. (Genesis 20:11-18)
Isn’t that just like us? When we fall from grace and sin, we try to
give excuses. Abraham’s excuse number
one: I thought… I assumed (We all know what that makes me!) that there was no
fear of God here. But there was evidence
of that very fear when the people of Gerar found out what had happened with
Sarah and Abraham.
Abraham’s excuse number two: We
were telling part of the truth. We are
half siblings. Partial truth is still a
lie.
And it bothers me that Peterson
omits the admission of Abraham that Sarah is indeed his wife. I have no problem with the other changes… but
that one is wrong – plain and simple.
Compare Abraham’s actions with
Abimelech’s actions. Abraham comes up
woefully short. Abraham assumed the
godless nature of the people of Gerar. Abraham
did not trust God to protect him. So he
lied. And he lied to his advantage.
God protected Abimelech. And Abimelech went above and beyond the call
of duty. Not only did he return Sarah to
Abraham but he also gave him sheep and cattle and slaves. And that’s not all: Abimelech gave Abraham a
thousand pieces of silver to vindicate Sarah’s reputation. And Abimelech opened all his land for Abraham
and Sarah to live in. He did NOT send
them away as in the former story.
Even so, Abraham prayed for
Abimelech. Abraham was called back into
relationship with the Lord. Do what God
has called you to do: be a blessing to the world… the whole world will be
blessed through you.
Though we fall, we must get back up
and take on the role that God has given us.
Be light for the world. Be salt
for the earth.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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