“For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife” (Genesis 20:18).
TEXT — Genesis 20:1-18
Message
The late Southern Baptist evangelist, R.G. Lee, had a message he often preached entitled “Pay-day some-day”. The thrust of the message was that you might live a life of sin and appear to be getting away with it but judgment is sure to come, whether in this life or in eternity.
In our text, there is a new dimension to God’s judgment for erring sinners. Even when sin is committed ignorantly, there is a need to make amends immediately after one comes under conviction. Failure to repent attracts the judgment of God. Abimelech, king of Gerar took Sarah, Abraham’s wife when it was thought she was Abraham’s sister. However, in a dream, God demanded that she be returned to her husband.
Abimelech justified his actions based on the apparent lie Abraham and Sarah had told him; which now turned out to have been done out of his fear of losing his life over his beautiful wife. By this time, God had already sealed up the wombs of all the women in Abimelech’s household as part of the initial judgment for his actions. Abraham and Sarah were then summoned by Abimelech and the truth of their actions was revealed.
Abimelech reproved them and restored Sarah to Abraham with handsome compensation. On the surface, it appears Abimelech dealt with innocence, but God still found some grounds to condemn his actions. This was the second time Sarah was being taken and restored by a king. Generally, kings used their authority to deny the rights of the innocent.
Abimelech’s inquiries and investigation appeared not detailed enough in his desire for Sarah. We may justify our actions a thousand times, but God who knows the hearts of men knows whether we are guilty or not. In any case, when we come to realize our sins, it is required us to repent and make amends.
Thought for the day
There is no justification for sin; only justification by faith in Christ.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
1 comment
The Lord is our strength and our shepherd, God bless our family and other people family. Amen. Psalm 23 say the Lord is your strength i shall not want it make to lay down in sea passion. Hunger will not kill us in Jesus might name amen.
The Lord is our strength and our shepherd, God bless our family and other people family. Amen. Psalm 23 say the Lord is your strength i shall not want it make to lay down in sea passion. Hunger will not kill us in Jesus might name amen.