Abimelech Watching – How To Redeem Ourselves To The Lost sermon notes. Abimelech was Abraham’s neighbor. Neighbors are always observing us. They observe how we raise our children and pay our bills. They know about our marriage and observe us taking care of our homes and possessions. Do they like us living close to them? They should. If they do not like us close there is a problem with our witness.
ABRAHAM, THE FRIEND OF GOD
by Delbert Young
Abimelech Watching – How To Redeem Ourselves To The Lost
Abimelech Watching – How To Redeem Ourselves To The Lost
Scriptures: Genesis 21:22, Genesis 21:23-24, Genesis 21:25-32, Genesis 21:33-34, Genesis 12:7-8, Genesis 13:4, 18, Genesis 21:33, Galatians 5:22-23, Genesis 22:1, Genesis 22:2, Genesis 22:3, Genesis 22:4-7, Luke 9:23, Genesis 22:8-10, Genesis 22:11-12, Matthew 4:4, Genesis 22:13-14
The Grove
Genesis 21:22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
1. God is with thee in ALL that thou doest
It is interesting that Abimelech allowed Abraham to remain in Abimelech’s land after the scam Abraham and Sarah attempted to pull on Abimelech. In fact, it was Abimelech’s idea that Abraham remained (Gen 21:15). There was something about Abraham Abimelech desired to keep around.
The lost do not desire to make the commitments to God we have made. They are not willing to give up a Sunday, a Wednesday night, or days during a revival to go to church. They are not willing to give tithes. Yet, they like us around. The reason is when life gets rough, they need us. The first people they call on is us. They want our insight and mostly our prayers. Of course, they have watched our lives, and they know we are not perfect, but we are faithful. However, they know something is present in our lives. This is the real testimony.
Abimelech Watching
This land Abraham was in was actually referred to as the “Philistines’ land” in verse 34. It speaks of our dwelling around the lost and the lost enjoying us there. The lost enjoyed the presence of Jesus. It was the religious people they disliked. What witness do we make to our lost neighbors? Too often, the witness of those who call themselves righteous is not a good witness. Jesus said to go into Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Act 18). It begins with our neighbors, then our community. Abimelech was Abraham’s neighbor. The witness begins where we raise our families and pay our bills.
It is intriguing Abraham did not go knock on Abimelech’s door and give him a tract.
Abimelech saw something in Abraham. Do your neighbors see “God is with thee in all that thou doest”? Also, do they see a kingdom witness? Furthermore, do we pay our bills on time? Equally important, do we discipline our children? Do we raise our children in the training and instructions of the Lord? Another key point is, do we work regularly? For instance, do we keep a job for any length of time? Is our marriage a kingdom marriage? Do we allow our bodies to depreciate? With these thoughts, would Abimelech want you to be his neighbor?
Genesis 21:23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
Genesis 21:24 And Abraham said, I will swear.
Abimelech Watching
2. Covenant with a heathen
Abimelech desired a generational covenant with Abraham. Moreover, Abimelech wanted something not only between Abraham and Abimelech. Certainly, Abimelech wanted something lasting for generations–his “son’s son.” To this, Abraham agrees and does swear.
The actual request of Abimelech is colorful. Abimelech says tell me you will “not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son.” The Hebrew word for “falsely” is shaqar (Strong’s #8266) and means “to cheat, i.e. be untrue (usually in words).”
I find this somewhat amazing. Abimelech had been tricked badly and wanted to make sure it did not happen to his children. This shows the dimension they saw God with Abraham. The thought is even if Abraham deceived Abimelech, then God would bless him. We say God would not bless Abraham’s deceit. My comment is God blessed Abraham’s deceit to Pharaoh and also Abraham’s deceit to Abimelech. The scriptures prove this. How can this be? God is a righteous God. I don’t know the exact answer. I do know Abraham was blessed in his mess.
Allow me to ask a question.
When we make a mess, do we not expect the Lord God to bless us? Yes, we do. We pray and ask Him to deliver us and bless us. Does it usually happen? Yes, it does. When we are the friend of God, we can expect to be blessed in our mess.
Abimelech Watching
Genesis 21:25-32
25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
28 And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
30 And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
31 Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
32 Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
Abimelech Watching
3. the mechanics of the covenant with Abimelech
Abraham agrees to a covenant with Abimelech, but under one condition: The well Abraham had dug will remain his. There are blessings on both sides of any covenant. Abimelech will see to it the well remains with and to Abraham. Abraham agrees to “not deal falsely with” Abimelech, his son, or his son’s son.
We are cautioned about linking with a heathen (2Co 6:14). This is based on the assumption that we are more honest than the heathen. Isn’t it sad when the opposite is true? In the case of Abimelech and Abraham, we must wonder if this was the case.
Abimelech was the heathen, but it was Abraham questioned about honesty. We learn two important principles. First, the heathen can be moral and honest. Second, because a believer lied does not mean they are not a believer. Believers should never lie, but most have lied.
Genesis 21:33-34
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.
Genesis 21:33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. (NIV)
Abimelech Watching
4. a grove
Once again, we see this habit of Abraham. The Lord would visit Abraham, and then Abraham would visit the Lord. The Lord would appear to Abraham. Abraham would go calling on the Lord. This is key to understanding Abraham was indeed the friend of God (2Ch 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jam 2:23). As we have seen, the altar is not a place to go cry and moan or present a list of wants to the Lord. The altar is the place we visit the Lord. This is what Abraham did again and again.
Genesis 12:7-8
7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Genesis 13:4, 18
4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Genesis 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
Abimelech Watching
The grove speaks of the place of the altar. We all need or have a place where we especially enjoy spending time with the Lord. Perhaps it is a literal grove. Maybe a spot in the woods. Maybe kneeling at the bed before sleeping. Perhaps at the kitchen table early in the morning with a cup of coffee. No matter where our grove is, we need a place to spend time visiting with the Lord. We need a place where we can simply talk to the Lord. This is the way our friendship is developed with the Lord.
a. time is required
Obviously, Abraham dwelled for a lengthy time in Beersheba (the place of the oath). He planted a grove. Some translations say Abraham planted a tamarisk tree. Either would take years to grow and become productive. It requires years to grow and develop a friendship relationship. This is true in the natural and also true with the Lord.
b. fruit is required
Abraham worshiped in the midst of the grove. The grove produced fruit. Our lives are to produce fruit — the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23). It is in the midst of this grove and fruit of the spirit we truly call upon the name of the Lord and worship. In the midst of love, joy, and peace, we can worship Him. In the midst of longsuffering and gentleness and goodness and faith, we worship Him. When we exit from fruit of the Spirit grove, we exit from true worship.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Abimelech Watching
c. within our productivity, we worship the Lord
It was in the midst of what Abraham planted and cared for he sought the Lord. Isn’t this interesting? It is within or under the shade of our productivity we seek the Lord. When we are in our niche, we can worship. Have you ever noticed people who do not do anything in the kingdom cannot worship? When we are doing what we are supposed to be doing we automatically call upon the Lord. We are comfortable within our productivity.
Of course, we are in the shade. So, we are thankful and blessed within our productivity. It is in our productivity we are the most resourceful. It is at the grove, in the fruit of the Spirit, that we become strong in the Lord.
Where is our grove? Where do we seek and visit the Lord? We need a grove. As we are about to see, it is from the grove we obtain strength for a soon coming test. A test is about to come upon Abraham. The grove has provided the necessary strength. If we do not have a grove, we will most likely fail the test.
Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
We will cover this major Biblical event in our next lesson.
5. What can we learn from this lesson we can apply to our lives?
A. The neighbors are watching. They observe how we raise our children and pay our bills. They know about our marriage and observe us taking care of our homes and things. Do they like us living close to them? They should. If they do not like us close there is a problem with our witness.
B. Even in a mess, the heathen should see our lives blessed. Even in a mess we created, we should expect to be blessed by God.
C. We need a grove. The grove is where we build our altar, where we visit with the Lord, and where we develop our relationship with the Lord.
Abimelech Watching – How To Redeem Ourselves To The Lost
Abimelech Watching – How To Redeem Ourselves To The Lost
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