Genesis 20:17 –
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants, so they could have children.
Some background … for whatever reason, Abraham introduced Sarah as his sister and not his wife again (she was actually his sister and his wife). The king Abimelech took her and before he committed adultery he had a vision that told him what was up and what would happen if anything more happened. Unlike most, he GOT the message, returned Sarah, gave Abraham some gifts and sent them on their way.
After all this Abraham prayed for him, his peps and his lands. How many of us would have this happen and then pray for the other person?? Think about it, how many people wrong you and the first response is to pray for their success? I know that is usually the last I think about! It’s more pray that they receive justice and wrath from God.
We see two examples in this story to note. The first is Abraham’s lack of faith, God said he would make a great nation, why not have faith God would protect him and therefore not have to lie about Sarah?? Second, Abraham showed grace when he prayed for someone who wronged him…
From this story we learn two things … one is faith about our “fate” is very important. Hmmm … George Michaels** comes to mind again;-) The second thing is grace, we need to not worry about what was done to us, but to forgive and forget. Pray for that person and let God deal with it!! Believe it or not, health is a key here, God knows how resentment eats us from the inside out, so God has more reasons for not wanting us to do this!!
dad
Proverbs 30:9 – “For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.”
** Unfortunately Eli Stone is having it’s season finale this week, but it’s a cool show, Thursdays at 10 ABC … the show is about a lawyer who has visions which directly relate to cases he is taking or finds … he started the show with visions of George Michaels singing “You gotta have Faith” … it’s become my “have to watch” or record;-)