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Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 112

"But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me." Psalm 26:11

Text: Genesis 20:1-18

PLEADING INTEGRITY OF HEART

Abimelech must have been stunned when he realized who had spoken to him! To the believer, hearing the voice of God is a prized experience. To the unbeliever, hearing the voice of God brings dread and terror. The Lord warned Abimelech that he faced the penalty of death because he had abducted Sarah and brought her into his harem.

“But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said,
‘Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me,
‘She is my sister’? And she, even she herself said,
‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence
of my hands I have done this.'”

GENESIS 20:4-5

1. Claim of being “a righteous nation”

The word “righteous” is used in a relative rather than an absolute sense. No one, certainly no nation, can claim to be righteous before a Pure and Holy God.

The fact that Abimelech resorted to abducting women to be added to his harem would indicate that he was anything but righteous. A nation that tolerated such behaviour from its ruler cannot be called “a righteous nation” in the absolute sense of the word. Gerar may be called a righteous nation if it was compared to Sodom and Gomorrah.

2. Claim of “Integrity and Innocence”

Again, we have to understand Abimelech’s words in a relative sense. He did not deny that he had indeed abducted Sarah. However, he felt that he was justified in doing so, because both Abraham and Sarah had claimed the kinship of brother and sister! His argument was that if he had known that Sarah was Abraham’s wife, then he would not have taken her into his harem!


WONDERFUL GRACE EXTENDED

How would God respond to Abimelech’s plea? How gracious the Lord was to the ruler of Gerar may be seen in the following text.

“And God said to him in a dream, ‘Yes, I know that you did this
in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning
against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore,
restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray
for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know
that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”

GENESIS 20:6-7

If God had not been gracious to Abimelech, he and all his household would have perished! God accepted his plea that he acted in accordance to the integrity of his heart. Unbeknownst to Abimelech, God was there when he added Sarah to his harem. In usual circumstances, new additions would receive amorous attention but not in Sarah’s case. God was the one who prevented Abimelech from sinning against him.