Gênesis 20
Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gênesis 20
Utley - The metaphor in Gen. 20:5, "innocence of my hands"), refers to a Hebrew idiom of open-handedness, i.e., "nothing to hide." It is parallel with "in the integrity of my heart" (cf. 1 Kgs. 9:4; Ps. 7:8; 101:2). In Gen. 20:6 God said that He kept him from sinning (cf. 1 Sam. 25:39; Job 33:18; also note Ps. 19:13). Krell has an interesting point - Some have suggested that Sarah was not responsible for this sin since she was being submissive to Abraham. However, submission has its limits—we must always obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). In the biblical chain-of-command, God’s revealed will is supreme, and it overrules all other levels of authority if they are in direct conflict with God’s Word. So Sarah is guilty of disobeying God.15 When we obey our spouse or employer in violation of God’s Word, we are guilty of disobedience. Rod Mattoon - What is integrity? We hear this word used a lot and are told we should have it, but what is it? Webster defines it as soundness; adherence to a code of values; utter sincerity, honesty and candor. Integrity makes a man upright even when others are downright wrong. Integrity makes a man honest when others want him to be deceitful because he has a stubborn, steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. Integrity compels a man to tell the truth, to be trustworthy and faithful even though others may lie, be undependable or unpredictable. A man or woman who has integrity has grit, guts, and steel for a backbone. People of integrity are not afraid to stand up for what is right, even when right may cause sorrow or sacrifice in their life. They are people of convictions. Integrity is to guide the life of the believer (Proverbs 11:3). Joseph’s integrity guided his life when he was tempted and taunted by his brothers, sold into slavery, entrusted with the affairs of Potiphar’s house, and tempted by Potiphar’s wife. The person with integrity fulfills obligations whether they are required of him or not or when no one is around watching them. No matter how much time has elapsed, the person with integrity fulfills his word or promises. Integrity is far more valuable than wealth and riches (Proverbs 19:1; 16:7, 8; 22:1). It’s ironic that people will cheat or be dishonest because they feel they will not get what eventually will not satisfy them. Our integrity is tested every day and there is no better test for our integrity than our behavior when we have made a mistake or been wrong. Will we make the matter right or rationalize our wrong? THOUGHT - The question I pose to you is, “Do you have integrity?” If not, why not? Christianity today is suffering an integrity crisis in the pulpit and the pew. The testimony of Christ has been damaged by people who claim to be Christians, but have no integrity. Those without Christ mock and jeer our sinful, hypocritical, inconsistent lives. If Abraham had integrity in this situation, he would have never deceived Abimelech. Yet, Abraham did have integrity at other times in his life. (Rod Mattoon) Comment - Below are 2 excellent books you can borrow from archive.org that deal with integrity The Integrity Crisis by Warren Wiersbe The Power of Integrity : Building a Life Without Compromise by John MacArthur Integrity (08537)(tom) means completeness as it derives from tamam which means to be complete or finished. It means completeness in the following senses: fullness (Job 21:23), innocency or simplicity (2Sa 15:11), integrity (Ge 20:5). Gilbrant - The most common translation of tōm by the KJV, "integrity," is still one of the best ways to understand the noun. The most frequent use refers to a person's integrity, often as "integrity of heart," meaning "sincerity" or perhaps "moral and wise character" (Gen. 20:5; Pss. 26:1; 78:72). It refers to innocence of willful wrongdoing and having a clear conscience in a relationship (2 Sam. 15:11). It seems to have a sense of consistent honesty and moral behavior, wholly desiring to live in complete harmony with God and others. Proverbs 10:29 uses tōm of a person who is literally "the one of integrity," which usually then is translated as "the upright" or "the righteous." The idea of innocence of willful wrongdoing probably led to the use for firing an arrow without aiming at the one it hit and thus the translation "randomly" (1 Ki. 22:34). One other use is found in Isa. 47:9 for the completeness or the fullness of certain judgments being executed to their full measure. It should be noted that in antiquity the word "Thummim" was understood as the plural of this Hebrew word. The Urim (possibly meaning "lights") and Thummim (possibly meaning "perfections") were objects God told the high priest to use to inquire of the will of God (Exo. 28:30). What they were, how they were used and what the names actually meant are still matters of speculation. (Complete Biblical Library) Tom - 23x/23v - blameless(1), full(1), full measure(1), innocently(1), integrity(16), random(2), upright(1). Gen. 20:5; Gen. 20:6; 2Sa 15:11; 1Ki 9:4; 1Ki. 22:34; 2Chr. 18:33; Job 4:6; Job 21:23; Ps. 7:8; Ps. 25:21; Ps. 26:1; Ps. 26:11; Ps. 41:12; Ps. 78:72 = "INTEGRITY OF HIS HEART"; Ps. 101:2 = IN THE INTEGRITY OF MY HEART"; Prov. 2:7; Prov. 10:9; Prov. 10:29; Prov. 13:6; Prov. 19:1; Prov. 20:7; Prov. 28:6; Isa. 47:9 1 Kings 9:4 “As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, Psalm 7:8 The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. Psalm 25:21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You. Psalm 26:1 A Psalm of David. Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Psalm 26:11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; Redeem me, and be gracious to me. Psalm 41:12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, And You set me in Your presence forever. Jon Courson - A MATTER OF INTEGRITY A Topical Study of GENESIS 20:6 America has at last “come of age.” We have shaken off our Puritanical frontier past, for we have joined Europe in thinking that it doesn’t matter what our leaders do in private as long as they are effective in their elected positions. At the state funeral of France’s President Francois Mitterand, his wife stood on one side of his casket, his mistress on the other side—a scene completely acceptable to the French populous. What does it really matter, the Europeans ask, if a person has certain personal inconsistencies as long as he can function effectively in his position governmentally? It does matter. Read your history books… Joseph Stalin turned a backwater, third-world Russia into a force of great strength militarily and rising power economically. He made Russia a great nation. He got the economy rolling, the military growing—but at what cost? Twenty million Russians were sent to gulags or shot in the back. Or how about the most efficient leader in European history—Adolf Hitler. “He may hate Jews, and he may have all kinds of quirks, but as long as he can build a Third Reich, he’s our man,” Germany declared. Even if you don’t believe the Bible, study what’s happened in Europe over the last century, and ask if morals matter, if character counts, if integrity is an issue. The dictionary defines integrity as “an unimpaired condition or soundness; an adherence to a code of moral values; the quality or state of being complete or undivided, integrated.” What is integrity? It’s solidness, soundness, firmness. Why should we care about integrity? The Bible gives four reasons… Integrity Protects Us from Sin And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me… Genesis 20:6 (a) If we choose to walk in integrity, to value honesty, God will protect us from sins which otherwise would have victory over us. “What’s the big deal about sin?” you might be saying. “I can cover my tracks. I can deal with the repercussions.” “Be sure your sin will find you out,” the Word declares (Numbers 32:23). Sin will bring you humiliation, consternation, and real depression. No one gets away with sin. “But I thought Jesus died for our sin,” you say. “I thought our sin was washed away from the Father’s memory because of what Christ did on the Cross.” That’s absolutely true. “Your sin and iniquity will I remember no more,” God declares (Hebrews 10:17). Every confessed sin you’ve ever done, are doing, or will do is forgiven and forgotten by God. You’re forgiven—but your sin itself will track you down, humiliate, and hurt you (Numbers 32:23). That is why integrity is so vital. It protects us from the destructiveness of sin. Integrity Profits Our Children The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. Proverbs 20:7 If you choose integrity, your children will be blessed. That is, they will be prosperous and happy. I know this to be true. My dad was not a powerful, flamboyant person, but he was one of the greatest men I have ever known. And the thing that characterized my dad was this word integrity… For a season, our family car was a VW beetle. Our family of six traveling in our VW beetle—sometimes accompanied by our German Shepherd named Sam—was a sight to see. Then one day, my bank president dad came home with a brand new company car. I was so excited about the prospect of family trips in that 1966 blue Ford Fairlane—until I heard my dad say, “This car is meant to be used only to go to the bank.” “Let’s take the Fairlane out for a spin,” I’d say. “So, you want to go to the bank?” he’d reply. You see, my dad was a man of real integrity, a man of his word. And his children have been abundantly blessed by his legacy. Integrity Promotes Stability A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8 A man who lives in integrity is single-minded. His yea is yea, his nay, nay (Matthew 5:37). He is one who is emotionally solid. As a pastor, I’m convinced that many people are emotionally unstable and depressed because they’re double-minded. They’re like waves being tossed to and fro in the sea. People who don’t have integrity are emotionally distraught, vulnerable to depression, and unstable internally because they don’t exactly know what story they told whom. He who lacks integrity forgets what truth is. His story shifts, and pretty soon, all he can say is, “No comment; talk to my lawyer.” Integrity Provides Guidance and Direction The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Proverbs 11:3 The best guidance system you’ll ever have is integrity. The Hebrew word translated “integrity” is tummah, from which comes the word “thummim.” In Old Testament days, when a person had a question—should he go there, attack them, do this—he would go to the High Priest who would consult the Urim and the Thummim. Urim means “lights.” Thummim means “perfection” or “direction.” The Urim and Thummim was part of the High Priest’s breastplate. It would seem to refer to the twelve gems on his breastplate—one for each tribe—which would light up in such a way as to spell an answer, each stone representing the first letter of its tribe. The difference between the Old Testament believer who sought direction from the High Priest and the New Testament believer who seeks direction from a pastor or counselor is a big one, however, for the Old Testament believer had to follow the counsel of the High Priest, or die. We live in a culture where there’s endless counseling and running to this guy and that meeting, trying to find what we want to hear. Integrity, on the other hand, says, “I’m coming to You, Lord. No games, no agenda. Whatever You say, I’ll do.” “That’s integrity,” God says. “And I will definitely guide you.” Integrity protects from sin, profits one’s children, promotes stability, and provides guidance. How can we incorporate integrity into our own lives? I believe the answer can be seen in the life of Job… “Do you still retain your integrity?” asked his wife. “Curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). Although his children, possessions, and health had all been decimated, Job answered, “I will not cave in on the issue of integrity.” His friends came to him, saying, you must be doing something wrong, Job. “Even though you want me to confess to this stuff, even though that might sound humble and seem spiritual, it lacks integrity because what you are saying I have done is just not true. It might sound noble and humble and spiritual—but I must not compromise honesty and integrity,” declared Job. What made Job this way? What made Job a man about whom God would say to Satan, “Here’s a man who will hold fast his integrity no matter what you do, no matter what happens”? “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” Job declared (Job 31:1). “I made a decision about my life that I would not look at a woman lustfully. I drew a line in the sand, and made my stand.” Such was Job’s mentality. He wasn’t making a deal with his Lord. He was making a decision about his life. If someone offered me a bunch of heroin, I would have lots of options: I could call the cops, witness to him, or tell him to beat it. But partaking of his heroin would not be an option because somewhere along the way in my life I decided heroin is non-negotiable. When I finally, seriously decide that lying is not an option, that twisting the truth is non-negotiable—I will no longer be tempted to lie; I will walk in integrity. Whenever we make such a decision, God makes the provision which enables us to carry it out. That’s what Job had done. “But he lost everything,” you say. Not true. At the end of the story, Job had twice as much as he had originally. When you make a decision to start living in integrity and honesty, God will bless you just as He blessed Job, just like He blessed Abimelech. Our culture is so confused on this issue. Let us go out and be salt and light. Let us choose to be people of integrity that we might see blessings in our lives personally, in our families, and in our country. (See Jon Courson's Application Commentary) Related Resources: Are You Entangled? Daniel-Man of Commitment Daniel-Man of Integrity Give Me An Undivided Heart Integrity - A Whole Heart Joshua-Portrait of the Man God Uses Genesis 20:6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. withheld: Ge 20:18 31:7 35:5 Ex 34:24 1Sa 25:26,34 Ps 84:11 Pr 21:1 Ho 2:6,7 sinning: Ge 39:9 Lev 6:2 Ps 51:4 81:12 2Th 2:7,11 to touch: Ge 3:3 26:11 1Co 7:1 2Co 6:17 Genesis 20 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Related Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:3-4 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord. GOD'S RESTRAINT VALIDATES ABIMELECH'S INTEGRITY Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in integrity (tom) of your heart (lebab) you have done this - Abimelech had unknowingly taken a married woman to be his wife and was about to commit adultery. Notice I know is an expression of God's omniscience to be able to read Abimelech's heart. God sees his heart and agrees that he did not think he was doing wrong. However, even if we know nothing against ourselves, that does not prove that everything else is fine with the Lord. Proverbs 21:2 says "Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts." THOUGHT - How does your heart "weigh in" with God today? Is your conscience clean? Are you sins confessed? Would you pass His "integrity test?" And I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her - Note the double emphasis on God's intervention - "I...kept...." and "I did not...." God explains that in His sovereignty, He presumably restrained Abimelech's normal sexual impulses and kept him from sinning against Him (all sin is against God)! F B
Gênesis 20
Utley - "arose early in the morning" This is a Hebrew idiom of the urgency and immediacy (cf. Gen. 21:14; 22:3) of responding to God's expressed will. Matthew Henry Notes: Ge 20:8-13 Abimelech, being thus warned of God in a dream, takes the warning, and, as one truly afraid of sin and its consequences, he rises early to obey the directions given him. I. He has a caution for his servants, Ge 20:8. Abraham himself could not be more careful than he was to command his household in this matter. Note, Those whom God has convinced of sin and danger ought to tell others what God has done for their souls, that they also may be awakened and brought to a like holy fear. II. He has a chiding for Abraham. Observe, 1. The serious reproof which Abimelech gave to Abraham, Ge 20:9, 10. His reasoning with Abraham upon this occasion was very strong, and yet very mild. Nothing could be said better; he does not reproach him, nor insult over him, does not say, "Is this your profession? I see, though you will not swear, you will lie. If these be prophets, I will beg to be freed from the sight of them:'' but he fairly represents the injury Abraham had done him, and calmly signifies his resentment of it. (1.) He calls that sin which he now found he had been in danger of a great sin. Note, Even the light of nature teaches men that the sin of adultery is a very great sin: be it observed, to the shame of many who call themselves Christians, and yet make a light matter of it. (2.) He looks upon it that both himself and his kingdom would have been exposed to the wrath of God if he had been guilty of this sin, though ignorantly. Note, The sins of kings often prove the plagues of kingdoms; rulers should therefore, for their people's sake, dread sin. (3.) He charges Abraham with doing that which was not justifiable, in disowning his marriage. This he speaks of justly, and yet tenderly; he does not call him a liar and cheat, but tells him he had done deeds that ought not to be done. Note, Equivocation and dissimulation, however they may be palliated, are very bad things, and by no means to be admitted in any case. (4.) He takes it as a very great injury to himself and his family that Abraham had thus exposed them to sin: "What have I offended thee? If I had been thy worst enemy, thou couldst not have done me a worse turn, nor taken a more effectual course to be revenged on me.'' Note, We ought to reckon that those do us the greatest unkindness in the world that any way tempt us or expose us to sin, though they may pretend friendship, and offer that which is grateful enough to corrupt nature. (5.) He challenges him to assign a cause for his suspecting them as a dangerous people for an honest man to live among: "What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? Ge 20:10. What reason hadst thou to think that if we had known her to be thy wife thou wouldst have been exposed to any danger by it?'' Note, A suspicion of our goodness is justly reckoned a greater affront than a slight upon our greatness. 2. The poor excuse that Abraham made for himself. (1.) He pleaded the bad opinion he had of the place, Ge 20:11. He thought within himself (though he could not give any good reason for his thinking so), "Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and then they will slay me.'' {1.} Little good is to be expected where no fear of God is. See Ps. 36:1. {2.} There are many places and persons that have more of the fear of God in them than we think they have: perhaps they are not called by our dividing name, they do not wear our badges, they do not tie themselves to that which we have an opinion of; and therefore we conclude they have not the fear of God in their hearts, which is very injurious both of Christ and Christians, and makes us obnoxious to God's judgment, Mt. 7:1. {3.} Uncharitableness and censoriousness are sins that are the cause of many other sins. When men have once persuaded themselves concerning such and such that they have not the fear of God, they think this will justify them in the most unjust and unchristian practices towards them. Men would not do ill if they did not first think ill. (2.) He excused it from the guilt of a downright lie by making it out that, in a sense, she was his sister, Ge 20:12. Some think she was own sister to Lot, who is called his brother Lot (Ge 14:16), though he was his nephew; so Sarah is called his sister. But those to whom he said, She is my sister, understood that she was so his sister as not to be capable of being his wife; so that it was an equivocation, with an intent to deceive. (3.) He clears himself from the imputation of an affront designed to Abimelech in it by alleging that it had been his practice before, according to an agreement between him and his wife, when they first became sojourners (Ge 20:13): "When God caused me to wander from my father's house, then we settled this matter.'' Note, {1.} God is to be acknowledged in all our wanderings. {2.} Those that travel abroad, and converse much with strangers, as they have need of the wisdom of the serpent, so it is requisite that that wisdom be ever tempered with the innocence of the dove. It may, for aught I know, be suggested that God denied to Abraham to punish them for this sinful compact if they will not own their marriage, why should God own it? But we may suppose that, after this reproof which Abimelech gave them, they agreed never to do so again, and then presently we read (Ge 21:1, 2) that Sarah conceived. Genesis 20:9 Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” What hast: Ge 12:18 26:10 Ex 32:21,35 Jos 7:25 1Sa 26:18,19 Pr 28:10 a great: Ge 38:24 39:9 Lev 20:10 2Sa 12:5,10,11 Ro 2:11 Heb 13:4 ought: Ge 34:7 2Sa 13:12 Titus 1:11 Genesis 20 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries ABRAHAM'S POOR WITNESS TO PAGANS Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? This expresses Abimelech’s shock as to Abraham’s conduct. It is ironic that just as Lot had compromised his testimony before the Sodomites (Genesis 19), so Abraham in Genesis 20 compromised his testimony before Abimelech and the citizens of Gerar by lying. And how have I sinned (chata') against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me things that ought not to be done.” - The Hebrew reads "How did I sin against you that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?" Here Abimelech expresses his moral indignation. This pagan king understands the word "sin" and takes it seriously is contrast to most of our modern (pagan) world! He is holding Abraham responsible for causing him to sin. It is notable that adultery was considered “a great sin” even by this heathen king. (J. J. Rabinowitz, “The Great Sin in Ancient Egyptian Marriage Contracts,” JNES 18 (1959): 73, ) Wenstrom has a good point noting that "Abimelech’s statement “You have done to me things that ought not to be done” demonstrates his awareness of a moral code even among the unbeliever. The apostle Paul taught that God has instilled an awareness of a moral code in the conscience of every human being, believer and unbeliever alike. Romans 2:14, 15 “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness (cf "INTEGRITY OF MY HEART") and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” Deffinbaugh: Abimelech had been wronged by Abraham. He had not only done what was wrong in the eyes of God, but also in the eyes of pagans. Abraham, who was to be a source of blessing (Ge 12:2,3), had become a proverbial pain in the neck to those in whose land he sojourned. (Don’t Ever Say Never) Jack Arnold - Abimelech, an unsaved king, had to rebuke Abraham, child of the King, for his evil deeds. Men of the world stand out superior at times to the people of God, and this is one of the heartbreaking things about the spiritual realm. Matthew
Gênesis 20
Utley - "when God caused me to wander" In English it almost seems that he is implying that it is God's fault that he acted this way. It reminds us of how Adam blamed God (cf. Gen. 3:12). However, it is uncertain if we can understand this in this way. Jon Courson - Abraham wasn’t caught off guard by Pharaoh and Abimelech wanting to add Sarah to their harems. No, the verse before us makes it clear that Abraham’s lie was part of a predetermined strategy. And in this I am reminded once again that a person doesn’t fall into sin, but rather walks into sin one step at a time. (See Jon Courson's Application Commentary) Borgman has an interesting comment on the Hebrew for "God." - This is our common practice whenever we travel for past 25 years. Elohim = “gods” plural noun; usually takes a singular verb; here Abraham uses a plural verb = “caused me to wander” – saying: when the gods caused me to wander. He has no sense of witness for the true and living God and so talks about God in Abimelech’s terms; “That’s the way we have always done it” – appealing to tradition and previous experience." NET NOTE adds that "The Hebrew verb (caused me to wander) is plural. This may be a case of grammatical agreement with the name for God, which is plural in form. However, when this plural name refers to the one true God, accompanying predicates are usually singular in form. Perhaps Abraham is accommodating his speech to Abimelech's polytheistic perspective. If so, one should translate, "when the gods made me wander." That I said to her, ‘This is the kindness (hesed) which you will show to me - Literally "This is your loyal deed which you can do for me." NIV = "'This is how you can show your love to me." See also lovingkindness in the Bible Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother - CSB = "Show your loyalty to me wherever we go and say about me: 'He's my brother.'" Abraham explains that since God’s plan for his life called for him to wander, he instructed Sarah when they entered a new place to say that she is his sister out of fear that her great beauty would cause the king of the land to kill him in order to add her to his harem. Abraham's plan was sinful because it expressed his lack of faith in the Lord’s protection. Krell - To make matters worse, in Ge 20:13b we learn that Abraham coerced Sarah into his deception. He said to Sarah, “This is the kindness which you will show to me: everywhere we go, say of me, ‘He is my brother.’” Ladies, Abe used one of the oldest lines in the book—literally! “If you really love me…” We do this today. If you love me, you’ll sleep with me! If you love me, you’ll lie to the IRS when the auditor comes! If you love me, you’ll understand my need to play the field! If you love me, you’ll tell the boss I’m sick. If you love me, you’ll put me ahead of God! Yet, this is in contradiction to the message of the Bible. God loves us with an unconditional and everlasting love and He expects us to love one another with His love (John 13:34-35; 15:12). Jack Arnold - Abraham tells the king that he and Sarah had entered into a secret agreement to do the “sister plot” whenever he was in trouble (20:13). NOTE. This was a sinful pact that Abraham and Sarah had in every place they went, Instead of trusting God, they entered into this conspiracy, which was a half-truth, but it was told to deceive and revealed a lack of faith in God. This gives the reason why this last cowardly and unworthy act of unbelief in the life of Abraham was recorded. This sordid sin had to be judged before Abraham and Sarah could have a son and Abraham could be brought to the final test of offering Isaac. POINT: Sin in a Christian must be judged before he can have the full blessing of God. How many Christians are there who will not judge sin in their lives, and as a result, there is no blessing in their lives? J
Gênesis 20
Utley - The phrase, "your vindication" is literally "for you a covering of the eyes" (CONSTRUCT BDB 492 and 744), which is a Hebrew idiom to show that Sarah was completely innocent and was compensated for the embarrassment. Genesis 20:17 Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children. Ge 20:7 29:31 1Sa 5:11,12 Ezr 6:10 Job 42:9,10 Pr 15:8,29 Isa 45:11 Mt 7:7 21:22 Ac 3:24 Php 4:6 1Th 5:25 Jas 5:16 Genesis 20 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries ABRAHAM THE INTERCESSOR ELOHIM THE HEALER Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children - Amazing grace especially in light of Psalm 66:18 which says "If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear." Abraham had just sinned before God and even when confronted gives 3 excuses to Abimelech, but there is no clear cut confession and yet here we see he prays, God hears and God answers. As I said, another example of amazing grace (unmerited favor)! And don't miss the irony -- Abraham's prayer opened the wombs of these women, and yet his own wife was still barren! Krell - What a humbling experience it must have been for Abraham to intercede on behalf of Abimelech. A deep sense of unworthiness must have come over him. It was surely not his righteousness, which was the basis for divine healing. Any time that we are used of God, it is solely because of the grace of God. Bob Utley - "God healed Abimelech" We do not know the exact disease that came upon Abimelech and his family, but it caused the birth of children to be impossible. Apparently this was one way that God protected Abimelech from having relations with Sarah. Also, from Gen. 20:17 and 18, we see that barrenness was considered a divine curse. This is one reason that Abraham had such a hard time believing God's words of grace when Sarah was barren. Jack Arnold - Prayer does not change God’s plan but it brings God’s plan into action in our experience. Ian Duguid (quoted by Hughes): God’s ability to use even our sins for his own purposes shows that he doesn’t love us simply for the great things we can do for him. Jesus loves me when I’m good, When I do the things I should. Jesus loves me when I’m bad, Though it makes Him very sad. Jon Courson - Because you have fallen short in their eyes or hurt them badly, there are people to whom you may not be able to preach or with whom you may not be able to share. But this story tells me that although I may not be able to preach to them or share with them, I get to effectively bless them through prayer. When I pray for my enemies, not only does it release blessing upon them, but it keeps me from getting involved in a cycle of bitterness which will only destroy me. You cannot pray blessing on a person and stay angry with him. It’s impossible. That’s why Jesus said, “Pray for your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). I challenge you to pray for the people toward whom you feel bitterness or hostility; for the people you just don’t like. Pray that they’ll be healed, that they’ll prosper, that they’ll do well. God will answer your prayer, and you’ll be blessed in the process. (See Jon Courson's Application Commentary) QUESTION - What is intercessory prayer? ANSWER - Quite simply, intercessory prayer is the act of praying on behalf of others. The role of mediator in prayer was prevalent in the Old Testament, in the cases of Abraham, Moses, David, Samuel, Hezekiah, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Christ is pictured in the New Testament as the ultimate intercessor, and because of this, all Christian prayer becomes intercession since it is offered to God through and by Christ. Jesus closed the gap between us and God when He died on the cross. Because of Jesus’ mediation, we can now intercede in prayer on behalf of other Christians or for the lost, asking God to grant their requests according to His will. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). “Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). A wonderful model of intercessory prayer is found in Daniel 9. It has all the elements of true intercessory prayer. It is in response to the Word (v. 2); characterized by fervency (v. 3) and self-denial (v. 4); identified unselfishly with God’s people (v. 5); strengthened by confession (v. 5-15); dependent on God’s character (vv. 4, 7, 9, 15); and has as its goal God’s glory (vv. 16-19). Like Daniel, Christians are to come to God on behalf of others in a heartbroken and repentant attitude, recognizing their own unworthiness and with a sense of self-denial. Daniel does not say, “I have a right to demand this out of You, God, because I am one of your special, chosen intercessors.” He says, “I’m a sinner,” and, in effect, “I do not have a right to demand anything.” True intercessory prayer seeks not only to know God’s will and see it fulfilled, but to see it fulfilled whether or not it benefits us and regardless of what it costs us. True intercessory prayer seeks God’s glory, not our own. The following is only a partial list of those for whom we are to offer intercessory prayers: all in authority (1 Timothy 2:2); ministers (Philippians 1:19); Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6); friends (Job 42:8); fellow countrymen (Romans 10:1); the sick (James 5:14); enemies (Jeremiah 29:7); those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44); those who forsake us (2 Timothy 4:16); and all men (1 Timothy 2:1). There is an erroneous idea in contemporary Christianity that those who offer up intercessory prayers are a special class of “super-Christians,” called by God to a specific ministry of intercession. The Bible is clear that all Christians are called to be intercessors. All Christians have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and, just as He intercedes for us in accordance with God’s will (Romans 8:26-27), we are to intercede for one another. This is not a privilege limited to an exclusive Christian elite; this is the command to all. In fact, not to intercede for others is sin. “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). Certainly Peter and Paul, when asking others to intercede for them, did not limit their request to those with a special calling to intercession. “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him” (Acts 12:5). Notice it was the whole church that prayed for him, not just those with a gift of intercession. In Ephesians 6:16-18, Paul exhorts the Ephesian believers—all of them—on the fundamentals of the Christian life, which includes intercession “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Clearly, intercessory prayer is part of the Christian life for all believers. Further, Paul sought prayer on his behalf from all the Roman believers in Romans 15:30. He also urged the Colossians to intercede for him in Colossians 4:2-3. Nowhere in any biblical request for intercession is there any indication that only a certain group of people could intercede. On the contrary, those who seek others to intercede for them can use all the help they can get! The idea that intercession is the privilege and calling of only some Christians is without biblical basis. Worse, it is a destructive idea that often leads to pride and a sense of superiority. God calls all Christians to be intercessors. It is God’s desire that every believer be active in intercessory prayer. What a wonderful and exalted privilege we have in being able to come boldly before the throne of Almighty God with our prayers and requests!GotQuestions.org Related Resources: SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER Steven