Untainted Relationship
Genesis 21: 32 Thus they made a
covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his
army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham
planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of
the Lord, the Everlasting God. 34 And
Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.
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Growing up in the land of the Chaldeans, Abraham learned the
ways of a group that was on the move. He learned how to protect sheep and
cattle from wild animals and thieves. But this was his father’s choice of
residence. GOD told Abraham to move to a place where HE would show him. Abraham
obeyed without question.
He ended up in a land that had a famine. He went to Egypt to
avoid the famine. There he was given Hagar who later birthed him a son at the
request of his wife Sarah. Abraham saw Sodom and Gomorrah get destroyed. He
moved to Gerar where he settled amongst a group of people known for taking what
they wanted, when they wanted.
My Observations:
- No
place that Abraham moved was ideal, yet GOD was with him.
- Abraham
lived around people who would lie and steal, yet Abraham’s relationship
with GOD remained the same.
- Abraham
settled down in a place that did not follow GOD, but he did.
Having a relationship with GOD was not dependent on the
people around Abraham. He seemed untainted by their actions and followed GOD
anyway. Most people would probably fold and follow the surrounding culture. By
following GOD, the leaders came to him asking to be protected from GOD’s wrath.
They had seen what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah and knew
Abraham was special. They would not change their ways, nor would Abraham change
his. He would follow GOD until he died.
Challenge
- Why
does GOD mention the “land of the Philistines” to Moses so many times?
- Have
you ever been in a place where you were the only follower of GOD?
- Can
you follow GOD without letting your surroundings cause you to fear, falter
or fall?
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