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God's Blessing

As the LORD God keeps His promises Abraham's life is blessed in a number of ways. We have seen how he has been blessed by the birth and progress of his son Isaac and we have noted the importance that Isaac had in God's purposes as the child of promise.

Now in this episode we see how Abraham's dwelling in the land of promise gradually becomes more secure too. The focus of this section is however upon the fact that Abraham is richly blessed because God is with him.

Perhaps these two important local men had been invited to the great feast that Abraham had organised in order to celebrate the weaning of Isaac. If that were indeed the case it would easy enough to appreciate why Abimelech should speak to Abraham as he does when he declared to Abraham that "God is with you in all that you do."

After all Abimelech had already met Abraham back in ch.20. Then Abimelech, believing Sarah to be Abraham's sister, had taken Sarah to be his wife. There is no mention of Sarah's physical appearance in that chapter as there had been in ch.12 when Abraham had resorted to the same ruse. Perhaps Abimelech thought that he might establish a treaty with Abraham sealing it with such a marriage – after all he was aware that Abraham was a wealthy man and he probably knew too of Abraham's military prowess.

However in taking Sarah Abimelech was brought into an unexpected with the LORD Himself. In that encounter he learned more about this man Abraham. Not only was Abraham wealthy and successful in battle but he was also a prophet whose prayers were mighty and effectual.

Abraham was an important man and Abimelech now seeks to establish a treaty that he believes will be of mutual benefit to them both.

And of course recent events in Abraham's life once more mark him out as a remarkable man. He now has a son born to him in his old age and that by his wife who was beyond normal child-bearing age. This Abraham was not to be messed with. Better by far to be on good terms with such a man!!

The declaration that Abimelech makes is an interesting one. He declares in a very straightforward way that God is with Abraham. He attributes all the success and prosperity in Abraham's life to this one fact. To Abimelech then it is quite obvious that God is present with Abraham. And what a blessing this is!! We need to stay with this and investigate further.

Such a blessing was by no means to be restricted to Abraham alone:

Isaac was assured of the Lord's presence and the reality of the LORD's presence with him was also evident to others:

Gen.26:24, 28 "And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake… They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you."

Jacob was given instructions by the LORD as to what he should do and these instructions were accompanied by the promise that the LORD would be with him:

Gen.31:3 "Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”"

In turn Jacob/Israel would later encourage Joseph with the same assurance of God's presence:

Gen.48:21 "Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers."

The presence of God meant a tremendous amount. Moses speaking to the people of Israel before they entered the Promised could remind them of their long 40 year period of wandering in the wilderness in these terms:

Deut.2:7 "For the LORD your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you. You have lacked nothing."

Moses would go on to encourage the people and his own successor Joshua to be strong and courageous as they entered the Promised Land. He did so with the following encouragement:

Deut.31:6, 8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you… It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."

In similar ways King David would encourage his son Solomon concerning the temple project:

1Chr.28:20 "Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished."

As we turn to the NT we find similar words being used to encourage Christians:

Heb.13:5 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”"

             And of course Jesus told His disciples of His assured presence:

             Mt.28:20 "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

What do we make of all this?

Well we can say a number of things about God being with His people.

1.     As a present reality it was a high privilege that was recognizable to others

2.     It was made the subject of promises about future blessing – the LORD promised to be with His people.

As such the promise became a motivating factor for obedience. His people could press on without fear in the sure hope of guaranteed victory.

3.     Such were the positive associations of the idea of God being with His people that the expression itself came to be used as a greeting/blessing.

Eg. Ruth 2:4 "And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.”"

4.     Nevertheless such promises of God's presence were not made unconditionally – obedience was expected and presumption was thus excluded. The blessings of God's presence could indeed be forfeited:

Eg. Nu.14:43 "Because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you."

Let us then earnestly pray that the Lord's presence with us might be increasingly evident – how we need Him. He comes to us by His Spirit so let us wait upon Him that He might come in power bringing revival to us all!

Having recognised the presence of God with Abraham Abimelech proposes a treaty that he imagines will be of mutual benefit to him and Abraham and he reminds Abraham of how he has treated him well up till now.

Such an offer must have been very tempting to Abraham. After all he was still a mere sojourner in the land and is gently reminded of the fact by Abimelech. Now a local King is offering him to set up a covenant with him.

And yet Abraham is not willing to rush into a treaty until outstanding issues are resolved. The main issue concerns water rights – how important water was then in Abraham's day and how important it remains to our own day in the M.E.! Abraham doesn't react impulsively but takes steps to ensure that everything is sorted out properly.

Abimelech approves of Abraham's behaviour. The matter is settled in an amicable fashion and the covenant is established. The well that had been at the centre of the contention is now named "Beersheba" – well of seven or well of the oath (there is a word play involved in the name).

The establishment of this covenant is further evidence of the Lord's good hand resting upon Abraham. Abraham's own position in the Land of Promise is beginning to look more secure. He has been accepted by a local leader and his efforts in the land have been recognised.

It would be easy now for Abraham to simply settle back as Abimelech and Phicol return to their homes. But Moses wants to show us something else in Abraham's life that we would do well to imitate.

All along Abraham has been benefiting from the LORD's Sovereign and Providential benevolence – these are the blessings flowing from the fact that the LORD is with Abraham. But he doesn't (and we mustn't) sit back and take it all for granted! Thankfulness and faithfulness characterize Abraham's response to these further indications of the Lord's goodness to him.

Abraham does two things:

A.    He plants a tamarisk tree – this was probably an evergreen variant of the Salt Cedar a tree that consumes a great deal of water. It's evergreen properties could be understood as symbolizing life and divine blessing.

B.    He calls on the name of the LORD. That is Abraham prays. This is not the first time that he has so behaved. Perhaps the establishment of the covenant with Abimelech has caused Abraham to reflect upon the covenant the LORD has already established with him. With the exchange of oaths Abraham has been reminded of God's unchangeable faithfulness to His promises and so Abraham calls on the name of the LORD, specifically the Everlasting God!

Moses would later celebrate God in similar terms in Psalm 90 where we read in v.2 "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."

And as we again turn to the NT we find the same truths being expressed as God's Word continues to speak to us in the 21^st century:

Heb.13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

or again:

Rev.22:12-13 "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

Conclusion: Oh that we might know more of the LORD's presence with us. Oh that the reality of His presence might be evident to others. Oh that we might respond more comprehensively to Him in thankfulness calling upon the name of the LORD who never changes and who is always utterly dependable!

Amen.