Rejoice:

Read:

²¹ While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt.

²² At that time Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces said to Abraham, “God is with you in everything you do.

Remember, this is the same guy who recently lied to Abimelek which led his whole kingdom to experience barrenness. Yet, God is with him in everything he does. Now just because Abimelek and Phicol said this doesn’t mean it’s true, but it does mean this is the perception from them. That’s the reason God calls us to holiness and walking in the Spirit. Regardless of the facts (your disobedience, your selfish plans, etc.) others will identify you with Christ. In this scenario God is glorified again as Abimelek and Phicol are blessing Abraham due to his identity with God. Nonetheless God’ reputation can be marred and He can be viewed negatively based on our display of Him. We should be careful with our actions and the way we are living.

God is gracious and forgives us for our mistakes, but we still need to realize the impact we are having on others. We are negatively shaping the perception of God to others, and in turn we are diminishing their relationship with Him.

²³ Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you now reside as a foreigner the same kindness I have shown to you.”

²⁴ Abraham said, “I swear it.”

²⁵ Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek’s servants had seized. ²⁶ But Abimelek said, “I don’t know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.”

²⁷ So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. ²⁸ Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, ²⁹ and Abimelek asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?”

³⁰ He replied, “Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.”

³¹ So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there.

³² After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. ³³ Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God. ³⁴ And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time.

There’s not much to be said about the end of this chapter. I just want us to know about this section as we move forward because it will directly impact another story we come to! 🙂

Respond:

God, thank You for not decimating me when I foolishly misrepresent Your name. Thank You for even letting me be an ambassador for You! Keep me from putting up walls that diminish other’s relationship with You. Help me to properly show them who You are.

Relate:

This Devo is mainly focused on your relationship with the Spirit, and that being a picture for others. So there’s a simply application: walk in the Spirit so that you don’t tarnish His name.