GENESIS 20
14 Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” 16 To Sarah he said, “Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of allwho are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” 17 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. 18 For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. – Genesis 20:14-17
GENESIS 20 WHEN ABRAHAM PRAYED FOR ABIMELECH
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
To protect Sarah from being touched by Abimelech, he became sick
God also caused the women in Abimelech’s household to become barren
But Abimelech heeded the warning of God and gave back Sarah to Abraham
He also gave him sheep and oxen, much wealth and many servants.
After Abimelech rebuked Abraham, he prayed for the king to be healed
And God answered his prayer and healed King Abimelech
The Lord God also opened the closed wombs of their women
This is how God faithfully protected Sarah from being taken.
What a faithful God we witness in this account when Abraham prayed for Abimelech to be healed! He responded right away even though he could have punished Abraham for lying to the king of Gerar. I think it also was a revelation for Abraham to see how he can fail in keeping his faith constantly strong and trusting God more despite his fears.
We watch how Abimelech got healed including the women in his household whose wombs were closed by God earlier and now, the curse was lifted. The account cannot stress more clearly how important prayers are. Abraham interceded for Abimelech and God granted that prayer right away.
REFLECTION
- How could this incident have gone wrong if Abimelech didn’t follow God’s warning not to touch Sarah and if Abraham didn’t intercede with prayers?
