This is an interesting chapter that reveals Abraham's hidden sins and weaknesses. However, I'm encouraged that although Abraham fails in protecting his wife before the king of Gerar, God still exercised His sovereign hands to take care of Sarah and Abraham. Regardless of Abraham's lack of full trust in God and lost the enjoyment of Grace (typified by Sarah), God restored His testimony of Faith (typified by Abraham) and Grace with His sovereignty.
Another thing that inspired me is verse 17. Since I'm still sort of suffering in my own situations, I don't know whether I'm qualified to pray for others who are in the same situations like me. For example, I'm still searching for funding to meet my need, but many times I'm put in a situation that I have to pray for other people's need. Times like this make me wonder: I'm not yet walking out from my own situation, am I qualified or have such a faith in me to pray for others with my faith?
The footnote of Abraham's praying to God concerning the king Abimelech is wonderful. In recovery version, footnote 1 in verse 17 says: "Abraham had to intercede for Abimelech's need in spite of his own failure and the fact that Sarah was still barren. This shows that our interceding for others does not depend on our condition; it depends on who we are."
So, who we are? The footnote continues, "God did not count Abraham's failure but considered him His prophet (v.7). Regardless of our condition, in God's eyes we, God's called ones, are His prophets (1 Cor. 14:31), His new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), the members of the Body of Christ (Eph. 5:30)."
So praise Him! Regardless of my own situations, I can still intercede for others because my intercession for others is not according to how wealthy and how many blessings I've received or how spiritual I'm so I'm able to pray for others. NO! I'm qualified to pray for others is because of who I am according to God in the new creation. Praise Him!
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