These
are "unofficial notes" taken by one of the attendees
at the March 16, 2001 presentation and are not necessarily
an accurate representation of Rev. Prior's presentation. If
you want to get an audio or video tape of the presentation they
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Summary
of Teaching by
Rev. David Prior
"God is at work in
Positions of Power"
March 16, 2001
The story of Abraham and Abimelech (Gen 20) is
not a happy story. Abraham had the call of God upon his life
and here we find him acting out of alignment with that calling
and his friendship with God. God called told Abraham to go to
Gerar because He had a purpose there.
Abraham was coming from being promised that he
and Sarah would have a child. Then he went to Sodom where his
nephew's family lived. You remember the story, when Abraham
pleaded with God to spare the city if he could only find ten
righteous men? From there he went to Negev and Gerar...
Abraham was living as an alien in the land and
he was fearful, so fearful in fact that he was willing to compromise
his wife by having her say she was his sister. He had drawn
the conclusion that this city, Gerar, was a godless place. He
believed there was no fear of God in that city.
The facts, however, were different. In fact God
had spoken to the King in a dream and He was already at work
there. We need to remember this... just because a person may
not know God, it does not mean God is not working in them. This
happens over and over again, especially to leaders and businessmen,
and often through dreams.
An interesting question to ask people in authority
is "How have you been sleeping lately?" Even today
God speaks to people through dreams and especially if they don't
know Him. In Washington, DC, God is working with those in authority
and in leadership.
So, Abraham was not operating out of his friendship
[trust] with God on this occasion. Both Abraham and Sarah lied
to Abimelech who was operating from a position of integrity.
When Abimelech heard the truth he tells his servants about what
has happened. Notice that he was open to talking
(sharing) with his servants. Abraham could not be as
open as Abimelech because he was controlled by fear.
So Abimelech asks Abraham in a direct way that
blew his "cover" "What made you do this... what
were you thinking?" Then he turns around and asserts Sarah's
integrity (that she was not defiled by him) and
gives gifts to both Abraham and Sarah. You see, God had a purpose
for Abimelech because he was open to doing what was right and
open to setting things right. Meanwhile Abraham was telling
half truths to cover the actual truth [Sarah
and Abraham did have the same father but not the same mother,
so they were half brother and sister].
Abraham answers Abimelech's question by saying
"When God caused me to wander from my father's house..."
Do you hear that? This is how Abraham, the friend of God, is
describing the call of God on his life!
So what is this telling us? Abraham had lost his
sense of vocation (his calling). And because he lost this and
his sense of friendship with God he was willing to act out of
fear.
God's purposes are not deterred by our disobedience.
It says in verse 17 that God heals Abimelech and his family
and for the first time since his arrival in this city, Abraham
starts praying to God. He should had done so upon arrival. If
he had, things might have been different! God acted, once Abraham
had been confronted with his faithlessness and had been healed
with it.
