Tag: Abimelech

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Genesis Devotions

Unintentional sins?

[Abimelech] said, “…I did this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have not let you touch her.” (4-6)

It’s hard to fault Abimelech for taking Sarah as his wife. Abraham lied to him, after all.

But knowingly or not, he still sinned by taking Abraham’s wife, and it was only by God’s grace that he was kept from greater sin by actually sleeping with her.

It made me think of Paul’s words to the Corinthians.

For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. It is the Lord who judges me. (1 Corinthians 4:4)

We’re not always aware of our own sin. That’s why it’s good to sometimes pray David’s prayer in Psalm 19. Honestly, I really ought to do it more. In fact, I think I’ll do it today.

Who perceives his unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Moreover, keep your servant from willful sins;
do not let them rule me.

Then I will be blameless
and cleansed from blatant rebellion. (Psalm 19:12-13)

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Judges Devotionals

Our true king

Judges

We often think of Saul as the first “king” in Israel’s history. But actually, Abimelech was.

The problem was, he was not appointed by God, who was Israel’s true King. Rather certain Israelites appointed him as king on their own. As a result, Abimelech recognized no accountability to the true King of Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20).

For that matter, neither did the people who made Abimelech king. They were worshiping a false god (Judges 8:33, 9:4).

The result? Disaster.

The truth is, we can find true peace only when our true King rules. That King came 2000 years ago to the town of Bethlehem.

But our King is no longer a baby in a manger. He is a King that deserves our love, loyalty, and obedience.

So let us receive our King in our hearts, and joyously submit to his authority each day.

Joy to the world!
The Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King!

Categories
Genesis

No excuses

Genesis

“But I didn’t know. I have a clean conscience.”

Those were the words of Abimelech when he took Abraham’s wife to be his own.

And he was right. Abraham and Sarah both lied to him, saying that she was Abraham’s sister. So Abimelech took Sarah as his own wife.

But God confronted Abimelech saying, “You’re a dead man because you’ve taken another man’s wife as your own.”

And while Abimelech truly didn’t know, he still had sinned, and his sin needed to be atoned for.

How often do we sin, and not even notice? Probably a lot more often than we think.

That’s why it’s a good idea at the end of the day to ask God to search your heart. Because if you don’t, you may find a block between you and God, and you won’t even know why.

David knew this and so he prayed,

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (Psalm 19:12–13, NIV)

In another prayer, he said,

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23–24)

Lord, how often do I do things that put a block between you and me and don’t even know it? Please forgive me.

Make me more sensitive to your Holy Spirit so that when I sin, I notice it and can confess it to you.

As David prayed, forgive my hidden faults. See if there is any offensive way in me. And keep me from willful sins in my life that would damage my relationship with you.

In Jesus’ name, amen.