In Genesis 20, we read about Abraham and Sarah’s journey into the land of the Philistines. During this time, Abraham lied about his wife, Sarah, because of her extraordinary beauty. It is noteworthy that Sarah was nearly 90 years old, yet she was so beautiful that Abraham feared for his life, thinking they would kill him to take her. God had renewed her youth to such an extent that even heathen kings, who could have any woman in their kingdoms, were captivated by her beauty and desired her for their harems.
When you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, your spouse and loved ones share in your blessings. Your family members are the first beneficiaries of your righteousness. The Scriptures declare that your wife will be a fruitful vine, and your children will be like olive plants around your table (Psalm 128).
When Abraham referred to Sarah as his sister, the king took her into his harem. However, before he could act on that, God appeared to him in a dream and warned him that he would die if he touched Sarah. God also informed him that Abraham was a prophet and that when Abraham prayed, the people of the land would be healed.
If you read this chapter for the first time, you might think that Abimelech the king is the one who truly fears God, rather than Abraham. While Abraham’s actions seem selfish, Abimelech responded with integrity.
You might wonder why God does not rebuke Abraham for this blunder but instead refers to him as a “prophet.” This is because one of the benefits of being righteous by faith is that your sins are not held against you (Romans 4:7-8). Being justified means that you are accepted before God as if you had never sinned. So take a deep breath! From the moment you received Jesus into your heart, your sins are not counted against you. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Romans 4:7-8 says “Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God counts righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”
When Abraham lied to the king, Sarah also acted as an accomplice by agreeing to the lie. However, here’s how God’s grace worked: God protected her from harm. Sarah was meant to carry the promised Seed in her womb, and for some reason, the king could not approach her. God kept Sarah safe from being polluted or sexually violated. He also protected Abraham from the king’s wrath for lying to him, which could have been a death sentence in a court of law. The Scripture says that the righteous run into the name of the Lord and are safe (Proverbs 18:10). Beloved, because you are made righteous in Christ Jesus, you and your family are well protected and safe. Regardless of any infectious diseases or dangers that the world fears, you and I are safe in Christ Jesus.
God informed Abimelech that Abraham was a prophet, and that when Abraham prayed, the entire nation would be healed of barrenness (Gen 20:7). The righteous have open access to God, and He answers their prayers despite their shortcomings. The Psalmist says, “The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (Ps 34:15). Even though Abraham lied and failed to protect Sarah as a husband, God still heard his prayers and, remarkably, called him a “prophet”!
In the same way, because you trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are made righteous, and when you pray, God listens to you and answers your prayers. So pray today and witness your needs being met in Jesus’ name.
After King Abimelech had an encounter with God in his dream, he summoned Abraham and Sarah to the palace the next morning. He gave them sheep and oxen, male and female servants, and a thousand pieces of silver (Gen 20:14, 16). Why did this happen? Let’s clarify: even though Abraham and Sarah lied and put God’s promise at risk, they were blessed with gifts and abundance anyway. This demonstrates the righteousness of God at work for their good!
Here is a promise from God regarding the righteous: whatever they do prospers (Psalm 1:3). The term “whatever” truly means “whatever!” God can use both the good things and the mistakes you make to bring about your prosperity. Yes! Even your blunders can work for your good when you believe that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
This principle is illustrated in the story of Abraham and Sarah, whose mistakes were ultimately turned around for their benefit. They left the land of Philistia richer than before. Their mistakes contributed to their promotion. This is a wonderful blessing of the righteous that belongs to you in Christ Jesus.
Another blessing of the righteous is that God will vindicate your honor whenever you face shame. We can imagine how the courtiers in the king’s palace responded to Sarah’s presence in the harem. Many may have slandered her, claiming she had abandoned her husband for the king. This would have been painful and shameful, but God cared for her deeply. He ensured that her honor was vindicated publicly.
Beloved, because you have been made righteous in Christ Jesus, God will not only deliver you but also bring you out with honor. Remember, the same God who delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and promoted them is your vindicator. He will cause your righteousness to shine like the noon sun, vindicate your dignity, and grant you double honor for your shame.
In this chapter of Genesis 20, we see Abraham lying about his wife, Sarah, putting her in danger of being defiled by gentile seed. This could have led to various troubles for them. However, despite these mistakes, Abraham ultimately came out on top because God used all his errors for good and made him a prophet to the nations. The Scripture says that when you receive the gift of righteousness and the abundance of grace, you will reign in life (Romans 5:17). Indeed, God’s grace enables you to rise above any situation.
So, why don’t we believe and embrace this truth for our lives today? Because you, too, are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, you will have dominion and reign in life.
Beloved, I truly hope that you found this blog uplifting. I pray that as you meditate on the blessings of the righteous, you will experience everything that belongs to you in Christ Jesus. Amen?
You are blessed!
