God Is At Work

As I was reading through the Bible again at the beginning of this year, I was struck by the story of Abimelech. If you recall, Abraham is sojourning in the land, and as is becoming his bad habit, once again he lies about his wife, telling the local king that she is his sister and not his wife. As a result, Abimelech takes Sarah as his own wife. However, what is curious about this, is he doesn’t touch her. He doesn’t consummate the marriage and is totally innocent with her. God shows up in a dream and tells Abimelech that he is a dead man. This is a surprise to Abimelech, as you can imagine. A God who he likely doesn’t really know, shows up in a dream and tells him he is dead. That is a scary dream.
However, at this point Abimelech pleads his innocence. Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.”
Then God says, “Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
Now what gets me about this, is how God can work in whoever, however he wants for His purpose and glory. Imagine Abimelech. He is rich, and powerful, and likely hasn’t refrained from anything he has ever wanted. Now he is has this new bride, a woman who he is attracted to, in his house, and I am sure in his mind, should be in his bed. However, for some reason, he is in bed by himself, for reasons he can’t explain. He has no idea why he isn’t having sex with his new wife. Then he has a dream, and it all makes sense.
At first he takes credit for his own innocence. It isn’t too long though and God straightens him out. This has nothing to do with you, I saved you from yourself. Not because of anything you have done, but because of who I am and what I have done. Abimelech is saved from himself, by God.
This is good news, and obviously points to what Jesus does for us. What is amazing to me though is how God intervenes in the life of someone no one would have expected. He saves a pagan king from himself and makes him innocent, even though Abimelech had no idea what was going on or why he was doing what he was doing.
I am encouraged by this to know that the Gospel of Jesus is powerful and that God is at work in places I may not have thought possible. Jesus is doing His work in ways that are surprising, and He will bring the Kingdom, He will build the Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. He is at work, He is speaking, He is healing, He is moving independently of us and preparing the way.
The cool thing is though; He invites us in to work with Him. By His grace, He invites us in. Just the way He invited Abraham into the healing of Abimelech. Abraham has blown it, he is without excuse. This is the second time he has given his wife away, yet God invites Abraham back in to work with Him, so that he could experience the blessing of partnering with God in an amazing miracle. Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the LORD had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
God is at work, have you joined in it with Him by His grace for His glory and your joy? What are you asking God for, what are you trusting Jesus for, and this new year are you looking for ways to join God in what He is already doing?

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