Genesis 21:22

Genesis 21:22 says, And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:  Those in power around Abraham noticed that he was being blessed by God.  As followers of Christ, even if we do not have great riches, people should be able to see that we are blessed by our relationship with Him.  Verse twenty-three adds, Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son’s son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.  Abimelech asked Abraham to act honestly with him and his descendants from now own.  Abraham had not gotten off to a good start in this, but was now being asked to deal honestly from now on.  We should always deal honestly and fairly with those around us, even without them having to ask.  Verse twenty-four states,  And Abraham said, I will swear.  Abraham gave his word to Abimilech.  As followers of Christ, if we give our word to someone, we should always attempt to keep it.  Verse twenty-five declares, And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.  Abraham had a problem with some of Abimelech's servants taking a well of water from him, so he went to Abimelech to discuss the problem.  We should always go to those who are really in authority if we have a problem with someone who serves, or works, for them, but we should always do so with God's guidance and for His glory.   Verse twenty-six says, And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.  Abimelech said he was unaware of the problem before Abraham telling him of it at that time.  Abraham may have been blaming Abimelech for the problem when he wasn't the source of the problem.  We today must never just blame someone, especially those in power, for our problems without first making sure that they know that there is a problem.  Verse twenty-seven declares, And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.  Abraham gave a gift to Abimelech and made a covenant with him.  I believe that God expects us to do our best to get along with others, even if it costs us something materially.  Still, it should be done with God's guidance.  Verse twenty-eight states, And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.  Abraham set seven ewe lambs aside.  Then in verse twenty-nine Abimelech asks, And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?  Abimelech asked Abraham what the meaning was of this act.  As we worship and serve God today, the lost of the world may have questions about what we are doing.  Verse thirty states, And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.  Abraham said that when Abimelech took the seven ewe lambs that it would be a witness between them that Abraham had dug the well.  I don't believe that Abraham was attempting to buy Abimelech's good will, but that he was simply giving these lambs as a symbol of their agreement.  Verse thirty-one adds, Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.  Then verse thirty-two concludes, Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.  Abimelech and Abraham had resolved the problem peacefully, and Abraham named the place where they had entered into the covenant Beersheba.  I believe that this was so that every time someone came to the place they would be reminded of the covenant.  Every time we have dealings with other people, we should remember the covenant that we made with God when we came to the cross of Jesus.  Though this is not a physical place, it is a spiritual one.  Verse thirty-three states, And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.  Abraham planted a grove at the well, and called on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.  No matter what we do as followers of Christ, we must make sure that we are following God's will and give Him the glory.  Verse thirty-four states, And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines’ land many days.  Having made peace with Abimelech, Abraham was able to stay there for many days.  We should always pray that God will allow us to live peacefully, wherever we may be.