In today's text, we see a covenant that is established
between Abraham and Abimelech. Now, many of us
may remember we have encountered Abimelech previously
in the narrative concerning Abraham in chapter
20, which is where this narrative... Today we're
going to consider this text in three parts. Now
we're not going to follow the structure of the
text today. What we're going to do is we're going
to consider an explanation of this text and the
covenant that is made between Abraham and Abimelech.
So we'll look at the explanation of that. Then
we're going to consider the significance of this
covenant in the life of Abraham. and in the redemptive
plan of God, then we'll consider the applications
that come for us today as God's people. First,
considering the explanation or an explanation
of the text or this covenant. Now, when we consider
the context of this section of the narrative,
it's very important that we realize where it's
happening and when it's happening. We read, starting
in verse 22, Now it came about at that time.
Now, we don't know exactly the timing of this
event. There's no conclusive or final way of
determining exactly when it occurred. But we
do know that it occurs in Gerar, which is where
Abraham first meets King Abimelech. We read in
chapter 20 of Genesis, starting in verse 1, Now
Abraham journeyed from there toward the land
of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and
Shur. Then he sojourned in Gerar. Now, if you
remember, in the previous narrative concerning
Abraham and Abimelech, Abraham... was a little
bit of a scaredy cat with regards to how he acted
with regards to his wife and the king. If you
remember, he asked his wife to lie on his behalf
and to say that she was his sister. Now, King
Abimelech, as the resident king of that area,
took Sarah into his harem, but who intervenes?
to ensure her safety and the security of the
promise. God himself intervenes and basically
comes to Abimelech and says, don't touch the
woman, you're good as dead. That's what he says
essentially. And Abimelech in that story seemingly
has more integrity than the man of faith, Abraham.
Abimelech recognizes the situations he's in,
but he also recognizes that Abraham has schemed
against him. But then we find Abimelech takes
note of Abraham's actions. He's a little sarcastic
in his final interactions with Abraham at the
end of chapter 20 there in that section. Now
in this section where we come in 21, it's very,
very different, isn't it? No longer is it that
Abimelech is the one with such integrity, but
now we find and we come and we find Abraham who's
very, very different. Abraham who's strong, who's
bold, who's assertive, who's powerful, a man
who's strong in his faith, a man who complains
to the king. He's speaking in terms of equality.
He's no longer cowering or intimidated by Abimelech,
but now Abraham is strong and bold in his faith.
He's a very different man. So in this story,
which started in chapter 20, verse 1, it's coming
to conclusion in chapter 22. It's coming full
circle. And it's showing us something about Abraham,
the man, and his life. Now there's something
else that's very significant about this. We see
the use of the word in the number seven repeatedly
over and over and over in this text. Now Moses
is doing that because he's trying to demonstrate
and show us that there's something of finality
and wholeness and completion. to this story.
Abraham's name is used seven times. Abimelech's
name is used seven times. There's seven eulams.
The word for well or oath is used seven times.
Moses wants us to see that there's something
with regards to the finality, the conclusiveness,
a wholeness to Abraham's life in this narrative
that we need to pick up on. There have been promises
made and fulfilled to Abraham. We saw that with
the son Isaac. The fulfillment of the son of
promise. But we have to remember there were other
promises and there are other promises that God
has made to Abraham that are yet unfulfilled.
And so we find in this narrative. some finality
and some conclusion, some wholeness with regards
to those promises in the life of Abraham. So
as we consider this, we see that Abimelech comes
to Abraham and he's seeking to initiate or establish
a covenant or a treaty. Now, it's interesting
because Abimelech is the one that approaches
Abraham and comes to him about this. Why does
Abimelech... approach Abraham about this? Because
God's abundant favor and blessing rests upon
the patriarch, the man of faith. And he's prospering
to such a degree that he is threatening the resident
king of that region. So we find Abimelech coming
to Abraham. Not by himself. Did you notice that
in the text? But who does he come with? His military
commander. Now, what do you think the purpose
of that would be? Maybe a show of power. A show
of authority. To let Abraham know that he's still
in charge of this place. Or so he wants to present,
at least. He recognizes God's blessing in Abraham's
life, doesn't he? He says, Now therefore swear
to me by God that you will not deal falsely with
me or with my offspring or with my posterity,
but according to the kindness that I have shown
to you, you shall show to me to the land in which
you have sojourned. In verse 22, right above
that, he says, Now it came about at that time
that Abimelech And Phecal, the commander of his
army, spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with you
in all that you do. Now, interestingly enough,
we see that Abimelech recognizes the favor of
God, the prosperity of God in Abraham's life.
But he's justifiably skeptical of Abraham, isn't
he? He comes to Abraham, he says, don't deal
falsely with me. Don't get sneaky with me. Why
would Abimelech think that, brothers and sisters?
Because of their previous interactions. Because
that's exactly how Abraham, the man of faith,
acted toward this pagan king. Abimelech had more
integrity than Abraham did at that time. In their
previous... interaction, though we'll see that's
not the case any longer. That's not the case
anymore. So he's skeptical, and he comes to him
with his military commander, and what is Abraham's
immediate or initial response? What does he say?
In a very quick and to -the -point manner, he
says, I swear it. You might think that's going
to be the end of it. But that's not the case.
Abraham immediately seeks to clarify a few matters
with this resident king, with Abimelech, this
powerful man in this region. What does he do?
The text says, Abraham complained to Abimelech
because of a well of water which the servant
of Abimelech had seized. Now, that word seized,
is used with regards to violence. This wasn't
just a little tiff. No, this was something where
the king's men violently took this well from
Abraham and his herdsmen, Abraham and his people,
a well that Abraham and his household had dug
themselves, which he believed he was in possession
of. But there's also another word I think we
need to understand and clarify. The word complained.
Now, when we hear that word, we typically have
a negative connotation with regards to the person
doing it. Meaning, this sheds bad light on Abraham,
but that's not how we should take it, brothers
and sisters. It's a technical, legal word that
makes it to seem and appear that Abraham is rebuking,
he's reproving Abimelech. He's correcting Abimelech,
meaning there's no false light being shed on
the man of faith in this instance, at this time,
in this period, and his interaction with Abimelech.
So, we see a dramatic change in Abraham already,
don't we, brothers and sisters? Whereas before
he was playing sleight of hand and he was kind
of resorting to half -truths and deceit and manipulation
because he was fearful of this man and what might
come of him and his wife, here we find that Abraham's
completely and totally different. He's up front.
He's assertive. He's holy and completely truthful.
He's not intimidated. by this man. He's not fearful
of what might come upon him and his wife and
his household. No, Abraham is completely different
in this instance, brothers and sisters. And we
see that he goes on to confidently assert the
terms of this covenant if this king wants to
be at peace with him. What are the terms? We
see them in verse 27. Abraham took sheep and
an oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two
of them made a covenant. Then Abraham set seven
ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Abimelech
said to Abraham, What do these seven ewe lambs
mean? What you have set by themselves. Which
you have set by themselves. He said, You shall
take these seven ewe lambs. From my hand. So
that it may be a witness to me. That I dug this
well. Now. The terms. Are that Abimelech. Accept
this gift. This payment. For what? This well.
That Abraham and his household. And his servants
have dug. Abraham wants it loud and clear. He
wants it legal. That he owns that. Well, those
are the terms that he sets with Abimelech. Now,
it's interesting, I find it fascinating, that
as Abraham is interacting with Abimelech, Abimelech
is somewhat fuzzy and he doesn't understand.
He's ignorant of what Abraham's doing with regards
to the sacrifices. Now, I don't think that Abimelech
is ignorant of covenants. or treaties, or contracts,
but he's ignorant of the way in which Abraham
is establishing this covenant. How is Abraham
establishing this covenant with this king? He's
making a covenant in the way that God has taught
him to make covenants, isn't he? By providing
a sacrifice, and what would they do? They would...
split the sacrifices, and the two of them would
walk down the middle of the sacrifices, cursing
one who breaks it, calling down a testimony,
a testimony of God, that if one of us breaks
this covenant, let us be as those animals which
were butchered. That's what he's doing. He's
enacting a covenant as God has taught him to
enact. this covenant. He's dealing with this
pagan king in such a way that he's been taught
of God how to live and how to walk and how to
interact with those around him. He wants this
well very badly. He longs to have this well.
This source of life for him and his household.
We think about Oh well, in Abraham's time today,
we might not think it's that big of a deal. But
brothers and sisters, that was a big deal for
him. That was a livelihood for him and his home.
That was livelihood for him and his livestock
and his sheep and his cattle and his lambs. That
was the livelihood of his whole household, to
have water so they could dwell in that area.
He needed that water to live and to survive,
to thrive in this area. But there's more than
that, I believe. Why would Abraham, the man of
faith who's received the promises of God, so
desperately long for such a little piece of this
land? Think about that, brothers and sisters.
What is it that makes Abraham so long for the
land in which this covenant has been made? Now,
there are certain results that come of this covenant.
Abraham goes on to enjoy the benefits of it,
to utilize it. We see in verses 31 through 34.
What does Abraham do immediately because of the
significance of what has taken place? He names
the place. Beersheba. Either the place of the
well or the place of seven. Or maybe both. There's
something significant that stands out. Abraham
wants to remember this oath. He wants to remember
this well. He wants to remember what has happened
in this place at this time. So he names the place.
And then he plants. A tamarisk tree. Now, a tamarisk
tree, we don't know for certain, but it was probably
a long -living tree that grows very slowly. Now,
again, we have to ask, there's something significant
about this place that Abraham would plant a tree
which would take hundreds of years to grow. And
a tree that he may not even see it grow all that
much before he dies. But maybe he's thinking,
one day I'll enjoy the shade of this tree, just
like the oaks of Mamre. Or maybe he's thinking,
I want to plant something of my own in this place
by this piece of property in which I possess,
that I just... Legally was confirmed to own by
the king of this region. Maybe he just wants
to plant it so that he can say he planted it.
You know, brothers and sisters, there's a deeper
meaning. He plants it because it will be there
a long time. He plants it because it will remain
long after he is dead yet. He plants it in this
place, Beersheba. Then, as a result of this covenant,
he worships God. He calls on the name of God.
It's interesting to me that Abimelech and Phekel,
they leave and they go home. They go home to
their foreign gods, their foreign deities, their
foreign powers, their idols. They're false gods.
And here's Abraham, who's living in the land
of the Philistines, even though they don't technically
reside there yet, but he's living in the land
of those people who are hostile to God and His
promises. Yet we see him having fidelity and
faithfulness in his worship to the one true God.
He's been dealing with this pagan king, yet he's
still faithful to worship God. And to faithfully
proclaim God's attributes. The everlasting God.
And then he remains and he sojourns in that area.
Now, this is kind of the home base for Abraham
this whole period, the rest of his life. We see
that Isaac really takes up this base as well.
So they stay in this area. In this specific region.
Really the remainder of his days. But all the
while. Even while he's living there. Even while
he's settling in this land. By this well. This
place which he's named. He's still. An alien.
He's still sojourned. He's not a permanent. Resident.
Of this place. He's living and dwelling. Among
the Philistines. we could say. So what is the
significance of this covenant in Abraham's life?
What's the big deal? Why has the Spirit of God
inspired this section of Scripture for us to
hear? Why has God given this to us? Well, it's
significant because God has made promises to
Abraham that are not fully in his possession
yet. We have to remember that it wasn't just
the promise of a son that God has made to Abraham.
If we turn back to Genesis chapter 13, and you
recall the incident with him and Lot, it's vaguely
similar to what we're reading about now. Abraham
is prospering, and so they have to part ways.
Well, God makes a glorious promise to Abraham
in this section of Scripture. In Genesis 13,
starting in verse 12, Abraham settled in the
land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities
of the valley and moved his tents as far as Sodom.
Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly
and sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to
Abraham, after Lot has separated from him, now
lift up your eyes and look for the place where
you are. Northward, southward, eastward, and
westward. Meaning, look all around you, Abraham.
Look in every direction for all the land which
you see. I will give to you and to your descendants
forever. God has made a promise to Abraham, not
just regarding his son being born, brothers and
sisters, but God has made a promise to Abraham
that the fulfillment of all his other promises
and his descendants after him, the descendants
which are as multitudinous as the stars, those
descendants will inherit. All the land in which
Abraham is dwelling. God has promised him the
land, brothers and sisters. You see, this section
of Scripture is bringing some conclusion with
regards to God's promise to Abraham that he will
come into possession of the promised land. We
find that Abraham in God's providence, is sought
out by King Abimelech to receive a covenant so
that Abraham can freely and securely, without
threat, in peace, enjoy the land which God has
promised to him in the future. That's part of
the significance of this story, brothers and
sisters. That God, through Abimelech, is confirming
his promise to Abraham regarding the land. Now,
he doesn't only have legal right and legal authority
to settle and to do what he pleases in this land
that God has promised to him. But he also owns
a small... portion of that land. However small,
brothers and sisters, Abraham owns a piece of
the property that God has promised to him in
that well. It's his. It's nobody else's. It's
in his possession, though not yet fully in his
possession. This section of Scripture is significant
because of the transformation of Abraham from
the start of his sojourning to the end of his
sojourning. We see this grand change that has
taken place in the life of Abraham, don't we?
He's not the same Abraham that we met in Genesis
chapter 20 in his first interaction with Abimelech.
He's a completely different Abraham. How in the
world is this man of faith so different? What
has happened to him? Brothers and sisters, we
know from Romans chapter 4 that Abraham has justifying
faith as the free gift of God. And if he has
justifying faith as a free gift of God, that
means he's also sanctified by the grace of God
in his life. It's not just that Abraham is a
man of faith, but it's also that Abraham is a
man who, just like you and me, is a man who is
sanctified by the grace of God, by the Spirit
of God in his life. He was less sanctified the
first time he met Abimelech. And he was more
sanctified the second time he interacts with
Abimelech. He's gone through a transformation
in the midst. of his sojournings while he's waiting
on the promises of God. Brothers and sisters,
does that sound vaguely familiar to you? Is there
anything that you can relate to in Abraham's
life with regards to that and his change in the
midst of his pilgrimage, in the midst of his
journeys? But we also are taught, But this is
significant because we learn about the nature
of faith. Abraham exercises faith as he is sanctified.
And he's living in accordance with and in light
of what God has promised to him, isn't he? Brothers
and sisters, why? Does he plant the tamarisk
tree? Why does he worship God in that place?
Why does he take up residence in that place?
Why does he want the well, brothers and sisters?
Because God has promised to him that this will
be his land. And he believes that God will do
what he has said he will do. So out of faith...
He's living in the land that God has promised
to him. He's exercising faith in God. Romans
4 tells us that he grew strong with regards to
the promise in his faith. Abraham's faith was
strengthened as he looked to the promise of God
coming to fruition in his life. We read in Hebrews
chapter 6. And in Hebrews chapter 11, all these
died in faith. Listen to that. Who's he referring
to? Everybody in the hall of faith. Everybody
listed, including Abraham. All these died in
faith without receiving the promises, but having
seen them and having welcomed them from a distance.
And having confessed that they were strangers
and exiles on the earth. For those who say such
things make it clear that they are seeking a
country of their own. And indeed, if they have
been thinking of that country from which they
went out, they would have had opportunity to
return. Verse 16. But as it is, they desire a
better country. That is a heavenly. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for
he has prepared a city for them by faith Abraham.
Abraham lived and dwelled in the land, brothers
and sisters, by faith in the promises to come.
Not as one of this world. He was looking for
a heavenly city, a heavenly home. His heart,
his affections were other worldly brothers and
sisters. They rested elsewhere in the promises
of God. So this is a very significant text of
Scripture, is it not, brothers and sisters? Because
it teaches us about the redemption that God has
promised. It teaches us about faith. and sanctification,
and what is to come in the culmination of God's
promises. So consider with me some applications
of this text for our lives. While we consider
these, it's important for us to understand something.
Many figures in the Bible, especially in the
Old Testament, in particular in the Old Testament,
are presented predominantly as types of Christ.
Meaning they're the type and Christ is the anti
-type that fulfills the type. So they're presenting
us with something that is true about Christ and
Christ is the substance and the fulfillment of
it. But in Scripture, brothers and sisters, Abraham
is presented predominantly not as a type of Christ,
but he's presented predominantly as an exemplar
of faith, as a type of believer in the world.
He's presented predominantly as a man in possession
of justifying, saving faith, who is an alien
and a pilgrim in this world. So that's how Abraham
is presented. And we're exhorted in the New Testament,
in Hebrews in particular, to imitate. The faith
and the faithfulness of Abraham. So that means
that believers in Jesus Christ are aliens and
exiles in this world. That's why James addresses
the church in such a way. That's why Peter refers
to the church as aliens and exiles in this world.
So we find several things that we can apply to
our lives from this text. The first is that we
are pilgrims or sojourners in this world. Brothers
and sisters, as long as there are promises that
we are not fully in possession of in this life,
we are pilgrims in this world. Are there promises
yet? unfulfilled in the life of the believer.
Yes, there are brothers and sisters. They're
fulfilled and they're brought about in Christ,
but they have not been fully and finally realized
and accomplished in time and history yet. Now
for Abraham, that was the promise of the land,
the promised land, Canaan. For the believer,
there's many, but... there still remains the
promised land for the believer. For the regenerate
man or woman, for those who know Jesus Christ,
we are pilgrims in this world waiting for the
return of Jesus Christ and the new heavens and
the new earth and the promised land, the place
in which God will dwell with His people, brothers
and sisters. We read so often in the Scriptures
of what it will be like in that day, in that
age, when Christ returns. We could turn to Isaiah
chapter 11. And we read in verse 6, And the wolf
will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will
lie down with the young goat. It's beautiful.
And the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together. And a little boy will lead them. Also
the cow and the bear will graze. Their young
will lie down together. And the lion will eat
straw like the ox. The nursing child will play
by the hole of the cobra. And the weaned child
will put this hand. put his hand on the vipers'
den. They will not hurt or destroy in all my
holy mountain, for the earth will be full of
the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover
the sea. Brothers and sisters, it's speaking
of the new heavens and the new earth and the
eternal glorified state of the world following
the great regeneration of all things. It's talking
about the coming culminated age in which Christ
redeems his people fully and finally. The promise
of the land fulfilled for every believer in Jesus
Christ. Now, we are pilgrims, brothers and sisters.
We are waiting. We are longing. We are looking
for something further, something better, something
that's not here yet. We live in the now. but
not yet. It's a very true reality and a very
true saying. This is why we read in 2 Peter,
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
in which the heavens will pass away with a roar,
and the elements will be destroyed with intense
heat, and the earth and its works will be burned
up. Since all these things are to be destroyed
in this way, What sort of people ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness? Looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God, because
of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning,
and the elements will melt with intense heat.
But listen to this, brothers and sisters. But
according to His promise, according to God's
promise, But according to God's promise, we are
looking for new heavens and a new earth in which
righteousness dwells. Amen, brothers and sisters.
That's the promised land. Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth. That's the
future which lays ahead for the people of God,
brothers and sisters, following the return of
Jesus Christ. We are pilgrims in this world.
That is our eternal home. But we also see that
while we sojourn, we will experience trials,
temptations, struggles, a lot of the things that
Abraham enjoyed in the experience. A double reality.
Blessing and curse. Hardship and great blessing.
We'll have to deal with the world around us like
he dealt with Abimelech. We'll have to deal with
sinners and sin and temptation and trials and
struggles. But brothers and sisters, as we sojourn,
we're also going to experience great joy. In
the heights of love, we have the promises of
God and they are effective in our lives now,
brothers and sisters. We don't wait for Christ
as those with no hope. His work is in the believer,
brothers and sisters, and it's powerful and it's
effective. So we will have trials and tribulations
in this life, but we will also have joy and peace
and love and hope and satisfaction in this life.
Just like Abraham. Why do we need to understand
this? Because expectations matter, especially
for pilgrims. Do you understand that how we view
the world around us has implications on how we
live in the world in which we walk? What we expect
of this world will impact how we live in this
world. We are pilgrims. We don't belong here.
Our faith is tied up with the consummation of
the ages at the return of Jesus Christ. So just
as Abraham was a pilgrim, brothers and sisters,
we are pilgrims. But listen, this is a good thing.
Because that means there is that which is better
to come, that which is best to come. But it also
means, brothers and sisters, that we understand
how to fully and rightly enjoy this world and
the things of this world. By keeping things in
their proper place. If we recognize eternal things
and Christ's invisible kingdom, and we recognize
the temporal nature and character of the things
of this world, then we can rightly enjoy the
temporal and earthly things in this world. But,
if we make those temporal and earthly things
more than they ought to be, more than what they
are, then brothers and sisters, you will no longer
enjoy them. They will rule over you. Everything
in its proper place, brothers and sisters. We
are sojourners. And what's the biggest struggle
we have? As we pilgrim in this world. I know
what my biggest problem is. I hope you know what
yours is. It's my heart. It's your biggest problem
as you sojourn. Your own heart. Because that's
the struggle of the sojourner, isn't it? Not
to let your heart grasp. Too firmly and too tightly
to the things of this world? It wants to, brothers
and sisters. It does. It wants to reach out and
lay hold of them. It wants to find its joy and
its satisfaction and its hope in the things of
this world. But don't you let it. It will strip
you of joy. Brothers and sisters, set your hearts,
set your affections. On Jesus Christ and the
promises in Jesus Christ. That which is lasting.
That which is eternal. That which remains. That
which is to come. Brothers and sisters. That's
the never ending struggle. Of the pilgrim in
this life. Their own hearts desire. We have to
live by faith. In this world. Just like Abraham
did. But we also must remember, brothers and
sisters, that we are being changed as we sojourn
in this world. From the time we start our pilgrimage
to the time we end our pilgrimage, we will be
completely different. Do you understand that,
brothers and sisters? If you are in Christ Jesus,
you will not be the same at the start. of your
journey with Christ, at your regeneration, as
you are at the end of your journey with Christ.
You will be transformed from glory to glory.
You will be renewed inwardly day by day by the
Spirit of God. You'll be transformed, brothers
and sisters. You'll be made into the likeness
and image of Jesus Christ in your inner man.
You'll be changing as you... Pilgrim through
this world. And ultimately we have to understand
and we have to recognize that our sojourning
will come to an end. Brothers and sisters, we're
only pilgrims for so long. The day is coming
when we will enjoy and experience our true home.
The day is coming when we will rest in the presence
of our Lord. The day is coming, brothers and
sisters, when your heart will no longer be inclined
to sin and corruption. The day is coming, brothers
and sisters, when your heart will no longer long
for those things in this world, but it will long
rightly for the glory of God and the presence
of Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, our sojourning
is only for a time. It's only for a period. The
day is coming when we will walk on the ground
of a new heavens and a new earth. We will breathe
the air. Of a glorified cosmos, brothers and
sisters. That is the world that is prepared for
His people. That is the world that is prepared
for all those in Jesus Christ. Put your affections
on that, brothers and sisters. Realize that life
is but a vapor. It's very short. It comes and
it goes. Rather quickly. And some of us tend
to say that more often than others. As we age.
Because it's an ever present truth. Isn't it
brothers and sisters? That time flies. Before
you know it. You're almost 40 years old. Before
you know it. You're a little older than that.
But brothers and sisters. You know what that
means? It's teaching us. That there's a permanent.
There's an eternal home that will not cease,
that will not end, where we will not age, and
where we will always be with our Lord and our
Savior, our God, and we will be with all our
brothers and sisters for all eternity. Brothers
and sisters, those of you here in Jesus Christ
right now who truly, genuinely know Him by faith
and repentance, We will lock arms and worship
Christ for all eternity in the new heavens and
the new earth. That is our hope which is to come.
That is the promise that Abraham received. And
brothers and sisters, that is the promise that
we have in Jesus Christ because of His blessed
word. Praise be to the name of our great God
and our great Savior.