Genesis 21:22-34
Dwelling in the Promised Land

Has Abraham finally cast out the bondwoman and her son? Has he finally given up relying on his flesh to provide safety and security and acceptability with God and the fulfillment of God’s promises? 

1. Abimelech seeks a Covenant with Abraham
   1. Abimelech Comes in Great Strength
      1. For the old Abraham this would be a scary moment
         1. Abimelech, whom he had wronged, comes to meet him (recall story)
         2. Abimelech, of whom he had been afraid, stands before him.
         3. And he stands before him with Phicol, the commander of his army to impress Abraham with his great military strength.
         4. It is a gesture, as though to say, "I own this place and I could destroy you if I like, but I’m feeling nice today."
         5. The old Abraham would roll over and play dead and ask "You want my wife back?"
      2. Yet really, Abimelech’s show of strength is a sign that he’s afraid.
      3. Already there is a shift in perspective in this account
         1. Before, Scripture referred to him as King Abimelech, emphasizing his power and strength.
         2. Here, he is simply Abimelech.
         3. He comes not as Abraham’s superior, but, at most, as his equal.
         4. And not even Abraham’s equal, he testitfies.
   2. Abimelech Testifies to Abraham’s Greater Strength
      1. "God is with you in all you do"
         1. Just as God had promised back in ch. 12
         2. So Abimelech acknowledges God’s faithfulness to Abraham is evident to him.
         3. He knows that God is "the God of Abraham" not "the God of Abimelech"
         4. So in negotiating with Abraham, Abimelech is in effect negotiating with God
         5. Abraham becomes God’s mediator
      2. Thus Abraham hears testimony once again of God’s faithfulness so that he will not be afraid to obey God’s commands.
      3. God is very graciously building up Abraham’s faith so that he will be able to receive the command to sacrifice Isaac.
      4. "Therefore swear to me"
         1. The lesser seeks a covenant from the greater; he seeks his own safety
         2. Abraham is clearly the great king who must condescend to grant the wishes of the lesser king
         3. Their roles are now as they should be
         4. Before, Abimelech had been the righteous figure, the one who spoke with God and as God’s mouthpiece rebuked Abraham
         5. But that was all wrong. Now things are right
      5. Swear that you will deal faithfully with me in this land
         1. The last time Abraham met Abimelech, he was dwelling outside the Promised Land and traveling in Abimelech’s country in fear
         2. Now, having seen God’s faithfulness, he travels in Abimelech’s country without fear
         3. And Abimelech comes, not to kick him out, but to beg him not to abuse his power.
         4. He in effect concedes that Abraham has a right to dwell in this land because of his relationship with God
         5. He only asks that Abraham not throw him out.
      6. Swear that you will deal faithfully with my offspring and my posterity
         1. Abimelech acknowledges that Abraham’s dynasty will continue through Isaac
         2. He looks to the future and seeks a covenant not only between Abraham and himself, but between their children as well
         3. How unthinkable this was last time they met, when Abraham had no one to inherit the promises and blessing of God.
         4. God is reminding Abraham through Abimelech of everything God has done and all the promises he has fulfilled.
            1. He does not yet own the land, yet here is Abimelech coming to him as though he does
            2. He had no offspring to pass the covenant down to, now here is Abimelech considering the future in Isaac.
   3. Abraham Graciously Agrees
      1. Abraham condescends to make a covenant with Abimelech
      2. He agrees to be Abimelech’s protector, in essence
      3. How different an Abraham this is!
         1. How he had skulked about in Abimelech’s land last time, fearful for his life, lying about Sarah and fearing the worst.
         2. Now he walks about the land as though he owns the place and calmly receives a request from a king and his army commander to swear that he will not harm them.
      4. Thus Abraham begins to see fulfilled another of God’s promises: He is becoming a blessing to those who bless him, and a help to the nations.
      5. He shadows forth Christ, his Seed, whose blessing will extend to the ends of the earth.
2. Abraham Secures the Covenant
   1. Abraham Rebukes Abimelech for Violating the Covenant
      1. All this would be amazing enough, a complete turnaround for Abraham.
      2. Yet Abraham presses his advantage.
         1. He does not simply breathe a sigh of relief and think "Good, now I don’t have to fear Abimelech. If he wants to think I’m this mighty king, let him."
         2. No, Abraham acts the part; he knows he is a mighty king.
         3. And a mighty king does not let someone else steal his well and say, "It’s only a well. If I complain, maybe he’ll turn against me."
         4. He is secure in the Lord’s care. God will protect him.
      3. The one who had prostituted his wife for fear the people of the land would kill him… this one rebukes the king of that land for dealing falsely with him.
         1. How bold he has become, encouraged by the promises of God!
         2. If God can provide a seed, Isaac, then surely God means to provide the Land as well, just as he promised.
         3. How bold must we be when God has provided the Seed of whom Isaac was a picture? Will he not also with him give us the land, heaven itself, and indeed all things?
      4. Again, the roles are reversed, returned to the way they should be
         1. Last time Abimelech had rebuked Abraham
         2. Now Abraham rebukes Abimelech
      5. And further, this well is in the Promised Land
         1. It represents the inheritance that was promised to his seed
         2. He seeks not to lose the smallest portion of that inheritance
         3. Filled with faith that recognizes the land as a picture of heaven, he is not content to let a single parcel of it slip through his fingers.
   2. Abimelech Disavows Knowledge
      1. Abimelech’s reply is almost frantic, a sort of "Please don’t hurt me" whimper.
      2. I don’t know who’s done this thing; you didn’t tell me nor did I hear of it until today.
      3. He offers excuses to Abraham rather than owning up to the sin
         1. Just as Abraham had offered him excuses before
         2. And just as Abraham’s excuses reflected poorly on him, so it is with Abimelech’s.
         3. "I don’t know who did it" = I’m not in control as a king ought to be
         4. "You didn’t tell me" = I can’t keep the covenant with you unless you remind me to hold up my end of the bargain
         5. "I didn’t hear of it until today" = Sin can exist a long time in my Kingdom without my ever noticing.
   3. Abraham Reestablishes the Covenant
      1. Abraham doesn’t make any reply in words at first
      2. Rather, he brings forth animals so that the covenant may be more than in word only. It must be ratified by blood.
         1. Just as God made the covenant with Abraham, first by swearing to him, then by passing through the pieces of the cut up animals
         2. So Abraham, God’s representative, follows in those footsteps.
      3. Separately he sets up seven ewe lambs
         1. Abimelech curiously asks why
         2. Abraham replies that they represent his claim to the well he dug
      4. He has established a foothold in the Promised Land
         1. It is his first acquisition there, the firstfruits. A sign that God will also give him the whole
         2. In valuing this well, Abraham demonstrates his faith that what God promises is worth having
         3. The last two verses show bear out that faith.
3. Abraham Dwells in the Land
   1. He Plants a Tree
      1. A tamarisk is a shade tree.
         1. It will take a while to grow, but he’s going to be there a while. And so will his offspring
         2. He’s confident of that now; this place is his home. He will not wander again.
         3. No longer will he sit in the door of his tent in the heat of the day; this tree will provide better shade.
      2. He’s settling in, finally and definitively confessing that this is his true home
         1. What a relief to get to this point!
         2. To finally stop wandering away to Egypt or the Desert
         3. To be confident at last that God has given him the land!
      3. Shall we not be all the more confident that God has given us the true Land, Heaven?
         1. The Promised Land was only a picture.
         2. Abraham waited for the real thing, which we have.
         3. And we have more than a well and a tree there, we have the most priceless treasure of all, Jesus Christ.
         4. Let us then act as citizens of that kingdom and lay up our treasure there and cease casting our eyes down to Egypt, i.e. to this world, as though there is anything of value here.
   2. He Calls on the Name of the Lord
      1. He worshiped God there for he understood the ground on which he lived was holy.
         1. He acknowledges that it is God and God alone who has provided him with all these things.
         2. He had feared Abimelech because he was weak
         3. Now that Abimelech has come crawling to him, Abraham does not boast in his strength, but in the Lord.
      2. Appropriately he calls upon the Lord, "the Everlasting God"
         1. God is not just Abraham’s God for today, but forever.
         2. Thus Abimelech sought a covenant not only with Abraham, but with his posterity.
         3. Truly, now that Isaac has been born, Abraham’s faith looks toward the future.
         4. God will fulfill all his promises to Abraham and to his seed
   3. He Stays in the Land Many Days
      1. True to his faith, he does not wander again
      2. His home is here. His faith is in God to give him this land.
         1. Nothing can tear him away from it now
         2. Yet this is not his true home, but he waits for the home God will bring
         3. And God will bring it through his Seed, the son of Abraham, the son of Isaac — Jesus.
      3. He is ready for the ultimate test of his faith, which will come in the next chapter.

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