Genesis 20
Here we go again. Lest we believe that the patriarchs always learned from their mistakes, we see Abraham again letting Sarah be taken as some kind of concubine. As I said in writing about chapter 12, when this happened last time, we need never think that God can works wonders only through especially holy and noble people. God works through very fallible people who are at least aware enough to know they need God, and at least in love with God enough to trust God, and at least obedient enough to attempt to follow God. Abraham allows Abimelech to take Sarah to save his own skin. I am less than thrilled with the man. In verse 16 it seems that Abimelech is far more concerned with Sarah’s welfare and reputation than her husband is.
But as I read chapter 20 this time, I am struck not by anything Abraham does, but by God’s care for Abimelech, a foreigner, one outside the promise. The Hebrew Scriptures proclaim boldly and often that the Jews are the chosen people of God, in special covenant with the Holy One. I believe this. Again and again in scriptures, God shows care for people who are not of the Jews. God works through people who are not within this covenant. God is God of all and is perfectly capable of loving and caring for everyone. I believe this, too. It is very dangerous to think of ourselves as the favored ones, the ones most loved. Such arrogance leads us into belittling and betraying the vocation of loving others to which God calls us. God comes to Abimelech in a dream and has intervened in events to protect him. In this story Abimelech is the noble one, and Abraham . . . not so much.
Just as in the story before when Yahweh speaks with Abraham about his plans for Sodom and Gomorrah, God invites Abraham into participating in the care for others. Verses 7 and 17 indicate that God wants Abraham to pray for Abimelech and his people. Abraham’s prayers for others matter. Despite his failings, Abraham is called prophet. Abraham is one who speaks with God.
This all should teach us something, shouldn’t it? Do we ever make the mistake of thinking that because God cares for us, God cannot care so much for some other group or sort of people? For whom should we be praying? If we believe that we have been given the privilege of speaking with God, doesn’t it matter very much what we say? On whose behalf should you be praying?
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This idea that God is only the God of the people of the book always makes me feel beligerant and impatient. God, that book tells us, made all people in God's image, and it seems to me that acceptance of that idea precludes any notions of special selection. Year ago we did a series of forums led by a professor at Ohio Wesleyan on comparative religions and another time by someone from Trinity Lutheran related to that topic. I remember the first sayint that the reaction of many Hindus was that our God must be very selfish to select only some people. Their many gods manifest themselves in a variety of ways. I see our God showing us many faces and characteristics to help us understand the vastness of the mystery. Even the ancient Hebrew people must have understood this. Helping Abimelech, saving Hagar and so much more that God has done for Jew and non-Jew alike, and I wonder how so many of us cannot see this.
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