Women's Prayer Group In Christ

Abraham sojourned in Gerara: Sara is taken into king Abimelech’s house, but by God’s commandment is restored untouched.

“And he said of Sara his wife: She is my sister. So Abimelech the king of Gerara sent, and took her.” (Genesis 20:2)

We should be ever mindful that we are pilgrims in this world; trusting in the Lord and giving thanks always.

“Abraham moved from there to the southern land,” the text goes on, ‘and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, sojourning at Gerar.’ Moved on from where? From the place where he was camped, where he was given the privilege of hosting the Lord of all with the angels. Moving from there, the text says, ‘he sojourned in Gerar.’ Notice the life of these good people, how restrained and austere it was, how they shifted place with ease and conducted their life like pilgrims or nomads, pitching their tent at one time in this place, at another in that, as though living in a strange land. They are unlike us, who live in a strange land as though in our home country, erecting extravagant mansions, porches and covered walks, possessing land, building baths and countless other luxuries. By contrast see the good man holding all his possessions in his household and flocks alone. [He is] never staying in one place but at one time pitching his tent in Bethel, at another by the oak of Mamre, at another going down to Egypt and now camping at Gerar, submitting to all this with ease and giving clear evidence in every way of gratitude to his own Lord. Despite such wonderful promises and guarantees given him by God, he saw himself beset by such imposing difficulties and encountering such varied and differing trials. Yet he stood unshaken like some piece of steel, showing his godly attitude and proving no less resolute in any of the problems surrounding him. See in the present instance too, dearly beloved, the kind of trial that befell him at Gerar and the wonderful caliber of the just man’s virtue. What everyone else found unbearable and could not bring themselves to accept he put up with without complaint and without demanding from the Lord explanation of what happened, as many people do, even though weighed down with countless burdens of sin. When they encounter some difficulties, they become meddlesome and inquisitive, saying, ‘Why has this or that happened?’ The just man, on the contrary, didn’t behave like that; hence he enjoyed greater favor from on high. This, after all, is truly the mark of a dutiful servant, not to pry into reasons for what is done by the master but to accept everything in silence and with deep thanks.” (4) -St. John Chrysostom

“Now therefore restore the man his wife, for he is a prophet: and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: but if thou wilt not restore her, know that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine.” (Genesis 20:7)

God often makes his Saints known with the light of their life and virtue recognized.

“The reason why the good Lord inflicted this penalty on the king, guiltless though he was of sin, was that he might accede to the just man’s prayers and thus resolve the problem, thereby rendering the just man more famous and well known. You see, all God’s planning and each arrangement he makes have the purpose of rendering conspicuous those who serve him, just like lamps, and making their virtue obvious in every way.” (4) -St. John Chrysostom

“And said: The land is before you, dwell wheresoever it shall please thee.” (Genesis 20:15)

God blesses and protects those who place their confidence in Him.

“Do you see, dearly beloved, God’s inventive wisdom? I mean, the man who was fearful of death and took every means to be able to avoid it, not only did avoid it but was granted as well great confidence and became immediately famous. This, you see, is the way things are with God. Not only does he deliver from distress those who make every effort to strive boldly against the onset of temptation, but also he guarantees them such serenity in this very distress that we have complete tranquillity and achieve great material prosperity. See now the attention of the king to the just man. Not only does he show his regard with so many gifts, but also he grants him the right to occupy the land. .’Behold,’ he said, ‘my land is before you; settle wherever you please.’ You see, once he had learned that it was on his account and through his prayers that his life had been spared, he was anxious now to shower attention in this way on him, as a benefactor and champion, the man who was a stranger, a vagabond, one completely unknown.” (4) -St. John Chrysostom

We are reminded to keep the first commandment and our priorities right in this life in Matthew 6:33, “Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.”