Introduction

Tim Mackie’s Bible Project series of teachings on Abraham brought out an interesting principle in the story of the patriarch’s stopover with King Abimelech of Gerar (Abraham Deceives Abimelech). The principle: Do for others what you want done for you.

The Opening of Wombs

When Abraham took his wife and household south between Kadesh and Shur, he showed the same cowardice as in Egypt. He told Sarah to claim she was his sister, not his wife, lest the men kill him to get her. The king took her into his household but did not approach her. Still, Yahweh told Abimelech that he and his people were dead if they did not return Abraham’s wife.

Meanwhile, Yahweh had closed the wombs of Abimelech’s household. The king had to ask Abraham to intercede for him and his people, to open again their wombs (Genesis 20:17-18). The next story is about Sarah’s womb being opened after Yahweh had closed it all her life (Genesis 16:2). What Abraham prayed would happen for Abimelech and his household, happened for him and his wife.

Other Examples

Other Bible passages support this idea of doing for others what you want done for yourself. Jesus said, “Give to others, and God will give to you. Indeed, you will receive a full measure, a generous helping, poured into your hands — all that you can hold. The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you. (Luke 6:38)”

God’s Anointed One also said, “If you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, your Father in heaven will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14).”

Faith Hunt Principle

Gary Keesee teaches in his book, Faith Hunt, that giving to Kingdom work helps when it’s time to obtain something you need. In his case, it was harvesting deer every year. (He didn’t need to hunt them.) 

The story in Genesis 20 suggests that doing something (or praying God to do something) for another opens the door for Him to do that something for you. 

For me, this is a year of limited income – a sabbatical year while I write these blogs and scenes for my Gathering of Misfits series of novels? I also help out weekly at a local food bank and give something when agencies call to ask for donations. I believe this keeps me in groceries, as well as other necessary payments.

Questions 

What do you need? Some item or service that’s hard for you to obtain right now? Can you give some little bit of that or pray God to give that to another? Then listen and see how God will provide that for you.

Given the coming shaking predicted for this country, if not the whole world, can you trust God to provide? Can you gather with others for mutual giving and support?