IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Abraham Called on the Eternal God

Date: Mar. 11, 2025

Passage

Genesis 21:22-34 (ESV)

22 At that time Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army said to Abraham, “God is with you in all that you do. 23 Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my descendants or with my posterity, but as I have dealt kindly with you, so you will deal with me and with the land where you have sojourned.” 24 And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

25 When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech’s servants had seized, 26 Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.” 27 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant. 28 Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock apart. 29 And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?” 30 He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” 31 Therefore that place was called Beersheba, because there both of them swore an oath. 32 So they made a covenant at Beersheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol the commander of his army rose up and returned to the land of the Philistines. 33 Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. 34 And Abraham sojourned many days in the land of the Philistines.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 21:33

Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.

The last time Abraham encountered Abimelek he had been full of fear, cowardly gave up his wife, and made weak excuses (20:1-18). God had intervened at that time. Abimelek feared God. He kept his eye on Abraham, and saw that God was with him in everything. So he sought out a treaty of mutual respect. The world is watching how we live. Do they see that God is with us in everything?

Abraham is a different man. His fear has been replaced with courage. He not only agrees to the treaty, but even confronts Abimelek about a well he dug (“complained” is better translated “reprove” or “rebuke”). With confidence and faith in God who makes and keeps promises, Abraham became bold and courageous.

The introduction of the term “Philistines” here reminds us that we live in hostile territory. Abraham doesn’t fight his neighbors but makes friends and allies. His planting a tamarisk tree and calling out to the Eternal God shows where his strength comes from. He does not retreat but stays a long time. Beersheba becomes a prominent place in God’s history from this time forward.

Prayer: Father, you have been so faithful. Open my eyes to know you as the Eternal God, that your perfect love may drive out all my fear. Help me be a peacemaker in a world of fear and conflict.

One Word: Our God is the Eternal God

Daily Bread

Resurrection People

1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Key Verse: 15:20

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

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