January 22, 2020
What does it say?
Abimelech’s servants had seized one of Abraham’s wells without Abimelech’s knowledge. The two men established the Treaty at Beersheba to settle the issue.
What does it mean?
Abimelech saw evidence of God’s hand on everything Abraham did. It was obvious that the promises of God to Abraham would be fulfilled. It was in Abimelech’s best interest to have a peaceful relationship with a person of Abraham’s standing and character, so he was honest about the ownership of the well and sought to settle the issue quickly. Both men chose to seek peace rather than additional conflict. Abraham’s gifts to Abimelech secured the well as his permanent possession, avoiding future disputes. When all was said and done, Abraham was not ashamed to publicly worship his God, Jehovah.
How should I respond?
When conflicts arise, you have a choice: fight the person or fight the problem. The more time you spend trying to prove that you’re right, the longer the conflict will linger. How do you handle issues within your family, at the office, or at school? If you are the first to offer solutions with kind, calm words, it can defuse the entire situation. With whom do you need to make peace? When there’s friction, does your response cause others to notice that your relationship with Christ is the most important aspect of your life?