Above and Beyond
To forgive someone is a beautiful thing. We understand the love God has for us when we ourselves forgive someone who has wronged us. It’s a gesture which frees us. Some people though don’t understand how forgiveness works (for a clearer picture of forgiveness, please read The Yoke of Unforgiveness located in Volume 1). Some people have a tough time receiving the fact you’ve forgiven them. Haven’t you ever experienced this? You forgive someone and then, later on, when you meet up with the person, they look at you confused like they’re asking themselves the question “has this person really forgiven me?” I think we have all experienced this to one degree or another. It is my purpose in this interpretation to examine how we can fully help people understand and receive the fact that we have indeed forgiven them. There is one example I would like to take a look at in the scriptures.
In the book of Genesis Abraham was a stranger in the
Genesis 20:13
And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my
father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt
shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my
brother.
Abraham was a stranger in a foreign land. This left him subject unto other magistrate’s authority. He knew that because his wife was beautiful that some jealous king or powerful landowner might take advantage of his vulnerable situation. For this reason he asked his wife to tell anyone who asked that he was her brother.
Abimelech, the King of Gerar, noticed Sarah’s beauty and asked the two of them regarding their situation. Sarah and Abraham told Abimelech that they were brother and sister (Genesis 20:5); as a result, Abimelech took Sarah into his house. God saw what happened and warned Abimelech in a dream to return Sarah to Abraham because she was indeed his wife. Abimelech feared God and did this. After this exchange Abimelech understood that the Lord was indeed with Abraham and feared the situation. The witness had been created. In fact, this witness was so established in Abimelech’s heart that he later came to Abraham and asked Abraham to make a peace covenant with him because he feared Abraham’s God and knew that God was with him in all that he did.
And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest: Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. And Abraham said, I will swear.
Abimelech was no
dummy. He could read between the lines. He saw that Abraham prospered in all that he
did and he wanted to make a peace covenant with him so that he could prosper
also. This shows that Abimelech, to some
extent, also feared Abraham because the God he feared was backing Abraham. Notice what happened right after Abimelech
showed interest in wanting to make a peace covenant with Abraham.
Genesis 21:25
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which
Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
This was a rebuke. This is interesting because this rebuke comes
right after Abraham has sworn to keep the peace with Abimelech. This must have been an awkward moment for
Abimelech. Here Abimelech was trying to
make a strong peace bond with Abraham and then all the sudden Abraham rebukes
him, notice Abimelech’s response.
Genesis 21:26
And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing; neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
Abimelech was blameless;
he didn’t know anything about it.
Abimelech’s servants wronged Abraham without ever telling
Abimelech. But since they were
Abimelech’s servants, he was directly responsible. Now Abimelech, who is already afraid of Abraham,
stands in jeopardy of losing the peace covenant he is seeking. I am sure Abimelech was a bit concerned at
this point. But take a look at the next
verse.
Genesis 21:27
And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Abraham first begins by continuing
the peace process of the covenant they will share together. He does this by offering Abimelech sheep and
oxen to signify that the convent will be sure.
Abraham initiating this process was most likely a relief for Abimelech
who at this point didn’t know how Abraham was going to react. This gesture by Abraham brought peace to the
situation. Abraham then goes a bit
further…
Genesis 21:28-30
And Abraham set
seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs
which thou hast set by themselves?
And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that
they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
Abraham is giving
Abimelech seven ewe lambs. This is an
interesting gesture. A lot of people
would think Abraham did this to cover his hide due to his accusation. I believe this to an extent. Abraham did accuse Abimelech of
wrongdoing, and for this reason might have given him the seven ewe lambs as a
symbol that he indeed dug this well and that he was now going to retake
possession of it. But I also believe
this act has greater prophetic significance toward the Church. Abimelech feared
Abraham. Abraham knew this. Abraham felt obligated to rebuke Abimelech
because his well was stolen, but he
also felt obligated to bring further
peace to the situation. Ask yourself a
question? What kind of peace covenant
could there have been if Abimelech had left Abraham wondering in the back of
his mind “Man, I wonder if the man of God has really forgiven me for stealing
his well??? Maybe he will require
something later??? Wow, what should I
do???” This is not peace. These probing questions would create torment
and would actually become a curse.
Abraham fully understood this situation.
Because of this, he separately chooses out seven ewe lambs. Even Abimelech himself didn’t understand the
significance of the seven ewe lambs.
Abraham told Abimelech they were for a witness. They were a witness unto
Abraham that he had indeed dug the well, but prophetically the ewe lambs were
also a projecting witness unto Abimelech that he had indeed been
forgiven.
Let’s take a look at Paul
the Apostle. Paul the Apostle was a witness
unto the truth of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
(Acts 9:15, 22:15) but then he became The Lord’s witness unto the
people that they were indeed forgiven.
The seven ewe lambs were Abraham’s witness unto the truth
that he had indeed dug the well but then they became Abraham’s
witness unto Abimelech that he had indeed been forgiven. It’s the same thing. Paul became Jesus Christ’s witness for the
people and the seven ewe lambs became Abraham’s witness for Abimelech. I want to clarify that I am not using this
example for any other reason but to demonstrate that the seven ewe lambs were
not simply for Abraham’s sake. This is
like saying that Paul the Apostle was Jesus’ witness simply for Jesus’
sake. By faith I believe that the ewe
lambs symbolized justification and forgiveness; justification because Abraham
had indeed dug the well, and forgiveness because the ewe lambs were offered
freely as a peace offering in order to promote peace and forgiveness. It is easy to assume that Abraham used these
seven ewe lambs simply to clear himself because of the accusation, but I wanted
to prophetically demonstrate toward the Church that there is a deeper interpretation
and meaning here.
Below is the rest of the
exchange between Abraham and Abimelech regarding the peace covenant.
Genesis 21:31-32
Wherefore he called that place
Because Abraham went above
and beyond his duty to forgive I believe Abimelech walked away edified that
day. I am sure as Abimelech walked away
and saw those seven ewe lambs by his side that his mind was put to rest and he
had no doubt that Abraham had indeed forgiven him. Perhaps, even months later, when his mind
began to doubt, he might simply look out his bedroom window and see those seven
ewe lambs grazing and this sight would put to rest any fear or doubts if the
man of God had truly forgiven him. He
would know by the witness of the lambs that he was indeed forgiven, and he
would praise God for the man who went above and beyond the call of duty to
forgive.
How about you??? What do you think??? Is there anything above and beyond you can do
for the people around you to show them they are indeed forgiven. Yes, it’s possibly true that you have told
them that you forgive them, but where’s the witness? Abimelech lived far away so Abraham sent him
away with his witness trotting next to him, but is this the case with you? What can you do (witness) for the person in
your life to offer them permanent peace that you have indeed forgiven
them? Can you buy them a simple
card? Can you drive them to the store? Can you ask them if they need help with
anything? Will you suffer for them so
they can clearly see that you have not only forgiven them, but have shown
yourself to be lower than them in the situation, not higher. The first impulse from someone who has been
forgiven is that now they feel they owe you something. Show them they don’t. Do something to show them that spirit isn’t
in you. Give gifts, give of
yourself. Put yourself under them by
circumstances or situations. Put their
minds at rest by clearly showing them you hold no grudge or authority over them
because of the past. Show them this by
your actions. Don’t have any spiritual
pride over these people; show them you have forgiven them fully by humbling
yourself under them, even if this means you have to go out of your way to do
so. Go above and beyond the call of duty
to forgive.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the
children of God.
For a reference to the complete text of this interpretation please refer to the book of Genesis chapters 20, 21.