FAVOR IS UNFAIR (Genesis 21:22-34)

 ²² And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.

²³ Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.”

²⁴ And Abraham said, “I will swear.”

²⁵ Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which Abimelech’s servants had seized.

. . .

³¹ Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.

³² Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.

 ³³ Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

³⁴ And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.  (Genesis 21: 22 - 34)

And it came to pass at that time. . .

The timing is important.  From Genesis 20 we know that Abraham and his people had been camping in Philistine territory since before Isaac was born.  From Genesis 21:8, we know that Isaac is 2 or 3 years old.  Understanding the timing tells us that  Abraham and his people had been living in peace with Abimelech and the Philistines for at least 3 years.

For more than 3 years,  the Philistines had watched Abraham and heard the stories about him.  This Abraham was an old man and a foreigner with no country and no extended family, but he prospered under impossible circumstances.   This guy had  beaten 4 armies at once with only 318 men (Genesis 14), witnessed the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah  (Genesis 19:27, 28), and  conned the kings of Egypt and  Philistia without being executed or even fined.  In fact, this Abraham guy had been given honors by the kings AFTER they found him guilty of tricking them (Genesis 12; 20). 

And then, at that time,  word got around that 100 year old Abraham and his 90 year old wife Sarah had conceived, successfully birthed, and the son had survived into toddlerhood (which wasn’t a given in those times).  Abraham must have a secret: some supernatural edge that gave him a ridiculously unfair advantage over every one and everything that ran up on him.

Abimelech understood that the secret of Abraham’s success was his God.

And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.

Notice that the Philistine commanders-in-chief went to Abraham.  Abraham didn’t go to them. And they begged Abraham for assurances that he wouldn’t attack. 

 Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I have done to you,

 you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt.” (Genesis 21:23)

And Abraham said, “I will swear.” (Genesis 21: 24)

When Abraham complained about a disputed well, the king of the Philistines became defensive and apologetic.   

 And Abimelech said, “I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today.” (Genesis 21: 25-26)

They let Abraham impose an amendment to their treaty under which the nation of Philistia surrendered the disputed water rights to Abraham (Genesis 21: 27 - 31).

Clearly, Abraham had the superior negotiating position.  But that doesn’t make sense.  I mean, Abraham was a rich sheik with a small personal army, but he was sheik of a small nomadic clan camping on borrowed land surrounded by Philistine cities and armies.  Yet, Abraham so consistently came out on top in every encounter that King Abimelech made the strategic decision to sign a treaty lopsided in Abraham’s favor.

Why?

Because God was with Abraham in all that he did (Genesis 21:22).  Because messing with Abraham meant messing with Abraham’s God.  Because, what’s the word we use?   Oh yeah.

Because FAVOR.

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)

In the church we talk a lot about favor in the first person. 

“The favor of God is upon ME.” 

“I’M blessed and highly favored.”

Abimelech recognized God’s favor on Abraham’s life.  Do you acknowledge God’s favor when it’s not about you?  Are you happy for your brothers and sisters when they get good that they don’t deserve?  I don’t mean jump on the bandwagon with financially profitable sin.  I mean ask the question “Why did God bless them?” but not rhetorically.  Ask and listen, observe, learn the actual answer.   

Abraham wasn’t perfect.  In some scenarios he was a genuine jerk, but he was the jerk God had chosen to fulfill an important role in the divine plan. God’s favor nudged Abraham back on the path when he strayed.  God’s favor protected him when danger threatened his role in God’s plan.  God’s favor provided what Abraham needed to pass to the descendants who would carry out the next phase of God’s plan.  And the favor on Abraham rewarded righteous people, like Hagar and Ishmael, who got caught in the orbit of God’s main plan for Abraham.

Favor didn’t put Ishmael in the messianic line despite Abraham’s request.   In the book of Jonah, favor sent a storm and a giant fish to “help” Jonah find his way to Nineveh.  Favor blinded Saul on the Damascus road so he could become the missionary and prolific author of Scripture God intended.  None of those blessed and highly favored men asked for the path God imposed upon them. 

But favor isn’t fair.  Not even to the favored. 

The favor of God isn’t about the person; it’s really about the plan:  God’s plan.

So you don’t need to jump on anybody’s bandwagon or kiss anybody’s butt to benefit from the favor of God in THEIR life.  You just have to understand their role in God’s plan and then find your place in or around that plan. 

Favor isn’t about the person; it’s about the plan:  God’s plan.

When you experience favor, remember what it’s for and remember Whom it’s from.

You’re good, but you’re not THAT good.  God did it.  You’re smart but --- be honest --- you weren’t smart enough to see that coming.  God revealed it to you.  People like you, but seriously, not THAT much.  Your opportunities, your second and third plus chances aren’t your doing. 

God is the secret to your success. 

After the phenomenally successful meeting with the Philistines,  Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33).  Abraham gave praise to God and planted a reminder that his favored position in Philistine territory was because of God.

When that meeting goes waaaay better than it should have, don’t forget to have a praise party when everyone else has left ---- maybe even before.  When you’re in that new office, new home, new position, better situation, plant something there: a plant, a plaque, a screensaver, a symbol that you pass every day to remind you that life isn’t fair; but God has made it unfair in your FAVOR.

---Anderson T. Graves II   is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama;  executive director of the Substance Abuse Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO);  and director of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human Development (NIHD).

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