Injustice Dealt with in God's Timing
The Sapphire Review Vol. 2 | No. 4 • January 24, 2025
And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
Genesis 21:25, KJV
In this story of Abraham’s life, we see a picture of a man of God who is confident and completely at rest regarding the presence of God’s hand in his life and in His timing to set things right.
Abraham reproves Abimelech because of how Abimelech’s servants had cheated him through stealing a well that Abraham had dug.
A significant point of this narrative is that Abraham was not the initiator of the conversation. A few verses prior, we read that King Abimelech and his chief captain came to Abraham in order to make an oath of peace with him.
“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:” (Genesis 21:22, KJV)
Only after Abimelech had come to Abraham with a request did Abraham make known the injustice that had been done to him through the hands of Abimelech’s servants. Abimelech’s servants were the ones who were guilty of causing problems, not Abraham’s, yet God put it upon the heart of this king, at this time, to seek for an oath of peace with Abraham.
The moment that the well was taken away, Abraham could have taken matters into his own hands and gone straight to Abimelech to set things right. Yet, he did not do this. For we read in verse 26 that Abimelech had no idea that this event had even happened.
“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.” (Genesis 21:26, KJV)
Instead of fighting back for what was rightfully his, Abraham turned the other cheek and remained silent.1 He rested in knowing that he served the living God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills2 and never forsakes the righteous nor leaves his seed begging for bread.3 Well or no well, Abraham knew that God would still provide for him.
“A little that a righteous man hath Is better than the riches of many wicked.” (Psalm 37:16, KJV)
Yes, Abraham suffered a loss with the taking of the well. Yes, he was taken advantage of. Yet, his needs were still provided for. One promise of Jesus comes to mind:
“(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:32–34, KJV)
When we are taken advantage of, the place we should run to first should be our heavenly Father. We should not first seek out those in the world to come to our aid, nor should we retaliate, for vengeance belongs to the Lord.4 Vain is the help of man when God is not involved.5
Next time we are tempted to step ahead of God and fight for our rights in our own timing, let us remember that we serve One who is mighty to save6 and able to deliver us in time of trouble.7 In His perfect timing, He makes all things right,8 and He always provides for His children.
May the words of David be our comfort in times of adversity:
“I will love thee, O LORD [Jehovah], my strength. The LORD [Jehovah] is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD [Jehovah], who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.” (Psalm 18:1–3, KJV)
God Bless,
Charles
