Forgiveness is the greatest act of love !

Genesis 20 (AMP) Abraham’s Deception Now Abraham journeyed from there toward the Negev (the South country), and settled between Kadesh and Shur; then he lived temporarily in Gerar.  Abraham [a]said [again] of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” So [b]Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took [c]Sarah [into his harem].  But God came to Abimelech in a dream during the night, and said, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken [as your wife], for she is another man’s wife.”  Now Abimelech had not yet come near her; so he said, “Lord, will you kill a people who are righteous and innocent and blameless [regarding Sarah]? Did Abraham not tell me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this.” Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this in the integrity of your heart, for it was I who kept you back and spared you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not give you an opportunity to touch her.  So now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her [to him], know that you shall die, you and all who are yours (your household).” So Abimelech got up early in the morning and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were terrified. Then Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? And how have I offended you that you have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me what ought not to be done [to anyone].”  And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What have you encountered or seen [in us or our customs], that you have done this [unjust] thing?”  Abraham said, “Because I thought, ‘Surely there is no fear or reverence of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’  Besides, she actually is my [half] sister; she is the daughter of my father [Terah], but not of my mother; and she became my wife.  When God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This kindness and loyalty you can show me: at every place we stop, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”  Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and returned Sarah his wife to him [as God commanded].  So Abimelech said, “Behold, my land is before you; settle wherever you please.”  Then to Sarah he said, “Look, I have given this brother of yours a [d]thousand pieces of silver; it is to compensate you [for all that has happened] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated.”  So Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, and they again gave birth to children, for the Lord had securely closed the wombs of all [the women] in Abimelech’s household because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Shalom Family and Friends: Today I write to you and I pray that my Father in Heaven ,YHVH (יְהוָה), Yeshua Ha-Moshiach יְהוֹשׁוּעַ ( Jesus Christ) and the  Holy Spirit ( Ruach Ha-Kodesh) רוח הקודש,Guides me and enlightens you in this understanding. In the story of Genesis Chapter 20 , we see a great deception and revelation in the midst of the story. Abraham feared his own death if he made it known Sarah was his wife because of her beauty. So he used some truths to mix in with lies . This is sinful in the eyes of the Lord.  Sarah was taken from Abraham for a time being. Its not stated in the passage how long however  sometime  passed due to the passage as stated,  where God Tells Abimelech, It was GOD Himself which prevented Sarah from being defiled. What we don't see through this chapter, How did God deal with Abraham throughout this time frame when Sarah was taken from him.  From my perspective Abraham would have went into a lot of prayer of this event. Asking God for Forgiveness for His sins. Praying fervently for his lack of Faith in this time.  Asking God to Intercede. We do see that God does intercede on both Abraham's and Sarah's standing, as well as Keeping Abimelech from harm. Furthermore God tells Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham so Abraham will pray for Abimelech, for Abraham is a Prophet, a person God, uses for His purposes. Could you imagine the tensions in all of this? Here deceptions, fear,  a wife being taken, revelations of lies being uncovered.  Jerry Springer would have a field day with this if he could.  In the End of this story the one thing remained was forgiveness and reconciliation. God was not pushed aside and was allowed to Flow in the midst of these individuals. On top of all that happened in this forgiveness and reconciliation, Abimelech gave more then what the scriptures state God told him to do. He gave  Abraham back his wife , plus money , land and animals. Abraham then Prayed and asked God to restore Abimelech the greatest value, childbearing amongst his wife and all the women in his midst. The point of the story is this. This was a great time of testing for everyone involved. We see lies, deception of the time that could have ended very badly for everyone. However , these two men honored and feared God so much that they put there person differences aside to correct the wrongs and move forward.  It doesn't say they ended up as friends , drank coffee and sang songs together . It does show a great reverance of How much they Honored and feared God of the Universe. The One Creator. This was a time before The Law of Moses . So there wasn't a written scroll to refer to. However there was the understanding of What and How God worked and what He demanded from us and for each other. The same hasn't  changed for  us today. However, the differences are only in how people want to use and understand right and wrong truths. There is so much information out there anything can be used to justify anything today. There is the a difference in all those things and the  Bible.  The bible clearly shows and states that forgiveness if the greatest of how Love is shown.  Jesus stated :For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ( Mathew 6:14) The bible clearly states that Jesus Christ died on the the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. The payment , atonement of our deserved sins. This is the greatest act of love.  So in respect to the story, we as humans are only here on earth for a short time. All of our cares , worries, and fears will come to an end one day. they will be remembered no more.  However, in all that we do in life , problems and disputes will arise with our fellow man or women. These things are only there to be a test . To pass the test is to let these things go into the eternity of the past of forgetfulness and forgiveness. When we don't do that , we continue to carry them with us . These things will continue to drag us down.  There is nothing in life that will reveal any greater Love and the move of God in your life then the Humility of forgiveness. This doesn't mean to repeat the action that caused the problem or to allow people in your life to continue to cause problems. It just means to love them in forgiveness even if they don't reciprocate it. As we see se in the story of Genesis Chapter 20 when we become obedient to God in Forgiveness , God will bless beyond what we could see in our natural eyes.  I pray that blesses you and you continue to push through those areas in your life that weigh you down. Amen! In Service to Yeshua Hamoshiach Jay Isaac Grebin