Genesis 21:24-29: a reflection

24Abraham said, “I will swear.” 25Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away. 26Abimelech said, “I don’t know who has done this thing. You didn’t tell me, and I didn’t hear of it until today.” 27Abraham took sheep and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech. Those two made a covenant. 28Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. 29Abimelech said to Abraham, “What do these seven ewe lambs, which you have set by themselves, mean?”

When a dispute arises between Abraham and Abimelech over a well that Abimelech's servants had seized, Abraham does not let the grievance fester in silence; he raises it openly. Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. Abimelech, who had not known of it, clears the matter up, and the two make a covenant of peace. Rather than nursing a hidden resentment, Abraham brought the grievance into the open, where it could be addressed; and once it was aired, it was resolved, and peace was made between them. Addressing the grievance honestly and openly, rather than letting it fester unspoken, made the way for it to be settled and for peace to be established.

Notice how Abraham handled the grievance: he raised it openly, and it was resolved. He did not let the wrong done to him fester in silence, nursed as a hidden resentment; he brought it into the open, complaining to Abimelech about the seized well. And because he raised it, Abimelech, who had not known of it, could address it, and the two could make peace. The open airing of the grievance was what made its resolution possible. Had Abraham kept silent and let resentment grow, the matter could not have been settled; because he spoke, it was cleared up and peace was made. Bringing a grievance honestly into the open, rather than letting it fester unspoken, is often the way to its resolution and to peace.

That is worth taking to heart, for addressing grievances openly, rather than letting them fester, makes the way for resolution and peace. When someone wrongs us, we can let the grievance fester in silence, nursing a hidden resentment that grows; but Abraham raised his grievance openly, and it was resolved, and peace was made. Bringing a grievance honestly into the open often makes possible what silent resentment never could: its resolution, and peace. Do not let a grievance fester in silence, nursed as hidden resentment; address it openly, as Abraham did, that it may be resolved and peace made. Address your grievances openly and honestly rather than letting them fester in silent resentment, as Abraham raised the matter of the seized well with Abimelech and they made a covenant of peace; for a grievance nursed in silence grows, but a grievance brought honestly into the open can be addressed and resolved, making the way for peace that hidden resentment never could.

Lord, when a dispute arises between Abraham and Abimelech over a well that Abimelech's servants had seized, Abraham does not let the grievance fester in silence; he raises it openly. Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away. Abimelech, who had not known of it, clears the matter up, and the two make a covenant of peace. Rather than nursing a hidden resentment, Abraham brought the grievance into the open, where it could be addressed; and once it was aired, it was resolved, and peace was made between them. Show me how Abraham handled the grievance: he raised it openly, and it was resolved. He did not let the wrong done to him fester in silence, nursed as a hidden resentment; he brought it into the open. And because he raised it, Abimelech, who had not known of it, could address it, and the two could make peace. The open airing of the grievance was what made its resolution possible. Had Abraham kept silent and let resentment grow, the matter could not have been settled. Take that to my heart, for addressing grievances openly, rather than letting them fester, makes the way for resolution and peace. When someone wrongs me, I can let the grievance fester in silence, nursing a hidden resentment that grows; but Abraham raised his grievance openly, and it was resolved. Keep me from letting a grievance fester in silence, nursed as hidden resentment; help me address it openly, Lord, as Abraham did, that it may be resolved and peace made.