Genesis 20:6-10: a reflection

6God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn’t allow you to touch her. 7Now therefore, restore the man’s wife. For he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. If you don’t restore her, know for sure that you will die, you, and all who are yours.” 8Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were very scared. 9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, “What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done!” 10Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you have done this thing?”

When Abimelech, not knowing Sarah was Abraham's wife, was about to take her, God intervened in a dream to keep him from sin. Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, God says, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn't allow you to touch her. Abimelech had been about to commit a grave sin without even knowing it; and God, by his restraining grace, kept him from it, held him back, did not allow him to go through with it. This is a striking glimpse of God's restraining grace: God keeping a person from a sin they might otherwise have fallen into, restraining them, holding them back, even without their awareness. God does not only forgive sins committed; he also, in his grace, restrains us from sins we might commit, keeping us back from evil we do not even see. God's restraining grace holds us back from sins we might otherwise fall into.

Notice what God did for Abimelech: he withheld him from sinning. Abimelech was about to sin gravely, without knowing it; and God, by his grace, kept him from it, restrained him, did not allow him to go through with it. This is God's restraining grace at work, holding a person back from sin they might otherwise have committed. We often think of grace only as forgiveness for sins done; but there is also this grace that restrains us from sins we might do, keeping us back from evil, sometimes without our even knowing. How many sins have we been kept from, held back from, by a grace we did not see? God restrains as well as forgives; he keeps his people from evil they might otherwise fall into. This restraining grace is a real mercy, guarding us from sins we might have committed, keeping us back from harm. We owe more to God's restraining grace than we know, for the sins it has kept us from. God's grace holds us back from evil as well as pardoning the evil we do.

That is worth resting in, for God's restraining grace keeps us from sins we might otherwise fall into. We can think of God's grace only as forgiveness for what we have done; but God also, by his restraining grace, keeps us from sins we might commit, as he withheld Abimelech from the sin he was about to fall into. How much evil have we been held back from by a grace we did not see? God restrains as well as forgives, guarding us from sins we might otherwise commit. When you consider the sins you have been kept from, give thanks for God's restraining grace. Give thanks for God's restraining grace, which keeps us from sins we might otherwise fall into, as God withheld Abimelech from the sin he was about to commit, saying, I also withheld you from sinning against me; for God's grace is not only forgiveness for the evil we have done but also a restraining that holds us back from evil we might do, guarding us, sometimes without our even knowing, from sins we might otherwise fall into, so that we owe more to his restraining grace than we know.

Lord, when Abimelech, not knowing Sarah was Abraham's wife, was about to take her, you intervened in a dream to keep him from sin. Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, you say, and I also withheld you from sinning against me. Therefore I didn't allow you to touch her. Abimelech had been about to commit a grave sin without even knowing it; and you, by your restraining grace, kept him from it, held him back, did not allow him to go through with it. This is a striking glimpse of your restraining grace: keeping a person from a sin they might otherwise have fallen into, even without their awareness. Show me what you did for Abimelech: you withheld him from sinning. Abimelech was about to sin gravely, without knowing it; and you, by your grace, kept him from it. This is your restraining grace at work, holding a person back from sin they might otherwise have committed. I often think of grace only as forgiveness for sins done; but there is also this grace that restrains us from sins we might do, keeping us back from evil, sometimes without our even knowing. How many sins have I been kept from by a grace I did not see? You restrain as well as forgive. Let me rest in that, for your restraining grace keeps me from sins I might otherwise fall into. I can think of your grace only as forgiveness for what I have done; but you also keep me from sins I might commit, as you withheld Abimelech. How much evil have I been held back from by a grace I did not see? When I consider the sins I have been kept from, help me give thanks for your restraining grace, Lord, which keeps me from sins I might otherwise fall into, as you withheld Abimelech from the sin he was about to commit.