Finding the Will of God - Integrity of Heart Gen. 20

This passage in Genesis 20, tells us of one of Abraham's struggles of faith. But the point of this writing has to do with Abimelech, king of Gerar. I first heard this teaching from Jack Hayford, pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nyes, CA about 20 years ago.

As was the custom and legal right of the king in those times, when he saw a woman that he wanted, he would add to his harem, if she wasn't married. Abraham had said of his wife, "She is my sister." So the king sent for Sarah and took her. Again, let me reiterate that Abimelech was perfectly within his rights as king to do as he did, if Sarah was not married.

We read this exchange between God and Abimelech in a dream.

But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him,"Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife." But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this."
And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her. Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." Gen 20:3-7 NKJV

Let us have a clear understanding of the situation. Abimelech is not a part of the covenant that God had with Abraham. Therefore he had no legal relationship with God. Yet, God intervened to save Abimelech, his kingdom and, primarily, Sarah.

In the dream, God tells the king that he is a dead man - not the kind of thing you want to hear in a dream. God explains why this judgment is coming - he took a married woman. Abimelech's response is interesting.

"In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this." Gen 20:5 NKJV

An other translation puts it this way.

"I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." Gen 20:5 NIV

As Jack Hayford interpreted it, he was saying,

"Honest to God, I did what I thought was right!"

Integrity of heart speaks of wholeness, completeness. Abimelech did the best he knew how. With a whole heart, he did what he thought was right. However, it was wrong. It was sin!

What we need to take note of here is that even though Abimelech was outside the covenant of God, when he tried to do what was right and it turned out to be wrong, God intervened to keep him from sin. The reason for this - integrity of heart. He whole-heartedly was doing the best he could.

How does this apply to us today as Christians?

We have been bought with a price. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we enter into a "New Covenant" with Him. We have a relationship with the Almighty God. Isaiah 30:18 tells us that "... the LORD longs to be gracious to you;he rises to show you compassion. NIV

Our Father wants us to do His will more than we want to do it!

And yet, how many of us suffer through the anxiety of trying to find that illusive "Will of God." We assume that He is hiding it or maybe we are not worthy enough, haven't prayed enough or fasted enough or whatever enough! Did your parents make it difficult for you to know what they wanted done? Or was it very clear that the grass needed mowing or the garbage taken out or the dishes washed? Did they hide from you their hopes and dreams for life - which career they hoped for or which college they thought was best?

Jesus posed these questions to His disciples.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matt 7:9-12 NIV

If our parents or we, as parents, being evil in comparison to the goodness of God, will give us or our children what they need, how much more will our Heavenly Father reveal to us His will, His desire, His destiny for us if we but seek Him, follow Him with a whole heart. This is a heart that is undivided.

Paul writes,

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God. Phil 1:9-11 NIV

This purity means "unalloyed", unmixed not a little bit of the world, a little bit of bitterness, a little bit of resentment or unforgiveness, not a little bit of lust and the rest godliness. No, No No! It means we belong to Him. He can do what He wants, when He wants and how He wants. But isn't that the crux of the matter here - knowing what the Father wants?

Now watch this carefully! Abimelech did not have a relationship with God. Hopefully you do! Abimelech was doing the best he could - out of the integrity of his heart. Hopefully you do the same. Because of this wholeness of heart, God prevented Abimelech from doing what was wrong. How much more do you think that your Father in heaven is going to keep you from doing wrong? You are His child!

If we will but do rather than always waiting around for the whole plan of God for the ages to drop into our lap, our Father will lead. Sometimes it will be those gentle nudgings of His Spirit to direct in the right path. But other times, it will be the slap up-side the head with a 2x4 of our spouse or pastor or boss or friend! In any event, if we seek Him with a whole heart, He will not let us miss His will!

I understand that there is a time appropriate for quietness and waiting on the Father. He longs for that intimacy with us. That is what enables us to hear that still small voice. But His will, his desires are not illusive.