It was an old couch to be sure but it was comfortable. Once an expensive Thomasville sofa, it now
looked like it belonged in a Baptist Church’s youth room or possibly a college
dorm. The frame was in good shape, the springs still taunt. Even the cushions maintained their shapes, but the fabric was torn in several places and both arms had apparently been the victim of a cat mauling. They were ripped to shreds. It was a mess but all that couch needed was some TLC to restore it to it's original beauty. It just needed an upholsterer to recover it. I've been studying the life of Abraham in my daily study and today's reading was one of the low points of Abraham's story.
This is when Abraham deceived Abimelech by saying Sarah was not his wife, but his sister, to protect himself from harm. (Genesis 20) When the king finds out (God revealed it to him in a dream), he confronts Abraham. "'What have you done to us? And how have I sinned against you, that you
have brought on me and my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me
things that ought not to be done.' And Abimelech said to Abraham, 'What did you see, that you did this thing?'”(Gen.20:9-10) He then gave Abraham this huge gift, a peace offering really, of servants, livestock and property. Notice what happens next. "To Sarah he said, 'Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is a sign of your innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.” "Vindicated"! The word in the original language is כְּסוּת kĕcuwth which means covering or clothing. Picture it. The noble woman, Sarah, head of the household, had
been reduced to an object of carnality, with her husband’s full knowledge. But there, before all the king's servants, Abimelech
exonerates Sarah. “…It is a sign of your
innocence in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone you are vindicated.”
That's precisely what God does to us. He takes our sin stained lives and restores us to our pre-sin beauty. Our shame erased. Vindicated. Recovered in honor. Hallelujah! Praise Him!
