Do we strive to keep our conscience clear before God, heeding the voice of our conscience? Someone said recently, THERE’S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEARING AND HEEDING (Obeying).
In Genesis 20 there is an interesting exchange between God and a foreign king, Abimelek.
20 Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, ‘She is my sister.’ Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her (Abraham was powerless to stop it). Genesis 20
Abraham lived his life as a foreigner among the people of Canaan, he was always a minority citizen.
3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, ‘You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.’
4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, ‘Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, “She is my sister,” and didn’t she also say, “He is my brother”? I Have DONE THIS WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND CLEAN HANDS.’ Genesis 20
Abimelek, protested his innocence to God, in the dream and basically said he’d been deceived by them.
6 Then God said to him in the dream, ‘Yes, I KNOW you did this with a clear conscience, and so I HAVE KEPT YOU FROM SINNING AGAINST ME. (All sin is ultimately against God). That is why I did not let you touch her. 7 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, you may be sure that you and all who belong to you will die.’
God agreed with Abimelek that his conscience was clear, but still told him he had to return Sarah or die. Sarah was to be the mother of Isaac, a patriarch of Israel. Abimelek didn’t know any of this, but he was at risk of moving contrary to God’s purpose for humanity.
Paul spoke a lot about keeping a CLEAR CONSCIENCE, HEEDING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE. However, he also said;
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE ME INNOCENT. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:4
Our conscience may be clear, like Abimelek, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t sinned without knowing it.
8 Early the next morning Abimelek summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid. …10 And Abimelek asked Abraham, ‘What was your reason for doing this?’
11 Abraham replied, ‘I said to myself, “There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.” Genesis 20
14 Then Abimelek brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him. 15 And Abimelek said, ‘My land is before you; live wherever you like.’
Abimelek also gave a thousand shekels of silver for any offence to Sarah and declared her totally vindicated. Abraham prayed for him and God healed all the women in his kingdom who’d become barren, judgement had already begun.
Listen to the voice of our conscience, it’s a protection for us!
May God bless and keep you today.