"Wie viel kostet es?" I learned these words as a child in Germany. How much does it cost? In many languages on my journey, these words have proven to be important. On the other hand, we may begin to see things and people as commodities to be acquired. Not everything can be bought. Not everything is for sale.
When Abraham entered Abimelek's world, he feared that the local king would kill him in order to acquire Sarah. So he asked her to identify herself as his sister. Abimelek took Sarah into his palace intending to marry her. But God stopped him with a vision. God protected Sarah when Abraham did not. Then God showed Abimelek what Abraham could do for him. As a prophet, Abraham could pray for Abimelek so that he would not die for his presumption.
Like a man who almost lost his life, Abimelek took Abraham to task for not telling him the whole truth. Seems like he had a point. Admittedly, it is hard for us to comprehend the local politics of the ancient world. Still, I wonder, what do followers of Christ have to offer to our world? Do we have a prophetic role to play? Our greatest power is not our ingenuity at outsmarting a consumeristic world. We are called to pray for a world dead in its trespasses and sins, so that people might live. If we do not do this, the cost to others will be more than we can pay.
