Reproof is Love

Genesis 21:22-25

And it came to be at that time that Aḇimeleḵ and Piḵol, the commander of his army, spoke to Aḇraham, saying, “Elohim is with you in all that you do. “And now, swear to me by Elohim, not to be untrue to me, to my offspring, or to my descendants. Do to me according to the kindness that I have done to you and to the land in which you have dwelt.” And Aḇraham said, “I swear.” And Aḇraham reproved Aḇimeleḵ because of a well of water which Aḇimeleḵ’s servants had seized.

It never ceases to amaze me how many will kick against the goads when one gives loving correction. We see in the above verses where Abraham swears loving commitment to Abimelek (which in Hebrew means father of the king). The very next verse Abraham reproved Abimelek. Do we see the connection to these verses?

Proverbs 3:12
For whom יהוה loves He reproves, As a father the son whom he delights in .

Hebrews 12:4-11
You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the appeal which speaks to you as to sons, “My son, do not despise the discipline of יהוה, nor faint when you are reproved by Him, for whom יהוה loves, He disciplines, and flogs every son whom He receives.” If you endure discipline, Elohim is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Moreover, we indeed had fathers of our flesh disciplining us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they indeed disciplined us for a few days as seemed best to them, but He does it for our profit, so that we might share His apartness. And indeed, no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Revelation 3:19
“As many as I love, I reprove and discipline. So be ardent and repent.

As Abraham is the father of our faith, Abba YHVH is our heavenly Father who chastises in love His children.

As brethren we are to in our loving commitment to Abba YHVH and our brethren to give loving reproof when needed.

Leviticus 19:17-18
‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Reprove your neighbour, for certain, and bear no sin because of him. ‘Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am יהוה.

Galatians 6:1-2
Brothers, if a man is overtaken in some trespass, you the spiritual ones, set such a one straight in a spirit of meekness, looking at yourself lest you be tried too. Bear one another’s burdens, and so complete the Torah of Messiah.

True love for Abba YHVH and others requires constant examination and purging of self first. It requires the removal of and dying to our flesh, so we may see more clearly regarding the heart of our Father YHVH and His Word and Ways. The testing is coming may we be seeking after His kingdom and righteousness first!