Genesis 21:27 And took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
Abraham responded to God’s covenant blessing by blessing others and making peace with his neighbors. Abimelech took notice of Abraham and remarked, ”God is with thee in all that thou doest [v. 22].” The two neighbors made a covenant of peace with each other. They swore that they would not attack the other, and made an oath that they would live in peace. Abraham gave Abimelech seven ewe lambs as they made the covenant oath together. This happened at Beer-Sheba, which is a play on words: it means either “Well of the Oath,” or ”Well of the Seven.”
The response of faith to God’s covenant kindness is ”Love your neighbor.” It is our response to God’s love for us: ”We love God because He first loved us.” When faith receives God’s love, grace, and blessing it naturally responds by loving others, and making peace. God doesn’t need your service, but other people do. And we love God by serving others.
Abraham was blessed by God to be a blessing to the world. And so are we. We respond to God’s love and blessing by loving our neighbors, by treating them kindly and with respect, by keeping peace through apology and forgiveness, and by keeping our promises. Jesus lives in us this way, and this way makes the world a better safer, and happier place.