You Can Be a Peacemaker

By Marjorie Foerster Eddington

Note: The sources given at the end of each point link to the Biblical verses.

Abraham made a difference by:

  1. Establishing the belief in one God, or monotheism, when all those around him were polytheists, believing in lots of gods. Gen. 12:1, 2; 15:6; 17:1-8
  2. Finding solutions to disputes and graciously giving his nephew, Lot, the first pick of the land. Gen. 13:7-12
  3. Showing the power of God to heal. Abraham prayed for Abimelech, his wife, and his household. This is the first healing based solely on prayer to God recorded in the Bible. Gen. 20:6, 7, 17
  4. Stopping human sacrifice among those who followed one God. Gen. 22:1-18
  5. Demonstrating absolute faith in God. He was willing to leave a very prosperous life, equivalent to living in a mansion today, to "back-pack," or set up tents, in the desert. Gen. 12:4-8

Here are a few simple things you can do (inspired by Abraham) to help make a difference in other people's lives:

  • Be a peacemaker like Abraham who stopped arguments between his men and Lot's men. The next time you happen to get into an argument with a friend or family member, yield. Stop arguing. Make it a win-win situation. Either agree to disagree, or find something about the other's point with which you can truly agree. You'll be surprised how the other person will react. Ask yourself, "Is it more important to convince someone that I'm right, which makes them wrong, or to be kind and help find the middle-ground?" Continue to ask yourself this question every time you start to argue.
  • Be a friend like Abraham who let Lot choose where to live. When the opportunity arises, let your friends, siblings, or parents choose the next movie, TV show, activity, or vacation. You don't have to do this all the time. But putting others' opinions and desires above your own will make a positive difference and doesn't leave you out of the fun, if you act from the heart.
  • Be a healer like Abraham who healed Abimelech and his household. If there is someone in your family, church, school, or neighborhood, who is not feeling well, ask that individual if you can pray for him or her. If the answer is yes, then pray to God with all your heart and trust His power to heal.

The following numbered Bible passages correspond to and explain the above points regarding how Abraham (whose name was Abram before God changed it to Abraham) made a difference. Passages are from the King James Version unless noted that they are from The Message by Eugene Peterson.


The Message Gen. 15:6 And he [Abram] believed! Believed God! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."


  2. Background: Abimelech, the king of Gerar, took Sarah (thinking that she was Abraham's sister), with the intention of sleeping with her. Abimelech's wife and all his maidservants were not able to have children. This was a very serious problem. But God stopped Abilmelech from committing the crime of sleeping with another man's wife. Here's the result:

Gen. 20:6, 7, 17 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live…. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

  2. The Message Gen. 12:4-8
          GOD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your children." Abram built an altar at the place GOD had appeared to him.
          Abram kept moving….

"Scripture quotations from THE MESSAGE. Copyright (c) by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."