Abimelech -- Genisis 20

Gen20
Abraham was very disheartened by the scene of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Up until now, he had had plenty encounters with God, but no miracles yet. Plenty promises, but no actions of God. He'd done all he thought was right concerning this promise and calling, he'd done all he could to facilitate that call, but the result was very little. All he'd seen was barreness, destruction, and total failure. He was disappointed. He couldn't believe himself, believe God any more. He wanted to give up and walk away. He returned to the place(Negev)once he fell, and decided to seek the world's council, to do what everyone else did, and to "get a life". Although he just had a great encounter with God, and more so, the Lord had just promised him that "this time next year" He'd return and fulfil His promise, Abraham couldn't believe that it's God any more. He had been disappointed way too many times to set himself once more for faith.
But interestingly, God frustrated Abraham's plan again of his attempt to compromise with the world, and what's more, He gave him a little sign-- He called him "prophet"(v7). V17 "Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maids, so that they bore children."
Doesn't God have a sense of humour.... Abraham couldn't twist God's arm to give him a child at the time he wanted, but when he prayed, other people responded and had children!
God restored Abraham's faith in a very gentle and loving way. He knew how hard it was for Abraham.... 25 years, He didn't act. Abraham had a world of reasons to question, to doubt, to be frustrated, to be angry, to laugh at himself, to walk away....he's just tired, he's exhausted in this faith walk. And God had cried with Abraham all the way.
It's like, watching your baby child going through surgery. You know your baby will cry and suffer, but you have to do it. But when the surgery's complete, and baby's all weak, you just want to greet him, and feed him so that he can restore healing and strength.
Abraham communicated to God that he's finished with this faith business. And God smiled: this is exactly what I want, that you admit the end to yourself.
To that end, God's surgery in Abraham is finished. He's got rid of this tumor of self-righteousness, and now He can get on with real life.