The Great Faithfulness of God

Genesis 26:1-12

There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the Lord appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. And the men of the place asked about his wife And he said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife," because he thought, "lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold." Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, "Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die on account of her.'" And Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us." So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.

The faithfulness of God amazes me.  Isaac didn't turn to the Lord in the famine, he turned to the king of the Philistines.  Interestingly enough this is the first recorded appearance of God to Isaac only proving the Lord is faithful even when we are not.  God made a covenant, a promise to Abraham He intended to fulfill. 

Then Isaac, in fear for his own life, setting aside what the Lord spoke to him, lies and says Rebekah is his sister, and is spotted one day showing his wife affection only displayed between a married couple (Oh how I wish it were so today).  

Abimelech deals with Isaac and so does God. Abimelech scolds Isaac and then charges no one to lay a finger on him or his wife. The Lord blesses Isaac abundantly above all that he could ever think or image and didn't say a word concerning his choices.  God's blessing and covenant were not given to Isaac with any condition.  Please take this to heart and be encouraged.  

There is more.  In this passage, the Lord also reiterates His promise to you and to me. Gen 26:4 ...and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

Gal 3:7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Gal 3:14 ...that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.  

You know, as the Lord was speaking to Isaac He was thinking of you and I.  If God's promises/covenants were based upon Abraham or Isaac's faithfulness we'd be sunk.  There would be no hope.  Praise the Lord for His faithfulness.

Deut. 7:9  "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.  

1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  

1 Thess 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Heb 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such thins as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"   

Even Christ said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

Was this not the same promise given to Isaac?  Gen 26:3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you.  

Great is His faithfulness!

My prayer for you today:

Hebrews 13:20-21

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

The Fear of God

My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; he guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.

Proverbs 2:1-9

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:5-6

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.  The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.  His delight is the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth.

Isaiah 11:1-4

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 26:3-4

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

Proverbs 4:7

...incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding...then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:2,3,5

For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding...

Proverbs 2:6

Amen!  Love to you all...

Scripture Encouragment

I have called you by your name; you are Mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 

 

Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you.  Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.  “You are My witnesses,”  says the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.  I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.

 

Indeed before the day was, I am He; and there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?  I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, Your King.  Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old, behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

 

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.  Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God.

 

Who has performed and done it, calling the generations from the beginning?  I, the Lord, am the first; and with the last I am He.  Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’  That they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy one of Israel has created it.

 

The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary, His understanding is unsearchable.  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

 

 

“You are Mine,” says the Lord.  

(Selected Scripture verses taken from Isaiah 40, 41, 43, 44  NKJV)