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.
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