For our study and meditation today let us read Genesis 26:23-24, From there Isaac went to Beersheba. The LORD spoke to him that night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Don't be afraid. I am with you, and I will bless you. I will make your family great. I will do this because of my servant Abraham." (ERV)
The words of assurance that God spoke to Isaac was that he need not be afraid, because he had the surety that God was with him, and would certainly bless him. God knew the path that Isaac journeyed on, and he also knew the fears that must have seized his heart, no wonder then God appeared to Isaac, and strengthened him with these words.
If we were to look around at the circumstances that we are surrounded with, the question that is topmost on the minds of many people is, ‘Who is able to save us from these calamities?’ There is a sense of fear and apprehension that has gripped the hearts of many. The word that I believe God is giving to every one of His children is the same words of comfort God gave to Isaac saying, ‘Do not be afraid.’ For those of us who are constantly bombarded with news that is alarming and disquieting, we may wonder as to how one can in reality live without fear. Circumstances may not change in a hurry, but we have the guarantee that God is with us, which is all that we need to know. Isn’t it an overwhelming thought that the Almighty God is aware, and concerned to help us overcome this emotion called fear that often grips the human heart?
The Philistines were envious of Isaac
Isaac was the son of Abraham, and he was extremely wealthy. As we study the various incidents in the life of Isaac, we will understand as to how the Lord intervened to transform all of them.
We read in Genesis 26:14, “He had many flocks and herds of animals. He also had many slaves. All the Philistines were jealous of him.” (ERV)
Since there was famine in the land where they lived, Isaac was forced to move into the land of the Philistines, where he literally lived like a nomad. Though this was so, the Philistines who lived in that same land observed that Isaac prospered and flourished in every way. When the Philistines compared themselves with Isaac, they realized that Isaac was greatly blessed, and everything he did prospered. This led to the Philistines feeling envious towards Isaac, and all that he possessed.
The secret to Isaac’s blessing
The reason for Isaac’s manifold blessings is mentioned in Genesis 26:12, “And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.” (AFV)
Isaac as we see was blessed because the Lord had blessed him. However, the Philistines were not able to comprehend this. They could have approached Isaac to find out the secret for his success, he might have told them that it was the Lord Almighty who was responsible for this expansion. Instead the Philistines were so envious of Isaac and his accomplishments, that they tried hard to hamper Isaac’s progress.
Envy, the destructive emotion
This is what the word of God says about this emotion called envy.
We read in Proverbs 27:4, “Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?” (AFV)
Wrath and anger will both be obvious and evident to all. One look at someone can easily let us know that they are angry with us. On the other hand, it is almost impossible to figure out if someone is envious of us. Generally, such a person will speak cordially when they meet us, but once we are out of sight, they will speak ill of us. Envy is destructive, and that is why the word of God declares that no one is able to stand before it. When envy takes hold of a person it will make them behave in an abominable way. It is kind of natural for one to feel envious of someone who is doing better or being blessed more, but we should be cautious to deal with this immediately, before it instigates us do loathsome things.
The wicked schemes of the Philistines
This is what the Philistines did in Genesis 26:15, “And the Philistines stopped up all the wells that the servants of his father had dug in the days of Abraham his father. They filled them with earth. (LEB)
In the days of Abraham, his servants had dug many wells as they wandered from place to place in the wilderness. Water was a priceless commodity, and hence these wells were of utmost value both to the people, and their livestock for their survival. The Philistines who were blinded by envy, went around filling all these wells with earth, so that they cannot be used. One can imagine how hard it might have been to dig one well, and all that the Philistines could do was to close these wells. Envy made them so hard hearted that they did not want the wells to benefit themselves or others. That’s exactly what envy does to people. However, Isaac did not react to the Philistines who did such atrocities, but rather accepted the injustice that was meted to him graciously.
The Philistines were probably trying to pick up a quarrel with Isaac and his men. Isaac was not perturbed and continued with his work as usual.
If you encounter those who work against you because of envy, take heart and do not react to such people. We should just keep going about the work that God has entrusted to us, and not get deviated by these envious people whose only intention is to hinder the blessings that God has in store for us. We must decide to fear God, and walk in obedience to His word and if in this process there are those who come against us or speak ill of us, we must keep going on with the work that God has chosen us to accomplish. This is the right attitude that we should develop.
The well of contention
We read in Genesis 26:19-20, But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. (ESV)
Isaac’s servants went to the valley, dug a well and found water there. Here again the shepherds of Gerar, quarreled with the servants of Isaac, and claimed that the water was theirs. Isaac called the place ‘Esek’ which meant ‘quarrel or argument.’ Isaac left that place, and went on to dig a well in some other place, and did not stay on to fight for his rights.
Some of us may have this experience wherein when we begin to do something, there will be those who claim that it is theirs. Generally when this happens, people will fight for justice, and if not given will even take it to the court of law to obtain the same. There are many who will not work hard, but will only take pleasure in arguments. We just have to avoid such people, and keep going on just as Isaac did. As children of God we must learn to trust in God, and keep ourselves free from unnecessary altercations. If we are true to the work that God has assigned to us, the very ones who were trouble makers will come back to us to make peace, and set things right at some point.
The well of hostility
We read in Genesis 26:21, Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). (NLT)
Isaac moved on and his men dug another well. Here too the men disputed with Isaac’s men and so they left that well naming it ‘Sitnah’ which meant ‘enmity or hostility’.
Notice how envy led to quarrel, and quarrel led to enmity. The root of this process we can clearly see is envy. As children of God we should be careful to not to get entangled in this, as we see that envy is not only seen out there in society, but is evident within the family, and also in the church. There are those who engage in such activities without any kind of remorse. They are those who are filled with envy, and will do everything to malign the good name of others. Don’t let these people get you down, but keep doing the good that you can, wholeheartedly, and in due season God will bless, and raise you up.
The well of freedom
We read again Genesis 26:22, Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”(NLT)
Isaac moved on and dug another well, and here no once came to dispute over it. It looked like the men had finally given up pursuing Isaac, and fighting over what was rightfully his. Finally, Isaac had his own well, and he named the place ‘Rehoboth’ which meant ‘open space or freedom.’ It was as if Isaac not had come to the place of total freedom, where God would sure help him to prosper. Isaac did not boast about his achievement or the skills of his men, but rather rejoiced that God had created a place for him, wherein he could grow and flourish.
God will surely create a place for his children whereby they can grow and succeed. Nonetheless, initially we will have all those stumbling blocks and hindrances. These are sent just to refine us, so we can become all that God intended for us to be. In the meanwhile we must keep on doing good, and not grow weary in doing so. It is God alone who provides the space for us, helps us and provides for us.
Though God showed a spacious place to Isaac, it seemed that Isaac was still fearful. All the wells his father had dug were stopped, and all the ones that he worked hard to dig were claimed by others. At this point it seemed like Isaac was filled with some sort of fear which he probably could not tell anyone.
There may be fears inside our heart that many of us don’t share with others, not even our close family members. When this fear resides inside a person, their attitude and behavior too will change drastically.
God’s blessings on Isaac
As Isaac continued on this journey, he was probably filled with dread that these people who surrounded him, and were envious of him would do him harm. It was at this time that God appeared to Isaac, and gave him this assurance.
We read in Genesis 26:24, That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid; I am with you. I will bless you and give you many descendants because of my promise to my servant Abraham." (GNB)
When God introduced Himself to Isaac as the God of his father Abraham, I am sure Isaac might have recollected one very important incident that happened in his life. There was a time when Isaac travelled with his father Abraham towards the mount Moriah to offer a sacrifice. God had asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, the one whom he loved dearly on this mountain. Abraham implicitly obeyed God, and took his son to be sacrificed. As they proceeded for the sacrifice, Isaac who observed that they had wood and fire for the sacrifice, enquired of his father as to where they would get the lamb for the sacrifice. Sacrificing to God was a usual practice, but this seemed strange in that they had no lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham encouraged his son to believe that the Lord would provide the lamb for the sacrifice. When they reached the place of sacrifice, Abraham obediently built the altar, and willingly laid his beloved son Isaac on it, and was about to sacrifice him. Interestingly, Isaac did not resist or even rebel against this action by his father. God was so pleased with Abraham that he stopped him from sacrificing his son, and provided him a ram that was caught in the thicket. Abraham and Isaac joyfully sacrificed that ram, and got back to their homes.
Isaac therefore from past experience knew for sure that God was able to do more than he could think or imagine, for He was a God of impossibilities. It was this God who now appeared to Isaac and comforted him with these words, “Do not be afraid; I am with you. I will bless you and give you many descendants because of my promise to my servant Abraham.”
The promises of God are fulfilled only when we have faith to receive them as they are, and believe in them.
Isaac put his life in order
This encounter that Isaac had with God was so transforming that it changed the way he moved forward. We read in Genesis 26:25, “Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. Then he set up his camp there, and his servants dug another well.” (GNB)
Observe three things that Isaac did immediately. The first thing was that he built an altar there and worshipped God. Notice how Isaac’s priorities were all re-set. Earlier they were just moving on looking for a place that had enough water so his family, servants and livestock could survive. They would usually set up tents, and remain there until this water was available for them. However, this time, the first thing Isaac did was to build an altar to sacrifice and worship the Lord there. The altar was a symbol of total sacrifice. Secondly, Isaac set up camp there, and thirdly, his servants dug another well.
This kind of discipline is quite important for each one of us as God’s children, to give God top priority, to take care of the family God has entrusted to us, and then do the work that we are involved in diligently. To many people work takes precedence, then comes their family and finally if they have time to spare they think about God. This should not be so. We should give God the preeminence to praise and worship Him. Our family should come next, and only then our work. Only if we do so will we be truly blessed.
Isaac’s enemies made peace with him
Look what happened as a result as recorded in Genesis 26:26-28, Abimelech came from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army to see Isaac. So Isaac asked, "Why have you now come to see me, when you were so unfriendly to me before and made me leave your country?" They answered, "Now we know that the LORD is with you, and we think that there should be a solemn agreement between us. (GNB)
King Abimelech along with his adviser and commander came to make peace with Isaac, when they were the ones who were responsible for Isaac to move out of the Philistine country. I believe that when Isaac put God first, and set everything in order, God intervened to bring peace with his enemies.
Let me share this verse from Proverbs 16:7, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (ESV)
Isaac gladly received the Philistine King and his men, made peace with them, made them a feast and they all ate and drank together.
God wants to reassure anyone who is fearful that He is with you, and there is no need to fear. If we are willing to set our lives in order as God desires us to, the Lord will make our enemies live at peace with us, and we will enjoy the peace and security that comes from God alone.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
