Studies In Genesis: Chapter 26 Series

Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.

Genesis 26

1. And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine

that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech

king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

As you will see soon there are some recurring things in this chapter. It may seem to be familiar but it is happening to Isaac. Remember earlier in Genesis we see that Abraham with Lot was faced with a famine. And also we see that they fled to Egypt in Chapter 12.

Abimelech was closer to the coastal plains and he had fertile land, as we will see he was also king of the Philistines who seemed to always be a thorn in the flesh of Gods people.

2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into

Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

Why do you think God appeared to Isaac and told him this? Maybe because Abraham had done this earlier. Sin of the Generations. Like father, like son.

3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless

thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these

countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham

thy father;

This is probably one the best things that God could say to us. "I will be with thee". Oh what power in these words. God says Isaac go where I tell you and don’t worry because I will be with you. Do you think these same words apply to us? Bro. Collins, Bro. Renew, Bro. Greene, Sis Chard, Sis. Green, Jeremiah, Richard, Kai, Carol, Rebekah. I will be with thee.

4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven,

and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed

shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my

commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Now here is the answer. Because Abraham obeyed my voice. I have chosen your seen. I have chosen you because of the obedience of your father. Now look back into verse 4 what did God pass onto Isaac that he gave to Abraham? Did Abraham ever really see these?

Now let us go back to verse five. Somebody tell me what it means.

James 2:20-AV But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without

works is dead?

If there is anything that I would love to implant in the minds of Christians it would be this verse.

6. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:

7 And the men of the place asked [him] of his wife; and he

said, She [is] my sister: for he feared to say, [She is] my wife;

lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah;

because she [was] fair to look upon.

What is the difference between what Abraham said and what Isaac said here?

8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that

Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and

saw, and, behold, Isaac [was] sporting with Rebekah his wife.

It makes sense that sooner or later Abimelech would find out about this. Now the difference here is that God does not go to Abimelech but he saw Isaac and Rebekah together probably playing but in a manner only custom to husband and wife. Here is his reaction.

9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she

[is] thy wife: and how saidst thou, She [is] my sister? And Isaac

said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.

10 And Abimelech said, What [is] this thou hast done unto us?

one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou

shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.

Another bad testimony toward Abimelech. See how easy it is. Look at verse 9. What had God just told him in verse 3?. Boy how soon we forget.

11 And Abimelech charged all [his] people, saying, He that

toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

Abimelech still had respect for Isaac and his God and he protected him from being harmed by the Philistines.

12. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year

an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he

became very great:

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds,