Daily Devotions
Genesis
"O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works." Psalm 71:17
Text: Genesis 26:1-35
IN THE SCHOOL OF OBEDIENCE
Wisely, Isaac heeded the word of instruction from the Lord! If he had plans to go down to Egypt, he abandoned that, in favour of obedience to the Lord.
“So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.”
GENESIS 26:6
This may seem to be but a simple statement. However, there is much more to it than meets the eye. The text represents the obedience of Isaac.
THE SPECTRE OF FEAR
Fear is a terrible enemy! It strikes deeply and remorselessly. It threatens even faith in God! Isaac did not fare so well in this battle against fear. Though he must have known about his father’s battle with fear, he found himself unable to gain victory over fear.
“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.'”GENESIS 26:7
1. A different experience
There is a difference between this experience and that which Abraham went through. In Abraham’s experience, Abimelech actually abducted Sarah (Cf.Genesis 20:2). That necessitated the Lord giving a special word of warning, in a dream, to Abimelech not to touch Sarah (Cf. Genesis 20:3).
In Isaac’s case, the men of Gerar only asked about Rebekah. No abduction had taken place. The fear that Isaac had must have been deep indeed! He reacted with fear even when the occasion did not warrant it.
2. The same reasoning
The same reasoning took place! Isaac reasoned that he might lose his life if he made it known that Rebekah was his wife. The Philistines might just kill him in order to have his wife!
THE NEED TO EXERCISE FULL FAITH IN THE LORD
The Lord had just spoken to Isaac. He had reiterated the wonderful promises that He had given to Abraham, his father. Now the Covenant promises were also his, because He spoke to him directly!
Isaac should have exercised more faith in the Lord. But, of course, the Lord would bless and protect him from anyone and everyone! How could he just die meaninglessly, at the hands of the Philistines! If only Isaac had meditated on the promises of the Lord! Had he given up his habit of meditating in the fields, after his marriage?