Genesis 26

Like father, like son (vs. 1-11)—There was a famine in the land, but God told Isaac to stay where he was rather than go down to Egypt as Abraham had done (chapter 12). He’s living near Gerar, the same area of the Philistines where his father had once dwelt. God came to Isaac and repeated to him the great promise that He had made to Abraham and that He would keep that promise through Isaac: “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” (v. 4). Except for the “I will make your name great” guarantee, it’s the same thing Jehovah had said Abraham. And notice especially, “in your seed ALL the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” Remember—Christ is coming. Question: Can you recall the Messianic line? Answer at the end….

In Gerar, just like Abraham had done with Sarah, Isaac asks Rebekah to claim she is his sister. And just like what happened to Abraham, his deception was discovered. Whether this is the same Abimelech that Abraham had dealings with is extremely doubtful, but he proved to be an honorable man as well—at least regarding Rebekah—and wouldn’t let any of his people touch her.

Conflict with the Philistines (vs. 12-22)—Isaac grew very wealthy; well, no doubt, he had inherited a lot of that from his father, but he prospered nonetheless. “So the Philistines envied him,” (v. 14), and Abimelech asked him to leave, “for you are much mightier than we," (v. 16), indicating again, not only the size of Isaac’s retinue, but how small and insignificant the city-state of Gerar was. Even though Abimelech was a Philistine and no doubt there were others of that tribe around, they obviously weren’t united. The reader might recall ancient Greek history, Athens and Sparta, etc. They could unite against a serious common enemy like Persia, otherwise all they did was fight amongst themselves. That’s probably the situation here with Isaac and Abimelech. Later, the Philistines would unite and give Israel fits.

Isaac kept digging wells but the jealous Philistine herdsmen kept stealing them. Isaac could have fought them, of course, but he didn’t. He just moved on and finally found a location where he could live in peace.

The covenant between Isaac and Abimelech (vs. 23-32)—Abimelech must have been really worried about Isaac, and he had good reason to since his people were taking all of Isaac’s water. So Abimelech goes to Isaac. The latter is somewhat disgruntled: “’Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?’" (v. 27). Abimelech is less than honest in his reply. Since he sees that “the LORD is with you,” (v. 28), he wants to make a covenant with Isaac, “that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace” (v. 29). This “we have done nothing to you but good” might have caused Isaac to snicker a bit since Abimelech’s people had been confiscating his water wells, but the patriarch shows restraint and his peaceful intent by making a feast and swearing an agreement. If indeed Isaac was stronger than Abimelech, he had nothing to lose. His servants had found the water he needed (v. 32).

Esau’s wives (vs. 34-35)—We’ve already seen that Esau wasn’t a terribly spiritual man, and he further proves it here by marrying a couple of Hittite women. “And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah” (v. 35). No doubt Esau’s parents would have preferred he marry among his own kinsmen as Isaac had done. And, as we shall see in a later chapter, Isaac will send Jacob back to his family to find a wife there.

Messianic line:  Adam--Seth--Noah--Shem--Arphaxad--Abraham--Isaac...more to come...