LastCall: "Golden Thread of Grace" (Genesis 26:1-16) -Bob Caldwell

Golden Thread of Grace  “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.”’ Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” -Genesis 26:9, 12-13 Following in the poor example of his father Abraham, Isaac put his wife in grave danger out of fear for his own personal safety. In so doing, she became vulnerable to men who saw her as not married and would force themselves upon her and add her to their Harem. Yet, in spite of his own unbelief and fear, God not only protected Isaac’s wife as He had done for Abraham’s wife, but God also ended up prospering him. This was not because Isaac was faultless, but because God is so gracious. God’s grace is one of the beautiful golden threads we can’t help but see in His dealing with all His people through the ages. Like Isaac, we all have a place in God’s own purpose and plan for our lives and our world. This journey begins by grace, is sustained by grace, and will ultimately end with what the grace of God has done. This is behind the Apostle Paul’s self-portrayal as a man who fulfilled his own God-given destiny by God’s grace and when he says, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:10). May God’s grace protect us all from ourselves, our fears and outbreaks of unbelief, and enable us to, by faith, fulfill the call and destiny He has for each of us.
Genesis 26:1-16  Isaac and Abimelech 1 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. 2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 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. 4 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; 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” 6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 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.” 8 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. 9 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.’”
Isaac Moves to Gerar (Verses 1-25) v. 1 Famine – Isaac faces the same trial of faith that his father had. These periodic famines were the result of a major decrease in rainfall that drastically reduced the amount of grazable land and produce. To Abimelech – This was a title of the ruler of this Philistine region, not a person’s name. Therefore, it is unclear whether this was the same ruler with whom Abraham had dealt. v. 2 Do Not – Isaac is warned to not continue southward into Egypt but rather, by faith, stay in the Land of Promise. v. 3 All These Lands – This is the only change from the earlier promise given to Abraham, being plural not singular “land.” This would refer to all the territories of the various Canaanite tribes. v. 5 Because Abraham – Abraham’s faith provided the increased capacity to obey God at any cost. This growth in faith resulted in a growth of obedience that culminated in the test of offering up Isaac to God (chapter 22). My Charge – “Mishmereth” (Heb.) A word that refers to a guard, one who safeguards. This points to Abraham as one who became faithful in protecting the integrity of God’s revelation of Himself and His will from falsehood. Commandments – “Mitswah” (Heb.) This refers to a precept or ordinance, whether human or divine. Statutes – “Chuqqak” (Heb.) This term efers to an enactment, custom, or ordinance of God. Laws – “Torah” The word refers to instruction, doctrine, and regulations. v. 6 Gerar – This was the ruling capital of the Philistine region near the borders of Egypt. v. 7 My Sister – Isaac falls into the same sin as his father (Gen. 12:11, 20:1-18). v. 8 Showing Endearment – “Tsachaif” (Heb.) Means to play or laugh with. Isaac was showing contact with Rebekah that would be reserved for married couples.
10 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.” 11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.” 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. 15 Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
v. 10 What Is This – Isaac is rebuked for placing these people in a situation that could have caused them to commit adultery. We see here a regard for some form of sexual fidelity among people who had limited exposure to biblical truth. v. 11 Abimelech Charged – This ruler provides the protection that Isaac feared would not be there if people knew he and Rebekah were married. v. 12 Hundredfold – An excellent return from planted crops was twenty-five to fiftyfold. This hundredfold was an extremely large return. v. 14 Envied – As is often the case, when a person begins to prosper, others covet what they have and begin to be moved with envy, often resulting in trying to tear down the person envied (v. 15). v. 16 Go From Us – Abimelech is threatened by the increased prosperity upon Isaac. He believes these blessings to be the direct result of God. Thus he fears taking from Isaac what he has, and so chooses to have him leave the city.

Michael James Stone

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