A famine came upon the land of Canaan just like there had been in Abraham’s time, and Isaac moved to Gerar in the land of the Philistines, to king Abimelech. (v1) This was exactly as Abraham had done many years before. It is thought that Abimelech was a title and not a name, as one would have thought that Abimelech, who was present in his grandfather Abraham’s day, would have died, unless his name had been handed down, being popular in that land, and this was another by the same name. Whatever the situation, it was the same place which Abraham had gone to and lied about Sarah being his sister to preserve his own life (chapter 20).
It seemed that Isaac planned to go on to Egypt because – (v2-5) Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 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. 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; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
The promise given many years before to his father is repeated here and God said He would be true to it. Isaac needed to trust God to fulfil what He had promised which was a land, a nation, and His blessing. Even though Abraham had not always been faithful, God had and would remain so.
Isaac failed in exactly the same way as Abraham had done by telling Pharaoh in Egypt and later in Gerar, the men of Gerar that Rebekah was his sister to save his own skin (v6-8). It was, of course, before Isaac had been born but I guess he had been told about it, otherwise it seemed a coincidence that he did the same thing. Abraham had done it twice and it makes one think that it may have been a common thing to do. Whatever, wouldn’t you think that he would have learned a lesson, he could have lost his beautiful wife to someone else and put Rebekah in grave danger. However, Abimelech happened to see Isaac ‘flirting’ with Rebekah and came to the conclusion that all was not as it should be. As a result, just like his father before him, Isaac is rebuked by Abimelech (v9-11) who threatened anyone, who took her, with death. God again used a pagan king to protect His people.
Abimelech was evidently an upright man relatively speaking and it is sad that believers have to be rebuked by unbelievers for our behaviour. How vital that we are careful in what we do and say before the world. May they see Jesus in us and be drawn to Him.
Isaac evidently stayed there for a while because in verses 12-14, he sowed seed and reaped the same year. He had a good yield, a hundredfold. He was blessed by God, and he prospered with flocks and herds and servants. So much so that the Philistines were envious of him. They had stopped up wells which Abraham’s servants had dug when he was in that land. One wonders why they had stopped up wells which were precious commodities, again it seemed to be envy because of the prosperity of God’s people. Abimelech asked Isaac to leave for his own safety. Isaac did but only as far as the Valley of Gerar. Isaac had dug the wells again in Gerar and re-named them with the names Abraham had named them, and he also dug in the valley and even found a well of running water (v18,19). Having flocks and people they needed water, so wells were essential.
However, quarrels ensued between Isaac’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Gerar over the ownership of the wells. As I said, wells were essential and Isaac named the first well they quarrelled over, Esek (contention) indicating the quarrel. The same happened again with the next well, so he called it Sitnah (opposition). When he moved on, he dug another well which was his own and named it Rehoboth as it represented The LORD’s provision. Rehoboth was named “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” (v20-23)
God was blessing Isaac just as He did Abraham before him. He left there and went to Beersheba where Abraham had dwelt. That same night The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” (v24,25)
God assured Isaac that he need not fear and that He would be with him just as He was with his father Abraham. Isaac did as Abraham had done; he built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. Despite the ‘wars’ between the herdsmen, Isaac is encouraged to put his trust in God and not to fear. He would bless him for Abraham’s sake. God had made His promise and covenant with his father and would keep His word.
On seeing that Isaac was blessed by God, Abimelech, Ahuzzath and Phichol came to him. Isaac was wary in view of the fact that Abimelech had sent him away, but they witnessed that he was blessed and so made a covenant with him that he wouldn’t harm them, and they would live in peace. Isaac agreed and they feasted together.
How important that others see the hand of God on our lives.
That same day, Isaac’s servant reported that they had dug another well. Wells were God’s provision for him, and he named it Shebah (v32,33), the seventh well or satisfaction.
Just like we value our provision of water on tap, they valued the wells and God’s supply. There are still some countries where they have to go to draw water from wells, often not very clean water, but we are very blessed and should not take it for granted and we must thank God for it.
Abraham had specifically instructed his servant not to allow Isaac to marry a Canaanite woman, but this chapter ends with the news that Esau, the eldest son who had sold his birthright to Jacob. Married two Hittite women, much to Isaac and Rebekah’s sadness and grief (v34,35). Not only did he marry one Canaanite, but two, Judith and Basemath.
We rejoice when our children follow The LORD but sometimes, they go against what we have taught them, and it brings grief to us. We cannot force them but how much we should teach them to follow The LORD but also set an example. A great responsibility is placed on our shoulders, and we need God’s help, especially in a world which ignores God
