Genesis 26:1-33 - Isaac Receives The Promise
“It's deja vu all over again.”
~ Yogi Berra
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Review
In the last chapter (25) we finished Abraham's story, got a quick review of what happened to Ishmael, and started the story of Isaac and his descendants. This 10 chapter section (25:19 - 25:29) covers the lives of Isaac, Esau and Jacob. It is followed by a short section on Esau's descendants, and then the final section of Genesis (37:1 - 50:26), which describes Jacob's 12 sons.
The last part of chapter 25 described the birth of Esau and Jacob and told of God's prophecy that Jacob would be greater than Esau. This was a suggestion that the promise that God gave to Abraham and Isaac would come to Jacob, not Esau. In spite of this divine prophecy, chapter 25 ended with the story of how Jacob got Esau to sell him his birthright.
This was the birthright that customarily went to the firstborn son. Even though they were twins, the story tells us that Esau was born first. It also tells us that the two sons were wrestling even at birth. This sets the stage for the stories that follow in which Jacob always seems to be wrestling with someone.
In chapter 26 we take a break from story of Easu and Jacob to recap Isaac's life and follow God's promise as it passes from Abraham to Isaac. The Holy Spirit, writing through Moses, wants us to understand that the divine promise given to Abraham passed on through Isaac just as God said it would. It is not enough that we are told this, we must see that promise in Isaac's life. Seeing that promise flow through Isaac just as it flowed through Abraham is the point of this chapter.
Abraham's story contained 4 elements that stand out to the Christian reader:
- God's divine election of Abraham and his descendants, particularly His election of Isaac.
- God's promise to Abraham and His faithfulness to fulfill that promise.
- Abraham's growing faith in God and his obedience to God's commands.
- The figurative or spiritual similarities with Christ's story, especially the account of Abraham's righteousness imputed because of his trust in God (Gen 15:16).
In this chapter we will follow a summary of Isaac's life through a series of events that have some similarities to events in Abraham's life. These points of similarity are intended to show us that Isaac developed the same faith as Abraham developed and that faith resulted in the same kind of relationship with God. Therefore the promise that came to Isaac (Gen 17:19, 21; 21:12) is still in full effect and ready to be passed on to Jacob (Gen 25:23).
As we read these stories and review Isaac's life, it might be helpful to ask: what will Isaac's life teach us?
It seems that sometimes God "signs" His work in our lives with certain recognizable patterns. Do you recognize patterns in your life or in the lives of people in your family? Are these patterns from God?
Sometimes patterns are from the Enemy and show up as disease and destruction. Sometimes patterns are from God. How would God's patterns show up as different from other patterns?
"The chapter before us is full of illustrations of how difficulties should and should not be met." (W. H. Griffith Thomas)
Read Genesis 26:1-11 - Isaac's crisis of faith
"In the short span of one chapter, the writer shows how the whole of the life of Isaac was a rehearsal of that which happened to Abraham. Thus the lesson that is conveyed is that God's faithfulness in the past can be counted on in the present and the future. What he has done for the fathers, he will also do for the sons." (John Sailhamer)
"Whereas the events of Isaac's life repeated those of Abraham's on several occasions, God dealt with Isaac differently and in harmony with his individual character. The many parallels between this chapter and the story of Abraham (esp. chs. 12—14 and 20—21) show that the writer wanted the reader to compare and contrast the two men." (Thomas Constable)
"The figure of even a great man may be dwarfed by comparison with that of a distinguished father or of a famous son. Thus the character of Isaac is overshadowed by the majesty of Abraham and the dramatic interest of Jacob. There was a third factor which diminished the importance of Isaac; he was the husband of a clever and masterful wife. No matter how exciting the scene in which he may appear, he is always assigned to a minor part. At least, by contrast with these other actors, his role in life was prosaic, uneventful, obscure." (Charles Erdman)
Isaac traveled from Beer-lahai-roi (Gen 25:11) to Gerar, which is not a great distance. This is where God first speaks to Isaac and is apparently where Abimelech is staying. Abimelech is a compound name or title meaning "the king is my father" or "father king" or "royal father." Therefore the king that Isaac encounters in Gerar who is called "Abimelech" may not be the same person as the king Abraham encountered in the Negev (Gen 20:1), which is quite a bit south of Gerar.
Unlike Abraham, God compelled Isaac to remain in the land. Perhaps God wanted Isaac to stay in the land so he would learn that God would "be with you and bless you" as He had told him (v. 3).
"God says to Isaac, 'Don't leave this land, don't go down to Egypt. I want to confirm with you the covenant which I made with Abraham.' And He repeats the threefold promise: (1) the land - 'I will give unto thy seed all these countries'; (2) the nation - 'I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven'; (3) the blessing - 'and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.'" (J. Vernon McGee)
"The Abrahamic blessing will pass to Isaac. Everything included in that blessing will now belong to the son, and in turn will be passed on to his sons. But there is a contingency involved: If they are to enjoy the full blessings, they will have to obey the word of the LORD. And so obedience is enjoined here with the example of how well Abraham obeyed." (NET Bible 26:3, note 7, http://net.bible.org/#!bible/Genesis+26)
Verse 5 suggests that this blessing came to Isaac because of Abraham's obedience, not necessarily because his faith. This idea appears to conflict with our understanding that Abraham was considered righteous because of his belief in God. But these ideas are not in conflict if we understand that Abraham's faith is revealed by his obedience. Faith and obedience are the same in this case.
"The promise ... was that God would protect and bless Isaac, multiply his descendants, and give them 'all these lands' (v. 4; i.e., the lands held by the various Canaanite tribes). One reason for God's blessing of Isaac was Abraham's obedience to God (v. 5; cf. 22:18). Isaac became the spiritual beneficiary of a godly parent, but he had the opportunity to increase God's blessing on him through his own obedience to God." (Constable)
"The author [Moses] uses the life of Abraham, not Moses, to illustrate that one can fulfill the righteous requirement of the law. In choosing Abraham and not Moses, the author shows that 'keeping the law' means 'believing in God,' just as Abraham believed God and was counted righteous (Gen 15:6). In effect the author of the Pentateuch says, 'Be like Abraham. Live a life of faith and it can be said that you are keeping the law.'" (Sailhamer, Note: In some academic circles, it's not PC to refer to Moses as the author of the Pentateuch because that might offend some who don't accept that idea.)
Read 26:12-33 - Isaac lives in peace under the blessing of God
This passage reveals God's faithfulness in blessing Isaac as He had promised (Gen 26:3; 24:1; 25:11). Isaac enjoyed a bountiful harvest (v 12). Even Abimelech testified to Isaac's power (v 16), which was another testimony to God's faithfulness by a pagan Gentile.
It is interesting to note that the Bible describes many Gentiles who know and even obey God, for example Pharaoh (Gen 12:18; 41:14-37; Exo 7-15), Abimelech (Gen 20:3; 26:28), Nebuchanazer(Dan 2:28), and Cyrus (2 Chro 36:23; Ezra 1:1-8). But these Gentiles do not enjoy extended blessings or an ongoing relationship with God because they have not received the promise that comes only through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But through His sacrifice and the new covenant, Jesus passed that promise on to all believers (Jn 17:20).
At first, Isaac reopened the wells that Abraham had dug, which shows that he was simply following in his father's footsteps. He was not moving to any new territory. But the native inhabitants, who's ancestors welcomed Abraham, filled Isaac's wells with earth. He then dug three new wells. In contrast with Abraham, Isaac "was called not so much to pioneer as to consolidate." (Derek Kidner)
This part of the story shows also God's blessing of Isaac. To the nomads of Isaac's time, water in the wilderness is a strong symbol of God's supernatural blessing in spite of nature. Certainly Moses would have understood that after wondering in the wilderness for 40 years. (Exo 17:1-7; Num 20:8-11)
"The incident also reveals the peaceful character of this patriarch who did not battle his neighbors for the wells, even though he was stronger than they (v. 16). His actions expressed his trust in Yahweh." (Constable)
"Isaac returned to Beersheba where Abraham had lived occasionally. God appeared to him there (his second revelation) calming his fears and reviewing the promises that He had given previously (vv. 2-5). Isaac's response was to build an altar, worship Yahweh, and settle down there." (Constable)
Isaac and his extended family could only continue to live in an area where there was a well. Wells were vital to the life of nomadic herdsmen. Therefore there probably was already at least one well at Beersheba. Perhaps Isaac dug another for his own use, or because he needed more water. His ability to dig wells indicates both his wealth and his intention to establish permanent residence in the land.
"Isaac and Abimelech made a parity covenant of mutual non-aggression. They sealed it by eating a meal together. Eating together was often a sacred rite in the ancient Near East. This covenant renewed the older one made between Abimelech and Abraham (21:31). The exchange of oaths and Isaac's naming the town Beersheba again (cf. 21:31) also strengthened this agreement." (Constable)
". . . this account of Isaac's dealings with the Philistines portrays Isaac as very much walking in his father's footsteps. He receives similar promises, faces similar tests, fails similarly, but eventually triumphs in like fashion. Indeed, in certain respects he is given more in the promises and achieves more. He is promised 'all these lands [v. 4],' and by the end of the story he is securely settled in Beersheba and has a treaty with the Philistines in which they acknowledge his superiority." (Gordon Wenham)
"God's people must maintain confident trust in God's promise of His presence and provision in spite of the envy and hostility of unbelievers that His blessing sometimes provokes." (Constable)
In this chapter we see Isaac following in the patterns of his father. We also see God following the patterns He has established through His promise to Abraham and again to Isaac.
What patterns do you see God following in Scripture?
What patterns do you see coming from God in your own life?
What patterns do you follow?
