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GENESIS 26
Like father like son: Isaac treads in his father’s footsteps for better or for worse. -- (DATE: Around 1751 before Christ)
DISCOVER Genesis 26: When another drought and famine hit the land of Canaan, Isaac and his people traveled to Gerar, where Abimelech ruled over the Philistines (likely intent on traveling further South to Egypt). But God appeared to him, telling him not to do so. For if he stayed in Gerar, He would be with him as He had been with his father, and for Abraham’s faithfulness sake He would fulfill his promise to him and multiply and bless Isaac. -- So Isaac remained where he was in Gerar. But the same fear Abraham had felt in these lands lay on him, so he denied being married to Rebekah before the people of this land, claiming her to be his sister instead. When Abimelech happened upon the two, his past experience with Abraham told him what was going on and he called Isaac out on it. Hearing about the man’s fear for his life, Abimelech put out a decree that no one was to lay a hand on him or his wife by pain of death, for the king feared the punishment of God. -- With this reassurance, Isaac settled and sowed, getting blessed manifold by the LORD, leading him to become rich and mighty. So much so that Abimelech asked him to leave, for not only did he have the blessing of the LORD God, but he had also grown to be mightier than his hosts. -- So Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps and traveled along the valley to the East of Gerar in the direction of Beersheba, digging up the wells his father Abraham had dug and which the Hittites had buried again. But twice, after his servants had found water again, it led to disputes with the people living in the area, so he traveled on until the people accepted him with no quarrel over water. -- After he reached his father Abraham’s old place of settlement in Beersheba, the LORD appeared to Isaac once more, reassuring him of His promise to bless him. So Isaac built an altar there and settled down. -- Shortly afterwards Abimelech took his advisor and commander and traveled to Isaac, so that they might make an oath to have peace between them. To this Isaac agreed, making a feast for his guests, which was crowned by his servants finding water in a new well. -- Twenty-five years after Abraham had passed away Isaac’s son Esau took two Hittite women to be his wives. This made life difficult for Isaac and his wife.
PRAYER: Our living God, we thank you that you helped Isaac survive the drought and resulting famine of his time, by leading him to live among the Philistines in Gerar. Thank you for protecting him in spite of his lies and for multiplying his belongings as the heir of your blessings on his father Abraham. Thank you that you remain faithful even if we become unfaithful. We worship you and praise your holy name. Amen.
QUESTION 26: Why did Isaac not continue his journey, to move away from this people, who worshipped other gods?