Isaac Goes To Beer-Sheba – Reassured Promise Of Blessing

   February 6, 2020
ISAAC GOES TO BEER-SHEBA

Finally Isaac moved away from the Philistines. This time there was no strife when he dug a well, so he called it Rehoboth (broad places or room).

He went from there to Beersheba, where the LORD reassured him with the promise of blessing, and where Isaac built an altar (worship), pitched a tent (abiding), and dug a well (refreshment).

Just as water is a basic essential in the physical realm, so is the water of the Word in the spiritual.

As there was a lapse of ninety years between the visit of Abraham and of Isaac, the Abimelech and Phichol spoken of must have been different persons‘ official titles.

Here is another proof of the promise (Genesis 12:2) being fulfilled, in an overture of peace being made to him by the king of Gerar.

By whatever motive the proposal was dictated – whether fear of his growing power, or regret for the bad usage they had given him, the king and two of his courtiers paid a visit to the tent of Isaac (Proverbs 16:7).

His timid and passive temper had submitted to the annoyances of his rude neighbors; but now that they wish to renew the covenant, he evinces deep feeling at their conduct, and astonishment at their assurance, or artifice, in coming near him.

Being, however, of a pacific disposition, Isaac forgave their offense, accepted their proposals, and treated them to the banquet by which the ratification of a covenant was usually crowned.

Genesis 26:23-35 KJV

[23] And he went up from thence to Beer–sheba.

[24] And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

[25] And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

[26] Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

[27] And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

[28] And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

[29] That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

[30] And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

[31] And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

[32] And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

[33] And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer–sheba unto this day.

[34] And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

[35] Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Genesis 26:23 KJV

And he went up from thence to Beer–sheba.

 

 

 

Genesis 26:24 KJV

And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

  • God appears to him to comfort him.
  • God appeared to all the patriarchs with the exception of Joseph.
  • He appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Genesis 26:25 KJV

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

  • He goes on again, digging wells.
  • You can always put a well down next to Isaac.
  • You can put an altar down next to Abraham, and you can put a tent down next to Jacob, as we shall see later on.

Genesis 26:26 KJV

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

  • Although Isaac almost seems weak in his dealing with the men of Gerar, the king of Gerar was so impressed that he followed Isaac to Beer-sheba in order to establish good relations.

Genesis 26:27 KJV

And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?

 

 

 

Genesis 26:28 KJV

And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;

  • The influence of Isaac in that land was not that of a weak man.

Genesis 26:29 KJV

That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.

  • When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him, Proverbs 16:7. Kings’ hearts are in his hands, and when he pleases, he can turn them to favour his people.

Genesis 26:30 KJV

And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

  • It is not wrong to stand upon our guard in dealing with those who have acted unfairly. But Isaac did not insist on the unkindnesses they had done him; he freely entered into friendship with them.

Genesis 26:31 KJV

And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

  • Religion teaches us to be neighbourly, and, as much as in us lies, to live peaceable with all men.

Genesis 26:32 KJV

And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.

  • Providence smiled upon what Isaac did; God blessed his labours.

Genesis 26:33 KJV

And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer–sheba unto this day.

 

Genesis 26:34 KJV

And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

  • Esau was foolish in marrying two wives together, and still more in marrying Canaanites, strangers to the blessing of Abraham, and subject to the curse of Noah.

Genesis 26:35 KJV

Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

  • It grieved his parents that he married without their advice and consent.
  • It grieved them that he married among those who had no religion.
  • Children have little reason to expect God’s blessing who do that which is a grief of mind to good parents.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

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