Isaac In Gerar – Isaac Is Abundantly Blessed

   February 5, 2020
ISAAC IN GERAR

During his sojourn in that district he farmed a piece of land, which, by the blessing of God on his skill and industry, was very productive (Isaiah 65:13; Psalm 37:19); and by his plentiful returns he increased so rapidly in wealth and influence that the Philistines, afraid or envious of his prosperity, obliged him to leave the place (Proverbs 27:4; Ecclesiastes 4:4).

This may receive illustration from the fact that many Syrian shepherds at this day settle for a year or two in a place, rent some ground, in the produce of which they trade with the neighboring market, till the owners, through jealousy of their growing substance, refuse to renew their lease and compel them to remove elsewhere.

Genesis 26:12-22 KJV

[12] Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

[13] And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

[14] For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

[15] For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

[16] And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

[17] And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

[18] And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

[19] And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

[20] And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

[21] And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

[22] And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

Genesis 26:12 KJV

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

  • God is with him, you see.
  • That is the blessing that God promised to these people from the day He called Abraham.
  • It was an earthly blessing.
  • Later on when God put them into that land, He told them He would bless them in their basket; that is, it would be filled with foodstuff.
  • God made that promise good when they were walking in fellowship with Him.
  • We must remember that He is not promising us that blessing.
  • He has promised spiritual blessings to us.

We are told that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings, and that is our portion today. But that blessing is on the same terms. It depends on our walk with God. If you will permit Him, He wants to bless you abundantly in your spiritual life.

We find here that Isaac is greatly blessed—

Genesis 26:13 KJV

And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

  • Don’t miss the fact that Isaac is greatly blessed.
  • His field brings forth an hundredfold!
  • The impression some of us have is that Abraham was outstanding, and Jacob was also, but not Isaac. Let me say that Isaac is also outstanding.

It is significant that the life of Isaac is tied in with that of Abraham. Isaac’s birth and his life are interwoven with Abraham’s experiences.

Although Isaac was important when he was offered there upon the altar, again it was Abraham and Isaac together.

Why should it be so presented?

Well, we have already seen that all these things happened unto them for examples to us. It presents a wonderful picture of the intimacy between the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father.

Jesus said, “. . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father . . .” (John 14:9). And in the high priestly prayer of Jesus, He said, “. . . I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4).

Also, He said, “. . . My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17).

Therefore, it is very proper that the story of Isaac and the story of Abraham be identified together.

Now here in the chapter before us we see Isaac standing on his own two feet, and he doesn’t look too attractive. He exhibits a weakness and repeats the sin of Abraham.

However, the Word of God makes it clear that Isaac was a very great man in that land—

Genesis 26:14 KJV

For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

  • The Philistines couldn’t stand to see all this prosperity—

Genesis 26:15 KJV

For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

  • Abraham had been digging wells in that land, and now his son comes along and the wells become his.
  • But he would go out in the morning and find that the wells were all filled up.
  • This was done by the Philistines and, by the way, this is the first mention of the enmity of the Philistines.
  • This led to continual warfare later on in the days of David.

Genesis 26:16 KJV

And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.

  • Notice the importance of Isaac at this time.

Genesis 26:17 KJV

And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

  • This man Abimelech said, “You are causing a great deal of difficulty now, and it would be better if you left.”
  • He had great respect for Isaac, as you can see.
  • Now this is a part of Isaac’s life that looks like weakness, but it is not.

Notice that he returns back to the land where his father Abraham had been—

Genesis 26:18 KJV

And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.

  • This reveals the struggle that was carried on.
  • I feel that the water is a picture of the Word of God. We are to drink deeply of it.
  • It is called the “water of the Word” and is for drinking purposes to slake our thirst, and it is also for washing.
  • Jesus said that we are cleansed through the Word which He has spoken.

Genesis 26:19 KJV

And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.

  • Water is a very necessary item in life. You can’t have life without water.
  • You can fly over the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, and California and see plenty of arid land.
  • Then all of a sudden you see an area of lush green and wonder what has happened down there. Water is the only explanation.

Genesis 26:20 KJV

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.

  • And, my friend, water is the explanation for the differences between God’s children in any church—the water of the Word of God.
  • There is a great difference in the lives of believers who study God’s Word. And there will be a struggle.
  • I think that you will always have to pay a price if you are really going to study the Word of God.
  • The devil will permit you to do anything except get into the Word of God.

Genesis 26:21 KJV

And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.

 

 

 

Genesis 26:22 KJV

And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

  • Then he calls the well Rehoboth. It means “there is room for us” Before that he would dig a well and they would take it away from him.
  • He’d move up, dig another one, and they would take that away from him. He would just keep moving up.
  • This certainly reveals that Isaac is a man of peace and a man of patience.
  • David wouldn’t have done this, I can tell you that.
  • Simon Peter wouldn’t have done that.

It is a real lesson for us here. This is especially applicable when we apply it to the study of the Word of God.

I hope that you have really enjoyed this post,

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