GENESIS
CHAPTER
26
1. Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines. 2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. 3 Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessings for themselves through your offspring, 5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 1 to 5)
The twenty-sixth chapter of the book of Genesis starts with a familiar setting in the spiritual life. This is the draft. Many Holy people have experienced periods of dryness or feeling completely cut off from the presence of God. This can happen to anybody so do not worry if it happens to you or me.
During such situations, we tend to take decisions that may not be according to the will of God. Although as in the case of Isaac we may seem to be transmitting from a different channel from that of God, He is always close by and is always ready to help us during such moments of dryness or desolation. He is not only close but promises to be with us during our moments of crisis. Therefore we are to feel assured that we are never alone.
6. So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "My wife," thinking, "or else the men of the place might kill me for the sake of Rebekah, because she is attractive in appearance."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 6 to 7)
As in the case of Abraham Isaac was tempted to use a lie in order to protect his well being. Although he was sure, that he had been chosen by God to give birth to a multitude of nations, Isaac still manifested fear when put to the test. Likewise when we are put to the test, we may also behave in the same manner and refer to our own resources instead of turning on God for His protection.
8. When Isaac had been there a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw him fondling his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech called for Isaac, and said, "So she is your wife! Why then did you say, 'She is my sister?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought I might die because of her."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 8 to 9)
Although we may try to conceal the truth of the reality of our sins or sinful situation, the truth always comes to light and we will have to face the consequences of our sinful actions.
10. Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us."
(Genesis chapter 26 verse 10)
Another game that we tend to play as humans is that of displacement. We try to find reasons to justify an act by placing the burden of the judgement on to others. It would have been the responsibility of all the men in Abimelech's reign not to lie down with a woman that was not theirs. The fact that Isaac had or had not revealed that she was his wife and not his sister was irrelevant to the issue in question. The same argument is held by certain people who may be in a state of separation from their wives, or husbands. Some may take wives that are not theirs and even have intercourse with them on the premise that, when considering that they are separated, they are free to have relationships with other females, or males.
11. So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death"
(Genesis chapter 26 verse 11)
On reflecting Isaac, who had inherited God's promise to Abraham, who had been declared a blessing to himself and to others, now became a form of curse, in the eyes of Abimelech and his people. On the one hand he is offered protection, and on the other hand Isaac and his wife could be viewed as a source of contamination. This may also be the effect of the consequences of sin. Before we sin people may perceive us as being good and law-abiding people, however, when they come to know our sins, we may be judged from a different perspective that may be negative in nature.
12. Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 12 to 14)
Although Isaac may have been labelled as a curse, God was still with him. This became so evident that it was reflected by the fact that God blessed Isaac and his profits increased greatly, however, the greatest treasure that we can have is not worldly material goods, but the Holy presence of God and a healthy relationship, with both God and our fellow persons especially those of our inner circles, meaning family, friends and work mates etc with whom we spend alot of our time.
15. (Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us."
(Genesis chapter 15 and 16)
On referring to previous chapters of the book of Genesis it comes to mind, that Abraham had given to King Abimelech, seven ewes, as a pact to confirm that Abraham had dug these wells. Therefore by blocking the wells with earth, Abraham's servants and in turn even Abimelech had breached the referred to pact or covenant. Moreover during this dialogue between Abimelech and Isaac we witness the process of displacement and or projection. Abimelech fears that Isaac has become stronger and more powerful than himself, therefore he is projecting his fears by means of anger through the use of his authority.
During our everyday life we can find ourselves doing the same to others, even those of our inner circles, with the consequence of hurting them or driving them away from us for good.
17. So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herders of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac's herders, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the well Esek, because they contended with him.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 17 to 20)
Isaac dug again the wells of water that had existed since the days of his father. Water is life, it is also symbolic of God and his loving presence in our lives. On Abraham's point of death, the Philistines, blocked the wells, thus shutting out water, which is a sign of life, and also of God's presence. Like the Philistines we are also at liberty to block our wells, or permit ourselves (Our Well) to become contaminated by the ways of the world. Isaac's servants who followed in their master's footsteps, who in turn followed the will of God, found happiness and life in abundance again. However when we make an experience of God, the Devil by means of his forces, tricks and dirty devices, attempts to rob us from the glory, love and presence of God, by implying that it is his glory. Although the Devil has no need of God's presence, he will do anything to deny us of this experience in order for us to despair and decide to walk in his crooked sinful ways.
21. Then they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also; so he called it Sitnah." 22. He moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 21 to 22)
Although the Devil will never stop harassing us by throwing us into one desolation after another we are to persevere in our choice to follow God and remain strong in our faith and commitment to God and to our fellow persons.
23. From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And that very night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there, called on the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 23 to 25)
When God sees that we are faithful in doing His will, He manifests Himself to us by means of many sources, that at times includes showing us his very self. When I first received my call it was during a dream, during which I saw the sacred heart of Jesus, and that of his mother. I felt a strong wind blowing around me, and then I heard the voice of God which was firm and assertive "Leave everything and follow me".
26. Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?" 28 They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us and let us make a covenant with you 29 so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 26 to 29)
On reflecting Abimelech and his associates wanted friendship with Isaac in order to secure their own safety from his wrath, on seeing that he had grown in abundance, although they tried to keep him under their control. They wanted to make friends with their enemy under the image of friendship. People may want to have fellowship with us or with God only for what they can gain from us or from God and not as the fruit of personal love or the wish of striking a relationship. Some may remain friends, until they get what they want, and then they will never even say they know us any more. We can do the same to God.
30. So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water!" 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 30 to 33)
Isaac gives us an example of love towards our enemies or to those whom we least love. Instead of becoming angry at them in anger or using our power against them, we try and nourish a healthy relationship with them.
34. When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
(Genesis chapter 26 verse 34)
Apparently not all people decided to follow in God's ways. Esau decided to marry daughters of the Hittite. This was strictly prohibited by God. When such things take place, there is what is called the ripple effect that leaves its mark on the rest of the family. Thus as parents, Isaac and Rebekah found it difficult to relate to the new comers, who were not people of God or even had God's approval as being the wives of their son Esau.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayers:
Oh loving God and father. Thank you for being with me and with my family, especially in times of crisis. Thank you for being there for me, even though I did not perceive your presence at the time of desolation. Thank you for trying to show me the way out of my darkness every day of my life. Thank you for never giving up on me as others have done in my life. Thank you God for my family and my friends whom you gave me according to your divine providence. Help me oh God to nourish my relationships in a holy and healthy way, and please help me never to aim at what I can get from the relationship, instead of what I can contribute, to both family friends and even work persons.
During such situations, we tend to take decisions that may not be according to the will of God. Although as in the case of Isaac we may seem to be transmitting from a different channel from that of God, He is always close by and is always ready to help us during such moments of dryness or desolation. He is not only close but promises to be with us during our moments of crisis. Therefore we are to feel assured that we are never alone.
6. So Isaac settled in Gerar. 7 When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "My wife," thinking, "or else the men of the place might kill me for the sake of Rebekah, because she is attractive in appearance."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 6 to 7)
As in the case of Abraham Isaac was tempted to use a lie in order to protect his well being. Although he was sure, that he had been chosen by God to give birth to a multitude of nations, Isaac still manifested fear when put to the test. Likewise when we are put to the test, we may also behave in the same manner and refer to our own resources instead of turning on God for His protection.
8. When Isaac had been there a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw him fondling his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelech called for Isaac, and said, "So she is your wife! Why then did you say, 'She is my sister?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought I might die because of her."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 8 to 9)
Although we may try to conceal the truth of the reality of our sins or sinful situation, the truth always comes to light and we will have to face the consequences of our sinful actions.
10. Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us."
(Genesis chapter 26 verse 10)
Another game that we tend to play as humans is that of displacement. We try to find reasons to justify an act by placing the burden of the judgement on to others. It would have been the responsibility of all the men in Abimelech's reign not to lie down with a woman that was not theirs. The fact that Isaac had or had not revealed that she was his wife and not his sister was irrelevant to the issue in question. The same argument is held by certain people who may be in a state of separation from their wives, or husbands. Some may take wives that are not theirs and even have intercourse with them on the premise that, when considering that they are separated, they are free to have relationships with other females, or males.
11. So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death"
(Genesis chapter 26 verse 11)
On reflecting Isaac, who had inherited God's promise to Abraham, who had been declared a blessing to himself and to others, now became a form of curse, in the eyes of Abimelech and his people. On the one hand he is offered protection, and on the other hand Isaac and his wife could be viewed as a source of contamination. This may also be the effect of the consequences of sin. Before we sin people may perceive us as being good and law-abiding people, however, when they come to know our sins, we may be judged from a different perspective that may be negative in nature.
12. Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 13 and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy. 14 He had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 12 to 14)
Although Isaac may have been labelled as a curse, God was still with him. This became so evident that it was reflected by the fact that God blessed Isaac and his profits increased greatly, however, the greatest treasure that we can have is not worldly material goods, but the Holy presence of God and a healthy relationship, with both God and our fellow persons especially those of our inner circles, meaning family, friends and work mates etc with whom we spend alot of our time.
15. (Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.) 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us."
(Genesis chapter 15 and 16)
On referring to previous chapters of the book of Genesis it comes to mind, that Abraham had given to King Abimelech, seven ewes, as a pact to confirm that Abraham had dug these wells. Therefore by blocking the wells with earth, Abraham's servants and in turn even Abimelech had breached the referred to pact or covenant. Moreover during this dialogue between Abimelech and Isaac we witness the process of displacement and or projection. Abimelech fears that Isaac has become stronger and more powerful than himself, therefore he is projecting his fears by means of anger through the use of his authority.
During our everyday life we can find ourselves doing the same to others, even those of our inner circles, with the consequence of hurting them or driving them away from us for good.
17. So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herders of Gerar quarrelled with Isaac's herders, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the well Esek, because they contended with him.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 17 to 20)
Isaac dug again the wells of water that had existed since the days of his father. Water is life, it is also symbolic of God and his loving presence in our lives. On Abraham's point of death, the Philistines, blocked the wells, thus shutting out water, which is a sign of life, and also of God's presence. Like the Philistines we are also at liberty to block our wells, or permit ourselves (Our Well) to become contaminated by the ways of the world. Isaac's servants who followed in their master's footsteps, who in turn followed the will of God, found happiness and life in abundance again. However when we make an experience of God, the Devil by means of his forces, tricks and dirty devices, attempts to rob us from the glory, love and presence of God, by implying that it is his glory. Although the Devil has no need of God's presence, he will do anything to deny us of this experience in order for us to despair and decide to walk in his crooked sinful ways.
21. Then they dug another well, and they quarrelled over that one also; so he called it Sitnah." 22. He moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 21 to 22)
Although the Devil will never stop harassing us by throwing us into one desolation after another we are to persevere in our choice to follow God and remain strong in our faith and commitment to God and to our fellow persons.
23. From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And that very night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham's sake." 25 So he built an altar there, called on the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 23 to 25)
When God sees that we are faithful in doing His will, He manifests Himself to us by means of many sources, that at times includes showing us his very self. When I first received my call it was during a dream, during which I saw the sacred heart of Jesus, and that of his mother. I felt a strong wind blowing around me, and then I heard the voice of God which was firm and assertive "Leave everything and follow me".
26. Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?" 28 They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us and let us make a covenant with you 29 so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD."
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 26 to 29)
On reflecting Abimelech and his associates wanted friendship with Isaac in order to secure their own safety from his wrath, on seeing that he had grown in abundance, although they tried to keep him under their control. They wanted to make friends with their enemy under the image of friendship. People may want to have fellowship with us or with God only for what they can gain from us or from God and not as the fruit of personal love or the wish of striking a relationship. Some may remain friends, until they get what they want, and then they will never even say they know us any more. We can do the same to God.
30. So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water!" 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
(Genesis chapter 26 verses 30 to 33)
Isaac gives us an example of love towards our enemies or to those whom we least love. Instead of becoming angry at them in anger or using our power against them, we try and nourish a healthy relationship with them.
34. When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
(Genesis chapter 26 verse 34)
Apparently not all people decided to follow in God's ways. Esau decided to marry daughters of the Hittite. This was strictly prohibited by God. When such things take place, there is what is called the ripple effect that leaves its mark on the rest of the family. Thus as parents, Isaac and Rebekah found it difficult to relate to the new comers, who were not people of God or even had God's approval as being the wives of their son Esau.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayers:
Oh loving God and father. Thank you for being with me and with my family, especially in times of crisis. Thank you for being there for me, even though I did not perceive your presence at the time of desolation. Thank you for trying to show me the way out of my darkness every day of my life. Thank you for never giving up on me as others have done in my life. Thank you God for my family and my friends whom you gave me according to your divine providence. Help me oh God to nourish my relationships in a holy and healthy way, and please help me never to aim at what I can get from the relationship, instead of what I can contribute, to both family friends and even work persons.
Thank You God.
As in the previous chapter Mr. Deevain Pawar has contributed as I hope all readers will, by sending me the following prayer along with the permission to publish it;
Thank you God, for being such a kind father who has
always been looking over us, just like
a father teaches his child to walk by holding his hands , thank you for holding
my hands and teaching me to walk at the path u chose even though I sometimes
leave your hand and try to go on my own and commit many sins thank you for always being the first to lend
me a hand and to bring me back to the path you chose, the path of salvation.
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