repeated phrases:
(1) Abraham v.1, 3, 5, 15, 18
This is a passage about Isaac, but the name of Abraham appears many times. See below for the common character of this pair of father and son.
(2) prominent/powerful v. 13,16
v.14-15 He had so many sheep and cattle and such a great household of servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines took dirt and filled up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug back in the days of his father Abraham.
The wealthy turns into a sign of prominent and eventually made the Philistines jealous and filled up all his wells.
More to come:
26:16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us and go elsewhere, for you have become much more powerful than we are.”
Later on when Abimelech came to Isaac and asked to have treaty with him. Abimelech denied anything wrong he had done to Isaac.
v.29b just as we have not harmed you, but have always treated you well before sending you away in peace
Even with the denial of wrong doing from Abimelech, Isaac still accepted the agreement.
26:30 So Isaac held a feast for them and they celebrated.26:31 Early in the morning the men made a treaty with each other. Isaac sent them off; they separated on good terms.
Reflection: Isaac knew that God had promised him the land. He was expelled from the land that he was given, but he deal with that patiently just like Abraham in chapter 23. Abraham spent 400 pieces of silver to buy his own land. Isaac let the people of Philistines to fill up his wells.
Do you have good influence to your children like Abraham did to Isaac?
(3) the wells v.14-15, 18-22
Not only the king expelled Isaac, even the herdsmen quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen for the wells after he moved to another area. After giving up of 2 wells he finally found one that no one quarrel with him.
(NET) The story shows Isaac’s patience with the opposition; it also shows how God’s blessing outdistanced the men of Gerar. They could not stop it or seize it any longer.
Reflection: Are we patient with opposition? Isaac did all the hard work to dig those 2 wells and he gave them up when they caused him the arguments. No one will like that feelings of doing things for nothing. Can we give harmony with other a high priority? Can we wait and be patient like Isaac?
After Isaac did this the LORD appeared to him again and confirmed that He will be with him and bless him again v.24. In other words God was very please with him.
(4) God is with Isaac and blesses him v.3, 12, 28, 29
After expelling Isaac out Abimelech wanted to set up a treaty between them. Why?
v.28, 29 “We could plainly see that the LORD is with you...Now you are blessed by the LORD.”
Reflection: Can other see the blessing by the LORD in you? I mean they can see that you are successful, wealthy or whatever, but can they see you are successful, wealthy "by the LORD?" How did Abimelech knew that Isaac was blessed by the LORD? Perhaps it was due to the fact that Isaac always found the wells when others cannot. Perhaps Abimelech knew that Isaac worshiped the LORD v.25. Or Abimelech saw Isaac's patient and willing to accept others that shows that he as a believer of the LORD. Can other see the blessing by the LORD in you?
Audrey
2026
1. Repeated words: Digging/reopening wells v.18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 32-33, quarrel v. 14 (Jealous), 20, 21, 22, the LORD has made room v.22/the appearance of the LORD v.24/the presence and blessing of the LORD 24, 28, made a treaty 28, 31
v.20 The water belongs to us!” So Isaac named the well Esek because they argued with him about it (NET The name Esek means “argument” in Hebrew. The following causal clause explains that Isaac gave the well this name as a reminder of the conflict its discovery had created.)
v.21 His servants dug another well, but they quarreled over it too, so Isaac named it Sitnah. (NET The name Sitnah (שִׂטְנָה, sitnah) is derived from a Hebrew verbal root meaning “to oppose; to be an adversary” (cf. Job 1:6). The name was a reminder that the digging of this well caused “opposition” from the Philistines.)
v.22b...They did not quarrel over it, so Isaac named it Rehoboth, saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we will prosper in the land.”
(NET The name Rehoboth (רְהֹבוֹת, rehovot) is derived from a verbal root meaning “to make room.” The name was a reminder that God had made room for them. The story shows Isaac’s patience with the opposition; it also shows how God’s blessing outdistanced the men of Gerar. They could not stop it or seize it any longer.)
v.32 That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. “We’ve found water,” they reported. 33 So he named it Shibah; (NET The name Shibah (שִׁבְעָה, shiv’ah) means (or at least sounds like) the word meaning “oath.” The name was a reminder of the oath sworn by Isaac and the Philistines to solidify their treaty.)
Summary and reflection: God blessed Isaac from v.2, and he was prosper. Those blessings would not be moved by the jealousy, quarrelling, or opposition from the Philistines. On the other hand, Isaac was very patient when others were hostile to him. First, he just reopened the wells that was filled up by the jealous Philistines v.14-18. Then he let the P have the fresh flowing water well, Esek, and then another well, Sitnah. v.22 said then he moved away from there. How did he know that he would get another well after these 2 ?
His patient was also shown when the Abimelech said that they had always treated him well v.29. Isaac held a feast for them and they celebrated...they separated on good terms. Abimelech were shameless to say that they had treated him well. They kept rubbing him of his well and left him with no well. However, Isaac did not bring those up and he held a feast for them and they separated on good terms. How could he do that?
2. The 2nd appearance of the LORD v.23-25
23 From there Isaac went up to Beer Sheba. 24 The LORD appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
A. Where and when
Isaac moved again from the Gerar Valley (where the Philistines lived) to Beer Sheba. That night when he arrived the LORD appeared to him.
B. What God said
(UBSH) Fear not: these are the same words spoken to Abraham in 15:1
“Fear not, Abram! I am your shield... (NET If God is the shield, then God will deliver. Abram need not fear reprisals from those he has fought.)
Now, to whom did Isaac fear? The Philistines? Isaac should have no fear of those who wanted to rub him of his well.
C. What happened afterwards
Then Abimelech come to see him and Isaac was able to keep at peace with him.
Summary and reflection:
Isaac was patient and exhibited extraordinary bearing to the Philistines because he was very clear Who is the One who has been protecting and blessings him all the way. He did not need to be afraid of his enemy.
3. Questions:
1) v.3 Then I will be with you and will bless you. Ab's promise
2) God honored His promise to Ab
3) Lying because of his fearing of being killed
4) Be transparent your mistakes, asked them to rely on God for the strength not to sin (Become a believer first), and asked God for forgiveness if fail
5) He did not want to be deceived and sin morally. He protected Isaac with a law. He acted what a government should do in today's world.
6) About God: He abides to His promise and covenant. He is mercy when we are weak. About man: even when Ab or Isaac was obedience they might be weak in faith at times. And, the Bible is transparent about this and let us know about that. About myself: being vulnerable.
Biblical Studies Press. (2019). The NET Bible (Second Edition, Ge 26:3). Thomas Nelson.
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