Gen 26: Isaac becoming exceedingly wealthy, his sending away by Abimelech, and the Lord's blessing upon him at Beersheba

Isaac went back to Gerar because of a famine, and God appeared to bring him direction and comfort. In foolishness and fear he denied his wife, just like his father did and was reproved by Abimelech. God blessed Isaac so much that the Philistines were envious and sent him away, but eventually made a covenant with him as they saw God's hand upon his life.

• v1: Isaac was brought up believing and knowing that the land of Canaan was an inheritance to him and his descendants, yet now there was a famine in the land. When what God gives to us as an inheritance suddenly seems less valuable in light of other things, will we still treasure it?
• v2: God directed Isaac by His word. There was a famine in Abraham's time, and God did not give any clear directions, leaving him to his liberty. During the famine in Isaac's time, God told him not to go down to Egypt, but during another famine in Jacob's time, God told Jacob to go to Egypt.
• v3: God promised to be with him and to bless him, and also renewed the covenant with him. We may go in confidence knowing that God's blessing goes with us and rests upon us, and as we live out our faith, we often need to repeat and renew the promises we are to live upon, especially during times of trial or hardship.
• v5: Abraham's obedience was universal. It sounds as though Abraham was blessed, "because" he was obedient, and was hence granted gracious gifts on the basis of works. Yet, we know that God was the one who actively conferred this covenant on Abraham, while Abraham was only a passive party. Promise and blessing still precede the command to obey and to keep the commands of God. It is not unlike the church living under John 15:10 - "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love", or "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15) Obedience is the evidence of our participation in the covenant.
• v6: Isaac obeyed
• v7: Isaac thought more of his personal safety than his wife's. He thought that just because his wife was beautiful, some Philistine would find some way to take her and marry her. Rahter than protecting her, he surrendered his wife even before anyone came along for her. What we see though, is that holy and godly men have sometimes been guilty of great faults and sin. Let those who stand take heed lest they fall.
• v8: He was detected by the king himself being intimate with his wife.
• v9-11: Abimelech charged him with wrongdoing, showed him how frivolous his excuse was and the severity of the potential consequences. To convince Isaac how groundless and unjust his reasoning was, Abimelech put him and his family under protection
  1) truth, in time, will be revealed
  2) one sin will often lead to many, and hence the beginnings of sin should be avoided
• v12-13: God's blessing upon Isaac - in the same year of the famine, Isaac reaped a hundredfold. God's economy is not the same as the world's economy. Where there is lack in the world, God's kingdom is one of plenty and abundance. "In times of disaster they will not wither; in days of famine they will enjoy plenty" (Ps 37:19)
• v14-16: The Philistines envied him, and had already shown ill-will by stopping up the wells his father had dug. This was done in spite and malice, because they would not leave them for the use of others. It was done contrary to the covenant of friendship they had made with Abraham. Even the king began to look upon him with a jealous eye, and expelled him out of their country.
• v17: Isaac, a peaceful and wise man, departed rather than quarrel.
• v18-21: He opened the wells his father had dug, dug new ones, and in digging met with much opposition.
• v22: Isaac lived peacefully, preferring quietness to victory. This was in contrast to Ishmael, who right or wrong, would hold what he had against all the world.
• v22-24: Isaac continued to remember God and His providence. God graciously appeared to him, reiterating His promise and allaying his fear and apprehension.
• v25: Isaac built an altar. The comfort and encouragement God's word brings should excite and quicken us to honour and devote ourselves to Him.
• v26-27: "When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him" (Prov 16:7) Isaac prudently and cautiously questioned Abimelech's sincerity in this visit.
• v30-31: Isaac was generous in forgiving - he freely entered into a covenant of friendship with Abimelech.
• v34-35: Esau's foolish marriage, in marrying two wives together, and in marrying Canaanites who were strangers to the blessing upon Abraham and subject to the curse of Noah. Esau neither desired the blessing (he despised his birthright!) nor dreaded the curse of God. It grieved his parents that he married without seeking their advice, and that he married the daughters of Hittites. Note that Abraham said that Isaac should by no means marry a Canaanite!