11Now there was a famine in the land —besides the Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.

Recall Abraham’s response in Genesis 12 ~ Recall Abraham’s response in Genesis 12 ~ relocate.relocate.

(Some commentators hold that this is merely a revision (Some commentators hold that this is merely a revision of the of the Genesis 12 account. See documentary hypothesis. This Genesis 12 account. See documentary hypothesis. This view is view is not necessary, seeing that folks tend to repeat the same not necessary, seeing that folks tend to repeat the same errors errors throughout generations.) throughout generations.)

We do not endorse the documentary hypothesis at all.We do not endorse the documentary hypothesis at all.

11Now there was a famine in the land —besides the Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.

Recall Abraham’s response in Genesis 12 ~ Recall Abraham’s response in Genesis 12 ~ relocate.relocate.

Core question here:Core question here:

Can God sustain me in difficult circumstances?Can God sustain me in difficult circumstances?

If God can deal with the circumstance of my If God can deal with the circumstance of my sin . . .sin . . .

Remember, it is about Christ-likeness, not Remember, it is about Christ-likeness, not comfort.comfort.

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.

There is an implication that Abraham should have stayed rather than fleeing to Egypt.

Having left the place of God’s blessing, he took his survival into his own hands.

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.

“Stay in this land for a while” ~ live here as an alien.

Do not assimilate. (this is why Rebekah was sent for)

(Obedience keeps you where the blessing is.)

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.”

Palestine has been given perpetually to Abraham, Inc.

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.”

Palestine has been given perpetually to Abraham, Inc.Descendants of Abraham will be plenteous and noticeable.

(literal and spiritual)

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.”

Palestine has been given perpetually to Abraham, Inc.Descendants of Abraham will be plenteous and noticeable.Perpetual positive influence of the offspring. (Especially Christ.)Jews are 0.2% of the world population with 21% of Noble prizes.Atheist homeless shelters? Wiccan soup kitchens? Islamic battered women’s shelters?

Link to atheist’s article commending Link to atheist’s article commending Christian missions.Christian missions.

ClicClickk

“It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities. But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I’ve been trying to banish all my life, but an observation I’ve been unable to avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs, stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing belief that there is no God. Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.”

“Christianity’s Positive Contributions: An Atheist Confession” ~ Matthew Parris

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.”

Palestine has been given perpetually to Abraham, Inc.Descendants of Abraham will be plenteous and noticeable.Perpetual positive influence of the offspring. (Especially Christ.)Obedience places you in the circumstances of God’s blessing.

1Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws.” 6So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

Do you want God’s blessing? Learn long term obedience.

7When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.”

This section is most likely not chronologically placed.

Probably before the boys were born/conceived.

7When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.”

We have seen this before . . . (Genesis 12 and 20)

The “beauty” would have financial aspects as well.

At least Abraham told a half truth.

8When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

The situation does not go as far as is did with Abraham and Sarah.

8When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.”

Great trust in God at this point.

8When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.” 10Then Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.”

The “pagans” have greater faith than Isaac!

They remember what happened before. Isaac has forgotten.

8When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.” 10Then Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” 11So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

The “pagan” protects the godly’s virtue.

God has clearly made an impression on Abimelech, Inc.

1212Isaac planted crops in that land and the same Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.blessed him. 1313The man became rich, and his wealth The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 1414He had so many flocks and herds and servants that He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.the Philistines envied him. 1515So all the wells that his So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth. with earth. 1616Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Move away from Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” us; you have become too powerful for us.” 1717So Isaac moved away from there and encamped So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 1818Isaac Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. the same names his father had given them.

How much cooperation should we expect from How much cooperation should we expect from those who have chosen not to know God?those who have chosen not to know God?

1212Isaac planted crops in that land and the same Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.blessed him. 1313The man became rich, and his wealth The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy.continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 1414He had so many flocks and herds and servants that He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.the Philistines envied him. 1515So all the wells that his So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth. with earth. 1616Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Move away from Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” us; you have become too powerful for us.” 1717So Isaac moved away from there and encamped So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 1818Isaac Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. the same names his father had given them.

How much cooperation should we expect from How much cooperation should we expect from those who have chosen not to know God?those who have chosen not to know God?

19Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. 20But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. 21Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. 22He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”

Esek ~ “dispute”Sitnah ~ “opposition”Rebohoth ~ “room”

How much cooperation should we expect from How much cooperation should we expect from those who have chosen not to know God?those who have chosen not to know God?

23From there he went up to Beersheba. 24That 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; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” 25Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

The “circumstances” of opposition keep assimilation from even being a possibility.

God provides negative circumstances . . .

26Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?”

26Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” 28They answered, “We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you 29that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”

God is with you and we benefitted from you because of it.We miss you . . . (and your wealth . . .)

26Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” 28They answered, “We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you 29that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”

God is with you and we benefitted from you because of it.We miss you . . . (and your wealth . . .)

30Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. 32That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, “We’ve found water!” 33He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.

30Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. 32That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, “We’ve found water!” 33He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba. 34When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Esau is being assimilated . . .

(They didn’t want their boys to marry Canaanites girls. Esau knew this. See 28:6-9.)

30Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. 32That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, “We’ve found water!” 33He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba. 34When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35They were a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah.

Esau is being assimilated . . .

(They didn’t want their boys to marry Canaanites girls. Esau knew this. See 28:6-9.)

Applications:

Continue to walk in obedience, in the blessing.

Even though circumstances might make you think twice.

“Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior.”

--Polycarp, disciple of the Apostle John, and Bishop of Smyrna, when offered a chance to escape being burned at the stake if he would blaspheme Christ.

(link )

Applications:Applications:

Continue to walk in obedience, in the Continue to walk in obedience, in the blessing.blessing.

Stick with the Plan. It will remain.Stick with the Plan. It will remain.

We know how this ends. We know how this ends.

Philippians 2:9-11Philippians 2:9-11

Therefore God exalted him to the highest Therefore God exalted him to the highest place place

and gave him the name that is and gave him the name that is above every name,above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,bow,

in heaven and on earth and under in heaven and on earth and under the earth,the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,Lord,

to the glory of God the Father. to the glory of God the Father.

Applications:

Continue to walk in obedience, in the blessing.

Stick with the Plan. It will remain.

Learn to actually trust God.

Rather than running to the world, stick with the one who has gotten you this far. Stick with the Planner.

Applications:

Continue to walk in obedience, in the blessing.

Stick with the Plan. It will remain.

Learn to actually trust God.

Do not expect help with Godliness from the world.

Unless of course, they benefit . . .

Applications:

Continue to walk in obedience, in the blessing.

Stick with the Plan. It will remain.

Learn to actually trust God.

Do not expect help with Godliness from the world.

Resist assimilation.

Continue the quest to be like Christ.