01 Jul God is Faithful to Isaac Like He Was Faithful to Abraham
Genesis 26:19-20 – But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.”
Despite Isaac’s unbelief that God would protect him and his wife, God blessed him, nonetheless, making him very wealthy. Despite attempts to destroy the financial blessing from God, God overcomes to prove that, even if His blessing is delayed, it cannot and will not be stopped, which is a great source of encouragement.
From the story, it is apparent that Isaac was blessed solely because of God’s grace to him, as he was a conniving and undeserving man. Much like his father, Isaac is far from perfect, but God remains true to His covenant promises, nonetheless. The theme of salvation by grace alone is on full display in this chapter as the believer acts immorally, whereas the unbeliever acts morally.
In Genesis 26:25, we then see Isaac build an altar and worship the Lord as his father had done, which shows that he also shares the faith of his father. This act is the first outward, visible demonstration that he is in fact a believer.
This scene closes by demonstrating how the unbelieving Abimelech recognizes God’s presence with and blessing of Isaac, something that God further proves with the provision of a well that was essential to the survival of his household.
Since Isaac accepted the piece of ground without a known well, he may be acting much like his father Abraham did with Lot in Genesis 13, trusting God to give him the right piece of land and even provide him a well, as God did faithfully.
Isaac acts in faith, as his father Abraham did. What are you currently having faith in that God will bring forth that you haven’t yet seen come to fruition in your life?
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