INTRODUCTION: Isaac was a man of true faith, yet his failings and weaknesses are plainly recorded. God's children are born of the Spirit and have an undying faith, yet they are never free of the flesh in this life [Romans 8:10]. The Bible never teaches this truth or records the failures of saints in order to excuse our sin [I John 2:1], but rather to give us an understanding of the conflict that follows us throughout this life. Our desire for the redemption of our sinful bodies is one of the things that causes us to long for Christ's return [Philippians 3:20-21]. How confused we would be if the Bible hid the faults of Bible characters.I. TRIALS IN THE PROMISED LAND - verse 1.
The promised land did not symbolize Heaven but rather the life of faith. We enter into the heavenly rest by faith [Hebrews 4:1-3]. Learn then from Isaac's trial that things do not always go smoothly in the life of believers. There are famines and temptations in the promised land [I Peter 4:12-13]. We can, however, rejoice in the knowledge that nothing happens to us outside of God's special and loving providence.II. THE PROMISE RENEWED - verses 2-5.
Years pass but God's promises never change. The very words spoken to Abraham are confirmed to Isaac. How the passing of time must have seemed to mock God's promises. How little the patriarchs could have understood about what God was doing. However, we who have complete Bibles know that God had a purpose for everything and kept His every promise. May this help us to trust when we do not comprehend. May we remember that time does not dull God's memory of His promises [II Peter 3:8-9]. The gospel promises that were precious to us can come with equal freshness to our children [Acts 2:39].III. THE CHILD OF FAITH WALKING BY SIGHT - verses 6- 7.
Several lessons may be gleaned here:
A. Not even the greatest saints are immune from spiritual faultering. Even recent experiences of communion with God do not protect us from future lapses of faith. Each day we must humbly seek Godl's upholding power [Matthew 6:13, 26:41].B. We are to expect perfection of no one but God.
C. Often in Scripture and in our own experience we see or hear of saints who have stumbled. Rather than look on with a self-righteous complacency let us meekly consider our own danger and weakness. Where Abraham fell Isaac should beware. Anytime we see others fall may we take it as a personal warning [Galatians 6:1].
D. This record should cause us to consider the effect of our sin upon others. Had Abraham overcome this temptation by faith Isaac may not have followed his example [Genesis 20]. How we need to consider the effect of our example upon our children.
IV. REBUKED BY THE WORLD - verses 8-11.
The life of a Christian should be a rebuke to the world. Isaac's deception was exposed and the king was justly upset. Rather than trust God, Isaac had even compromised the spiritual safety of others. We might mention here that because of God's common grace the saint sometimes finds decency where he does not expect it. God still works as a restraining force in this world. (Notice that Abimelech was a title and not a personal name.)V. THE CURSE OF ENVY - verses 12-16.
Envy is one of the most destructive of emotions [Proverbs 27:4]. How much misery is produced both in the hearts of the envious and in the lives of those envied. Someone has said that the only way to escape envy is to "have nothing, do nothing, and know nothing." The Philistines envied Isaac because God had blessed him. What right have we to begrudge God's blessings upon others. Much of our gossip and critical spirit is caused by envy. Envy betrays both an unthankful spirit toward God and an unloving spirit toward man.VI. THE WELL DIGGER - verses 17-25.
A. Isaac is seven times connected with the digging of wells. He reopened the wells filled in by the enemies of God. This has often been made to picture the need of revival:1. Our spiritual forefathers dug deep to reach the waters of blessing and truth.
2. God's enemies have clogged the wells of blessing with false doctrine and worldliness.
3. We can find the truth and blessings of God in the same place our spiritual forerunners did. We must remove the sin and false teaching that have clogged these wells.
B. Isaac gives us a good example of how the saint should avoid strife. He was not a vengeful or angry man [I Peter 2:19- 23].
C. After Isaac left the strife of this world, he found fellowship with God [verses 23-25]. Many become so entangled with the affairs of this life that they miss out on the joy of walking with God.
VII. THE WORLD ACKNOWLEDGES GOD'S PRESENCE WITH ISAAC - verses 26-33.
God's blessing upon Isaac was so visible that the Philistines began to fear. They wished to make a covenant of peace with him for their own safety. Likewise today we may so live that the world sees that God is with us.VIII. A SAD TRIAL - verses 34-35.
How Isaac and Rebekah must have grieved over Esau's character [Hebrews 12:16]. Abraham had sent from afar to find Isaac a wife that knew "Jehovah." Spiritual considerations meant nothing to Esau. Notice several important lessons here:A. Saints are to seek God-fearing mates.
B. When children disappoint godly parents in their choice of a mate, they are probably making a mistake [Proverbs 17:25].
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