Isaac

There's not much to say about Isaac after Moriah; the Bible only has a few reference.  The longest section describes yet another famine in the Promised Land and Isaac (probably learning from his Dad) heading into Egypt with his family.  God appeared and specifically commanded him NOT to go, so he stopped short of the southern border of Palestine and settled in the region of Gerar—which was ruled by the Philistine king Abimelech (probably the son or grandson of the Abimelech Abraham encountered 60 years earlier).  Like his father before him, Isaac lied about his wife, and still got blessed abundantly.

Genesis 26:2-5 And the LORD appeared unto him [Isaac], and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Genesis 26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

The most important thing to remember from Isaac’s story is that God specifically told him he was being blessed because of the promise God previously made to his father, Abraham.  It was not Isaac's obedience that predicated the blessings upon Isaac.  It wasn't even Abraham's obedience!  God fulfilled his own promises to Abraham solely because he had made them!  He blessed both Abraham and Isaac in spite of obvious disobedience.  When God reiterated the land promises, the spiritual blessings, and the descendants, he was confirming to Isaac was he was the beneficiary of unconditional promises previously made.

Originally written November 29, 2001 by George Lazzell III

Revised January 16, 2002

Revised November 9, 2003