GENESIS 26
Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”– Genesis 26:1-5
GENESIS 26 THE COVENANT PROMISE REITERATED TO ISAAC
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Just as there was famine in the land during Abraham’s time
In Isaac’s time, that famine was also repeated in his days
So, Isaac went to Gerar and went to the king of the Philistines
The Lord appeared to Isaac and cautioned him not to go to Egypt
Isaac was instructed by God to go and live where he will lead him
If he follows the Lord, he will be blessed with the offspring and land
The covenant promise made with his father will be done in his time
The Lord reminded him of Abraham’s obedience which he also asked of him.
What an interesting repeat of history this was. In Abraham’s time, there was also famine in the land in Negev as Genesis12:10 relates. The move of Abraham from Haran was when he was 75 years old. Isaac was 60 years old when Esau and Jacob were born stated in Genesis 25:26 and in verse 27, the two boys grew up. It seems like when Isaac was moving to Gerar, he must have been the same age as Abraham moved out of Haran. The Lord also spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12 and was given instruction to go to where he will take him. It was also at this time that the Lord made a covenant promise with Abraham that he will bring him to a promised land and will be blessed with a great name and nation. It doesn’t look like this was a coincidence. This was God’s plan from the beginning to continue on with his promise to Abraham. God reiterated that promise to Isaac as well.
REFLECTION
- What trait of God was truly clear in this account? Why did he repeat his promise?
