Text: Genesis 26:17-29
Theme: Provision in Drought and Opposition.
Take-Away-Point: God’s Covenant Stands in the Face of Opposition.
17 Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. 19 Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name [Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” 23 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. 27 And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.” (NKJV).
Background:
Genesis 26:1 “There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar., nevertheless God promised Isaac, “I will be with you and bless you”
Genesis 26:3 “Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.”
Genesis 26:1-2: God instructs Isaac to stay in Gerar during the famine, promising to bless him there.
Our Passage Will Be Broken Down as Follows:
A. Isaac’s Obedience/Industry Yields Blessings (vs17-22): (see Psalm 105:14-15, Psalm 145:4).
B. God’s Covenant Stands in the Face of Opposition: (vs 23-25). (see Isaiah 54:17).
C. Peace Comes to Those That Seek Peace (vs 23-29): (See Romans 8:31, Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18, Genesis 26:31-32, Proverbs 16:7).
What Does the Phrase ‘Blessed of the Lord’ Mean?
Charles H. Spurgeon described it in the following ways:
Ø God’s favor and blessing are not earned by perfect behavior but are granted through His grace, even when a person has failed or sinned.
Ø It is a reminder that God’s blessing can be present even when you have been wronged or have wronged others — and that this blessing should lead to forgiveness and meekness.
Prayer Points:
Thank God for your Salvation and the grace to be heirs of His kingdom.
Ask Him for Grace to obey Him and be in His will.
Pray that you truly ‘Blessed of the Lord’.
Ask for grace to forgive be merciful to others who may offend or wrong you.
Personal Prayers.
Thank you for worshipping with us at Hope Church Moreno Valley, God bless you.
I wish you a meaningful week in Christ Jesus..
Pastor David Jite