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Isaac
Just Like His Father Before Him -- He Lies About His Wife
Then the king would respond the same way as his father or grandfather had done one hundred years before him, "What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us."
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 26:6-11)
Isaac a Great Man of Faith?
In the previous article, we explored the similarities between Isaac and his father, Abraham, regarding their faith trials. However, Isaac is often overlooked by most when it comes to this stage of his life.
When one takes the time to delve into this part of his record? One would discover that Isaac also held tremendous faith in the Most High God, just like his father had held before him. And although to most, the statement might not seem all that major?
But I find it to be of the utmost importance, for it reveals more insight into the man who is generally discussed: His name (which means laughter), his mistreatment at the hands of Hagar and Ishmael, and his being a victim of sorts when it comes to being deceived by those close to him.
Nonetheless, we now move forward. We find that the Sacred Record points out that after Isaac was faced with a severe famine from within the land that God had promised to Abraham and his seed, Isaac decided to head down to Egypt.
But God would end up intervening after Isaac had made a quick stop at his birthplace, which was located within the district of Gerar:
"Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.
'For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.
'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." -- Genesis 26:2-5
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Isaac & Abraham
Share Another Faith-Test?
Needless to say, Isaac would end up obeying God, for he'd stayed away from Egypt. So instead, Isaac decided to remain within the district of Gerar. Now, it's at this point that the Philistines begin to take notice of Isaac's wife, Rebekah, for we must not forget that she was very beautiful. Because of this attraction, Isaac faces the same "faith test" his father Abraham had faced some 100 years earlier regarding his wife Sarah.
Just like his father before him, Isaac would have the same response about his wife when the Philistines came to inquire about her, just like they did when it came to his father. And just like his father, Isaac answered: "She is my sister." Now Isaac had told them this, for he feared that the Philistines would kill him if they knew that she was his wife.
So, as I stated earlier, Isaac's response came from the same inner fears that his father had before him when it came to his wife, Sarah. But there is a slight difference in this whole ordeal. For we find that the Philistines didn't take Rebekah against her will as they had done to Sarah. So, it doesn't appear that Isaac or Rebekah was harassed or harmed in any way when it came to Isaac's plot to save his life by hiding the fact that Rebekah was his wife and not his sister.
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Don't Forget the Oath?
Now understand that this might have had something to do with Isaac being Abraham's son, for we must not forget that the Philistines had made an oath with Abraham some 100 years before. For it was at this time that we'd found the Abimelech of that day, reaching out to Abraham:
"God is with you in everything that you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." -- Genesis 21:22,23
***And make no mistake, this oath, goes both ways.***
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Isaac's Deceitful Plot Discovered?
Nonetheless, we find that some time has gone by. One day, Abimelech, the Philistine king, saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. After seeing this, the king immediately summoned Isaac to come before him. It's at this point that Abimelech immediately confronts Isaac as he enters the room: "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?"
And just like his father Abraham had done before him, Isaac responded: "Because I thought that I might lose my life on account of her." Then the king would answer the same way his father or grandfather had done 100 years before him: "What have you done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." And because of this, the king would quickly announce a special decree for all the Philistines to adhere to: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."
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What God Did
100 Years Earlier?
And, like I stated before, the events that had happened about 100 years ago were still in the minds of the Philistines. Those events seem to be a constant reminder of how God dealt with the previous Philistine royal family when it came to Abraham's household. Remember what the Lord had said to the last king, Abimelech, around 100 years ago when the issue involved Abraham and Sarah:
"You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman," the Lord would tell the king. But being that Abimelech had not yet touch her and did not know that she was Abraham's wife he would make his case before God. Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands."
"Yes I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I didn't let you touch her. Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die," -- (Genesis 20:3-7)
In the next Bible Study Online Article
So we'd discovered that Isaac, would in a way, follow the footsteps of his father Abraham. And in turn, he too, would learn some very valuable lessons -- when it came to trusting God, and being honest with those, that had crossed his path. But now we move forward -- and it's at this point, we'll learn, how Isaac benefited -- through his obedience to the Most High God.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
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28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael
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31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine
32) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE->
33) Isaac and the Envious King Abimelech
Added to Page: 34) Abimelech & Isaac Makes An Oath
39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception
40) Deceitful Hearts
43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty
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