Bible Study Online Article
In the last article, we were told about how the Philistine's began to take notice of Isaac's wife Rebekah; for they saw that she was very beautiful. I had also pointed out, that this wasn't the same Abimelech that Abraham had dealt with one-hundred years before this particular account that deals with Isaac. I'm also assuming, that this Abimelech is perhaps; the son, or grandson -- of that same king Abimelech that Abraham dealt with. I had also touch on the idea, that perhaps; the name Abimelech was used as some sort of surname, just like the Egyptians had used with the name Pharaoh; or how the Romans had used the name Caesar, when it came to their rulers. I find it very fascinating that Isaac, and Abimelech are facing the same type of situation -- just like their forefathers had done before them. We would also find, that Isaac would respond in a similar way; that his father Abraham, had responded one-hundred years before: "She is my sister," Isaac would tell them; for he feared that they would kill him, if they knew that she was really his wife. This is the same fears that Abraham had when he was faced with the same situation -- when it came to his wife Sarah. King Abimelech that reigned during Abraham's day, was told about the patriarch's deception; during a visitation that he received by the Lord -- while he slept during the night. His son, or grandson; one-hundred years after him, would also find out about Isaac's deception as well. But Abimelech would find this out, while he was looking down from his palace window one day; and saw Isaac and Rebekah behaving like the husband and wife that they were -- and not like the brother and sister, that they had led the king to believe. King Abimelech would confront Isaac about his deception, in which; Isaac would explain his reasoning behind the lies that he had told to the king, and the town that he ruled over. Abimelech would then order, that no harm would be brought against Isaac; and his wife Rebekah. The king, would also allow them to stay; and live amongst them if they chose to do so. And this is exactly what Isaac and Rebekah would do, for we must also remember; that the land of Canaan was in the midst of a serious famine, and God had told Isaac -- that he was not to go down to the land of Egypt. "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) So Isaac would stay in the Philistine town, in which he had planted some crops. Now within that same year, we are told that the Lord had blessed Isaac mightily. The blessing that God had bestowed on Isaac, had caused him to reaped one-hundred fold -- when it came to the crops that he had planted earlier in the year. Because of this tremendous blessing, Isaac had became very wealthy. His flocks and herds were blessed as well, for they had grown greatly. Isaac whole household, and wealth; had grown so much, that the king had begun to envy him. Now we must keep in mind, that the growth that Isaac had experience; was during a time, in which the land he stayed -- was in the midst of a great famine. And yet, the Lord allowed Isaac to become very prosperous in all that he had; so much so, that Isaac's riches had surpassed Abimelech's. This made the king and the townspeople very envious of Isaac, so much so; that they had filled all the water wells that Abraham had dug during his day -- they filled them all up with the dirt of the earth. This was done, in spite of the covenant that Abimelech's household had made with Abraham's -- one-hundred years before.
**YOUR CURRENT SERIES WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright 31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine 33) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception 40) Deceitful Hearts 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty  CrossDaily.com Web Search where you can VOTE FOR THIS SITE & other great ones. Christian search engine, directory & voting index. You'll find Bible, chat, churches, jobs, music, reviews, software, theology, & more. See the best sites!
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