Genesis 25:1-28:9

Compiled notes from my BSF group

ISAAC'S CHARACTER

Isaac was obedient to not just his father but to God as well. He knew he was about to be sacrificed, but he listened to Abraham, and he followed the Will of God (Genesis 22:6-10).

Isaac was a man of God. He meditated and communicated with God about important decisions and worries (Genesis 24:62-67). For example, he prayed to God for Rebekah, who was childless (Genesis 25:21).


WE ARE TO BE MEED AND HUMBLE 

Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3).

God guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way (Psalm 25:9).

The meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace (Psalm 37:11).

The LORD crowns the humble with salvation (Psalm 149:4).

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).

God is gentle and humble in heart, and in Him, we will find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29).

Our inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, is of great worth in God’s sight. We are beautiful because we put our hope in God (1 Peter 3:4-5).

If we humble our heart in our love for God... (Ephesians 5:21)
- Husbands would understand how to lead like Jesus leads the Church (Ephesians 5:25).
- Wives would understand how to let their husbands be the leaders of the family and lovingly support their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24).
- Parents would know how to encourage and discipline their children with love (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
- Children would know how to respect their parents (Ephesians 6:1-3).



ISAAC WAS NOT PERFECT (Genesis 25:19–26:11)

As we consistently see in the Bible, no one is perfect -- even great men of God. Here, we see that although we are taught to love all, Isaac exhibits special preference for Esau over Jacob. Isaac loved Esau because both they both shared "a taste for wild game" (Genesis 25:28). However, we should love everyone for who they are, not just love the people who share the same interests as us.


Additionally, Isaac sinned in the same way that Abraham, his father, had sinned. Like Abraham, Isaac lied about his relationship with Rebekah because of the same fear, that the men of their residence would kill him because of his wife's beauty (Genesis 12:10-20; Genesis 20).



GOD'S COMMANDS AND PROMISES TO ISAAC (Genesis 26:1-5)

Commands:
- Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where God tells him live.
- Stay in this land for a while, and God will be with him and will bless him.

Promises:
- God will give all these lands to Isaac and his descendants and will confirm the oath God had sworn to Abraham.
- God will make Isaac's descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through his offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham had obeyed God and did everything God had required of him, keeping His commands, decrees and instructions.


ISAAC'S FAITH IN GOD WAS REWARDED (Genesis 26:12-35)

God blesses those who follow Him. Because Isaac faithfully followed God, God blessed Isaac with plentiful crops and prosperity.

However, the Philistines became jealous of Isaac's success and forced Isaac to leave the land of Gerar. They filled up the wells with earth, leaving them without water (Genesis 26:16).

This conflict tested Isaac's ability to trust in the Lord during tough times, and Isaac showed strength in his faith in God:
1. He kept the wells and the names of the wells of his father, Abraham (Genesis 26:17-18).
2. He kept digging wells for water until the Philistines no longer fought with him over the wells. He did not give up or blame God for his misfortunes. And when Isaac finally found a well that no one fought over, he gave thanks to God (Genesis 26:19-22).

During this conflict, God comforted Isaac by reconfirming His promise with Abraham to Isaac: "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham" (Genesis 26:24). And with an appreciative heart, Isaac thanked the Lord for His blessing and built an altar where God had appeared to Him (Genesis 26:25).

When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7)
Because Isaac continued to walk in the Way of the Lord, God protected Isaac. Isaac remained prosperous even though Abimelech continued to try to take things away from him. In the end, Abimelech witnessed how God protected Isaac and therefore came to seek peace with Isaac instead (Genesis 26:26-33).


THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER (Genesis 27:1-28:9)

God made it clear that the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob):

Genesis 25:23
The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger."

However, because of his preference for Esau over Jacob, Isaac wanted to give his blessing to Esau. He thus told Esau to do a favor for him so that Isaac would have a reason to bless Esau (Genesis 27:4).

Throughout these passages, we see that although these men and women of God, they were not perfect. They acted on fear and selfish wants; they deceived and cheated. There was a lot of conflict within families, even families of God! However, they always found their way back to God and continued to do His Will (albeit with many detours).