Genesis 26 All’s Not Well
Isaac settles in Gerar and makes the same mistake his father did concerning his wife. He is also chased about because of water. All is not well with the wells.
This is not part of the stories I remembered about Isaac. I KNOW we have read them before. We even sat down and looked at them along the way. But it didn’t stick with me. I’m not sure why. I would have expected the “She is my sister” part to have stuck. Because, like father, like son.
Isaac wasn’t born when his father used this line; twice. He must have heard the stories as he was growing up. Were they cautionary tales of what NOT to do? Or were they taken as ‘instructions for living’? We know that God didn’t approve of it in Abraham’s life. And, apparently Sarah was more beautiful than Rebekah because Sarah was taken twice to be another man’s wife, where Rebekah wasn’t. No one took her, but their lie was still revealed.
In this time, Isaac was being ‘chased away’ from the sources of water. He never once put up a fight or asserted ownership over the wells dug, either by his father or his own men. That is something that I want to explore in the story today. Let’s rejoin Isaac and his company as they settle into the land of Gerar.
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Isaac KNEW that Abimelech’s answer would be positive, but he had to make the formal request anyway. On the way to Abimelech, God had spoken with Isaac and told him to remain in THIS country. And, since God told him to do it, no man could stop it.
Once Isaac is back in camp, preparations begin in earnest for where they will live. In the land of Gerar for certain, but it is a big land with many fine places to choose from. Isaac’s first choice is to go where his abba went. There are wells that his abba dug, waiting for him to reclaim them.
Isaac moves his camp within view of Gerar. It makes it easier for his depleted stores to be replenished. He also won’t have to do it all at once, as would be the case if they camped in a more remote area. Another thing that this site offers is fields for growing wheat. Isaac had grown crops in Beer-lahai-roi and was very successful at it. These stores were what kept his people going for so long. He had a talent for it that was not utilized in a camp that was always on the move. There were several years though when even Abraham stopped moving long enough for Isaac to try his hand at farming.
It was a good life, living near Gerar; mostly. The only problem that Isaac ran into was their ‘neighbors’ interest in his wife. She was beautiful. Not on the same level as his Ima, but enough to turn heads and cause concern for his own safety.
His Ima had told him how she and his Abba had dealt with this same issue. “Your Abba would tell everyone we were sister and brother. I went along with it. And it really wasn’t a lie, because we shared a common Abba.” She neglected to tell him how it got them into trouble on two separate occasions. Not just trouble with man but with God.
Isaac decides to use this ‘ruse’ for him and Rebekah. Isaac and Rebekah began telling anyone who checked into their relationship this little white lie. Esau and Jacob were disturbed by it at first, but they decided to ‘go along to get along’. It really wasn’t their place to tell their parents what to do; even if they thought they were doing something wrong. Esau actively discouraged the neighbors from coming around, so this white lie didn’t have to come out too often. Whereas Jacob enjoyed watching his parents squirm every time they had to trot this story out.
Isaac and Rebekah maintained their ‘brother and sister’ relationship distances while in town but dropped them while within their own camp.
One day, it so happened that King Abimelech was looking out his tower window in his palace. He loved looking over the countryside that he controlled. The lush valleys and rising mountains called to his heart. And knowing that they were his, made him proud. As he was surveying the land, he heard beautiful laughter. His attention was drawn to the source of that sound. Below him, still within their camp, stood Isaac and Rebekah.
Rebekah’s head was thrown back in joyous laughter as Isaac nuzzled her neck. She also squealed with delight as Isaac drew her close to him. “THIS is NOT the behavior of a brother and sister!” thinks Abimelech. Unbidden, the memory of another ‘brother and sister’ come to his mind, Abraham and Sarah. He remembers the destruction God was ready to rain down on him for taking Sarah as his wife. What if one of his people did this with Abraham’s son’s wife!? Would they be punished for their ignorance?
Abimelech hurried down from his tower and summoned his runner. “Go to the camp of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Tell him to come immediately before me. I have an urgent matter that we must discuss.
The runner made his way to Isaac’s camp and asked directions of those he encountered within the camp to the whereabouts of Isaac. As soon as he located Isaac, he told him of the king’s message and urgency. “King Abimelech bid me to come and bring you before him.”
“What is this about” asks Isaac,
“He did not tell me, but he did say it was an ‘urgent matter’ that the two of you needed to discuss. And his face was quite stern when he said this.”
Isaac nods head, then says; “Let me wash first and then I will follow you.”
“By the look on the king’s face, I would say that you need to come just as you are.”
“But I have been…”
“NOW.”
“Now it will be” Isaac finally agrees.
The two men quickly make their way back to the king. Isaac was doing his best to keep up with the runner, but he was not young anymore. The runner had to stop and wait for Isaac to catch up a couple of times. When they reached the palace, Isaac was out of breath.
“I’m glad this is not my job,” thinks Isaac. He is concerned about the urgency of the runner but holds his questions for now.
The runner walks over to a nearby pitcher of water and pours Isaac a drink. “This will help. And take this too,” the runner adds while holding out a cloth for Isaac to mop his brow and wipe his face with.
While Isaac is composing himself, the runner announces to the king that he is here.
“Bring him in,” orders Abimelech.
Isaac is summoned by the runner and as soon as his feet hit the threshold of the king’s throne room, Abimelech stands and bellows out his charge against Isaac, and by association, Rebekah.
“Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” (verse 9a).
Isaac’s face pales as he hurries across the room to stand before the king. “Because I thought, ‘Lest I die because of her’” (verse 9b). His excuse sounds weak even to his own ears as he stands before the king.
Abimelech begins to pace the room. “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us” (verse 10).
Isaac tries to stand his ground at the king’s tirade, but finally he hangs his head in shame. He knew it was wrong in the first place. But…
Abimelech called for his scribe. As soon as the scribe was at his station, Abimelech issued a decree that was to go out to all the people. “Whoever touches this man, or his wife shall surely be put to death” (verse 11b).
Isaac breathes a sigh of relief as he hears Abimelech’s words. He is safe. Rebekah is safe. And they don’t have to go on pretending anymore. It will take a little while before the guilt he feels at this whole incident fades though.
Isaac is dismissed and he returns to his camp. Once in his company, he sends word to his two sons to be at dinner that evening. As young men, they often have their own plans. But this is something they need to discuss as a family.
Rebekah lays out a fine meal for her family. When Isaac told her that the boys would be coming, she worked extra diligently to prepare their meal. The times were few and far between that ALL of her men were together at the table.
After the men are served, Isaac calls Rebekah to the table. Normally, the men ate before the women even sat, but tonight was different.
“I have something we need to discuss,” begins Isaac.
All eyes are on him as he begins to relate the day’s events to those who ‘assisted’ in maintaining their white lie.
“The king knows that your Ima is not my sister. I don’t know how he found out, but he knows.”
Esau’s face goes red while Jacob sits back and smiles. Rebekah clutches at the neck of her robe, afraid of what may come out of Isaac’s mouth next. “Will we be sent away” Rebekah quietly voices.
“No. And I am thanking the Lord for that. Instead, what happened was that the king sent out a proclamation to ALL the people that NONE were to touch either of us.”
Esau lets out a huge breath that he had been holding. Jacob is wondering how his father pulled that one off.
“At least we won’t have to continue telling that awful lie,” thinks Rebekah. She never liked the lie to begin with, but for her husband’s sake, she went along with it.
After the king’s proclamation, the neighbors stopped inquiring about Rebekah’s status. Life settled into a predictable pattern. Isaac tilled the ground, Esau hunted, Jacob tended the flocks, and Rebekah maintained the household.
Isaac’s green thumb was definitely in working order. Everything he planted came up 100 times more than he put in the ground. The harvests were so abundant that Isaac could begin rebuilding his stores. He also had plenty to sell to any who came to him. And he kept it quiet, but he still gave graciously to those in need. There were a lot less in need here than in Canaan.
God continued to bless Isaac. He became wealthy again. His flocks and herds had regained and surpassed their original numbers. He had so many servants that he couldn’t keep up with them. He cared about each of them but left their day-to-day activities to the heads of households throughout his company. And gold and silver seemed to gather themselves, unbidden, into his coffers until they were overflowing.
As Isaac’s wealth increased so did the envy of the neighbors. Their grievances against Isaac were many. “What right does this man have, plowing and planting in fields he doesn’t own?” Isaac had rented the fields where he planted. Another cause was over water. “He is taking all the water for himself. Soon there won’t be enough for us.” Isaac hadn’t dug any new wells. He simply reopened the ones where he was at that his Abba had dug while he lived in the land.
Abimelech heard the complaints of his people, and he watched the wealth of Isaac; both increasing at about the same rate. Abimelech finally began to fear Isaac also. It was time for Isaac and his company to move on.
Abimelech came to the camp of Isaac late in the day. He had a runner locate Isaac and bring him out to him.
“It is time for you to move on. ‘Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we’” (verse 16).
Isaac didn’t argue with the king. He simply bowed and answered the king’s command. “We will depart in two days’ time as we need to prepare for the move.”
Abimelech agreed to Isaac’s request for time to pack. The two leaders parted company, and Isaac began moving through the camp, informing the people that they would be moving again. There were a few groans, a few who were excited, and many with questions. The predominant question was “Where are we going?” This Isaac would address when everyone was all together.
The day of departure arrived, and Isaac stood before his company.
“This is a good land. The Lord has instructed me to sojourn here, and, until He tells me to go back to Canaan, we will find another place in this land. The valley of Gerar is just over that ridge.” Isaac points in the direction they will travel. “We should find good grass for grazing, fields rich for planting, and plenty of water. I know that my Abba dug wells there. We will reclaim them.”
It is an easy journey compared to the last one they made. There is no hunger or thirst gnawing at them. Within two days, they reach the place where Abraham’s wells were. Isaac was not alive when his Abba lived in this land, but he had a detailed map, carefully drawn of the whole land, including all the places where Abraham had built altars to the Lord or had dug wells. And finding the wells took a little work, as they had been filled in by the Philistines and grown over through the years.
Isaac was able to locate the wells by searching for the stones that ringed the mouth of each well. Digging them out required a lot more work. Isaac didn’t stop until all the wells had been uncovered. It took weeks to accomplish this task. Once they were flowing freely again, Isaac gave them the names that his Abba had given them on his map.
“This is a beautiful valley” Isaac told Rebekah as they looked out over it one evening. “I’m glad we are here. We have a little more privacy here too” he cooed into her neck.
Rebekah playfully slapped him away before agreeing with his statement. “It is beautiful.”
Something had been bothering her though. It was time she gave voice to it. “Why did we leave so suddenly though?”
“It was time.” Isaac paused, wondering if he should tell her of the king’s concern and command. He decided that it was of no consequence how or why they came to this place. He decided to hold onto his secret.
Time passed easily in the valley until one day a need for more water was broached.
“Master” called one of his servants.
Isaac came to the place where the man was standing. “What is it my friend?”
The man pointed to the well which had been dropping, slowly but steadily, over the days and weeks that they were in the valley.
When reopening the original wells, Isaac’s servants had dug the wells as deep as they could without having a man trapped in them. The existing wells could not keep up with the flocks, herds, people, and fields.
“I think we need to dig a new well” Isaac said.
His servant agreed. “We will get right on it. And we have someone who is VERY skilled at witching water.”
“Excellent. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with.”
The next day three men were moving about the valley. One was holding a forked stick, one had a spade, and the other was carrying markers. The one with the stick was leading the way. He held the forked end of the stick, one branch in each hand, while pointing the single end outward. He moved back and forth along the edges of the field until he could feel vibration in the stick. Once he felt this, the one holding the spade would turn over a small area of ground where he indicated. If the roots looked moist, the third would add a marker to the spot. These would be the places designated for digging.
At one point, the stick nearly bent in two. It was dragged to the ground as if being pulled by an invisible string. The man holding the stick gave a great cry of victory! “This is it!”
His assistants came quickly and performed their tasks of checking and marking.
“There is no need to look farther. This is where we must dig”, said the man.
Five of Isaac’s servants were assigned to dig the new well. They didn’t have to go down very far to reach the water. In fact, the water was so close to the surface that it spewed out of the ground. And the taste of it was wonderful! The man who had identified this as the spot to dig was quite proud of his accomplishment.
Isaac was very happy to hear of this abundant source of water too. It was an underground spring that would flow unbidden to the top, and over, if not kept covered. Jacob, who tended the sheep would benefit greatly by this well. They were bringing up buckets for the sheep from the other wells. This one would come unbidden. All one had to do was open the lid and the sheep could water themselves.
The discovery of this spring did not go unnoticed. The neighbors were again envious. “This water is ours” they protested.
Rather than fight over this find, Isaac decided to let them have it. Isaac named it Esek, because they quarreled over it, and then he marked it on his map.
When Jacob heard about his Abba giving away this well, he was discouraged. This well had saved him many hours of labor. “Why Abba? Your servants dug that well, as well as located it.”
“There is no need to fight over water my son. There is plenty for those willing to do the work.”
Jacob reluctantly agreed, but his hands and back didn’t.
“Besides, we will be looking for another one tomorrow.”
Relief flowed over Jacob. “Hopefully it will be as fruitful.”
The next day, the group of three were hard at work again. They stayed as far away from the other well as possible. They didn’t want to deal with another dispute. And they were again successful!
There was more work required in digging this well, but it was still a strong producer for Isaac’s needs. Trouble arose as soon as the trowels hit water. The neighbors were apparently watching. They came again at Isaac saying, “This is our water too.”
Isaac’s herdsmen tried standing their ground with this well, but Isaac gave it to them anyway.
Jacob and Esau both confronted their father that evening as he was marking this new well, that he had named Sitnah, on the map.
“Why did you give them this well too Abba? We could have protected it; set a guard on it. Or even shared it if necessary.”
“The Lord will provide”, Isaac tells his sons. “There is water enough for all of us. But we need to move away from this place to find it.”
“But Abba, we can stay here and fight for what is ours!” demands Esau.
“No, my son. We will NOT fight over water or feed or fields. The Lord will see to our needs, wherever He takes us. It may well be that this is a sign from Him that it is time to move on.”
“But what about the wheat you planted? It has barely broken the surface” asks Jacob.
“This too, the Lord will provide. He has blessed us immensely. We are blessing those who persecute us by leaving a harvest for them to reap. Every time they look at that field, they will be reminded of their selfishness and our kindness. That is warfare enough for me my sons.”
Jacob and Esau are grudgingly satisfied with their Abba’s answer. They help in the preparations to move their camp yet again.
There are no wells to clean out in the new place where Isaac and company settle. There are streams for the animals, but they will still need to dig a well. One that cannot be polluted by the animals. The trio is called upon to search for water.
“I hope he keeps this one” thinks the man holding the stick. “I’m getting tired of looking for water, just to have him turn around and give it away.” It doesn’t take long for the man to find water. Isaac’s servants are digging withing the hour. The well is dug and producing large amounts of water within a day. Jacob is again happy about the ease in his workload, but he is waiting to see if they will keep this well. He doesn’t get his hopes up.
After a week and no one has come to Isaac, or his shepherds in the fields, about claiming the Jacob is ready to rejoice. Isaac finally named this well Rehoboth. “The Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land” (verse 22b) Isaac tells his sons as he records the name on his map.
“You were right Abba. But I still don’t like being pushed about” growls Esau.
Isaac gives him a knowing smile. “We all must learn to allow the Lord to direct our paths instead of charging ahead on our own. There are times to stand and fight, but this was not one of them. Even Abimelech knows that we could defeat him if we decided to force the issue.”
“How do you know this Abba” asks Jacob.
“Because he said so when he asked us to leave.”
“You mean we LEFT LAST TIME TOO because someone wanted what we had?!” explodes Esau.
“I should have kept that secret a bit longer” thinks Isaac. “The Lord can use man to move us in the direction He chooses for us. When we first came to this land, the Lord gave us favor to live where we were. When I went to Abimelech and asked permission to come here, I was unafraid. The Lord had already told me that we would live here. So, I’m bowing to His will again when I move our family when Abimelech’s favor turns against us. I will not fight against the Lord.”
All the bluster has gone out of Esau as he considers this. He still doesn’t like being pushed from place to place, but he will follow his Abba wherever he leads.
After several years of quiet in the new place, Isaac decides to go to Beersheba to see how the drought and famine are doing. This journey he will take alone. The Lord has not released him to move his company; yet.
Isaac arrives in the land where he once dwelt and is pleased to see that the drought and famine are both a thing of the past. “It’s time to come back” he tells himself. Isaac decided to stay the night in Beersheba before heading back. That night, the Lord appeared to him again.
“I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake” (verse 24).
As soon as the dream is over, Isaac rises and builds an altar to the Lord. He called on the name of the Lord there.
“Lord God, of my Abba Abraham. I am humbled by Your notice of me. I am honored by Your words. I am grateful to You for multiplying my home and for the future You have reaffirmed to me regarding the promises You made to my Abba. I will serve You in all I do, to the best of my ability. Thank You for bringing us home. I will return to this place again with those whom You have given me.”
In the morning, Isaac set out for his camp. When he reached it, he spared no time in mobilizing his people for their move back to the land they had left; to the land they called ‘home’.
This journey was a joyful one. But it was also one tinged with caution. Isaac had told them that the land had recovered, but what about the people who stayed behind? How many of their friends made it through the drought and famine? How many had moved away as well? Would those who remained be angry with them for ‘abandoning’ them? And what kind of reception would they receive? Would they be treated as strangers or welcomed as friends?
All the fears were put to rest when Isaac’s company crested the final rise. Those who had known them before they left, ran out to greet them. Their generosity had not been forgotten. Because of Isaac and his family, many had survived and now flourished in the new season of plenty.
Isaac settled his company back in the same area they had once occupied. The people had actually kept it safe for his return. They were sure he would one day come back to them. And if not him, his children. They would be given this choice land to raise their children.
Those whom Isaac had rented from were more than happy to see him again. The fields were his for the asking.
Life settled back down into the old routines for Isaac and his company. Old friendships were rekindled, losses were grieved over together, and new friends were added. The move back home had everyone at ease, and God was continuing to prosper Isaac in whatever he did.
Unknown to Isaac, someone was still watching him from the land of the Philistines. Isaac’s success did not set well with them. They grew more and more afraid of him. And they reported all their findings to the king.
“If he chooses, he can overrun us. His God is THAT powerful,” thinks Abimelech after hearing the reports. Abimelech decided that the only way to keep his safety was to appeal to Isaac; to make a treaty with him as he had done with Abraham.
Isaac is working in his field when he hears chariots approaching. He looks up and sees a kingly procession. Curious, but also cautious, Isaac leaves his tools behind and goes out to meet their visitor. Esau had seen the procession while out hunting. He too wanted to know what was going on. Even Jacob was drawn to this meeting from his duties.
The three men meet together as the chariots of King Abimelech come to a stop. Abimelech is helped down from his chariot. Ahuzzath, his adviser, and Phicol, his commander of his army, are with him. Together they walk over to where Isaac and his sons are standing.
Esau is immediately on guard. He has not forgotten being driven from the land. The wheels in Jacob’s mind are turning, trying to work out what is going on. Isaac waits patiently, knowing that he is safe in his Lord’s hands.
Abimelech begins to offer a greeting but is stopped by Isaac speaking first.
“Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” (verse 27).
Esau is surprised at the firmness in his father’s voice. “You tell him Abba” he thinks.
Abimelech begins to profusely apologize. “It was wrong of me to send you away. ‘We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. So, we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant, with you, that you do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord” (verses 28-29).
Esau was ready to protest and say that they DID do ‘harm’ to them in taking the wells that they had dug and sending them away. Isaac knew of his son’s temper and put a restraining hand on his arm. Isaac then offered his guests his hospitality.
“It is evening. Let me prepare you a meal and then we will speak of oaths in the morning.”
Abimelech eagerly agreed to Isaac’s proposal. He was grateful that Isaac didn’t outright refuse him.
That night Rebekah and the servants prepared a large feast for their guests. The best wines were served and kept flowing long into the night. The roasted lamb was seasoned to perfection. The bread was still warm when it was served, and the aroma filled one with desire. Nothing was left from the table. Isaac even had music to accompany their feast.
When it was time to retire for the night, Phicol erected a tent for the king just outside of Isaac’s company. Isaac walked with Abimelech to his tent to bid him goodnight.
As soon as Isaac stepped back inside his tent, his sons fell upon him with questions.
“Abba, how could you make a covenant with him after the way he treated us? How he drove us out of the land?” demanded Esau.
“Lower your voice. We need not air our grievances to the whole camp,” commanded Isaac.
“Esau is right though Abba. They stole from us, and here their king stands saying they have done us no harm.”
“I know my sons. My memory is not that short. And my greeting conveyed this to him did it not?”
Both boys nod their heads. Isaac’s greeting was not openly hostile but laid the sins of the broken relationship where they belonged.
“Unless the Lord tells me, this night, not to enter into this covenant, I will agree to peace between the two peoples.”
Esau started to protest, but Isaac stopped him with a stare.
“The reason I will enter into this covenant is because I also sinned against Abimelech.”
Esau and Jacob’s brows knit together in skepticism.
“When I told Abimelech that your Ima was my sister, it was a sin against God that endangered Abimelech. God has forgiven me of that sin and prospered me instead of punishing me. Can I do any less than forgive him of his sin? What would our God think of me then?”
Isaac’s words reach deep into the hearts of his sons. Jacob’s, it softens. Esau’s it hardens, just a bit.
Rebekah had been listening the whole time her husband and sons were discussing the matter. When her boys rose to leave, she gave each of them a kiss on the cheek and guiding words. “Listen to the heart of your Abba. He speaks wisdom.”
Early the next morning Isaac and Abimelech agree to peace between the two peoples. Jacob was present as they spoke their binding oaths. He noticed that future descendants were not bound by this agreement, on either side. This was between his Abba and Abimelech. Jacob would do nothing to dishonor his father, but once he passed from this life, Abimelech held no authority over him.
Abimelech returned to his own country as soon as their agreement was made. He also recalled his spies. Allies do NOT spy on one another.
As soon as Abimelech is out of sight, one of Isaac’s servants comes to him with good news. Isaac servants had been hard at work looking for more water. They needed a new well.
“We have found water!” exclaims his servant.
Isaac looked toward Heaven and nodded. “Yes. It seems that the Lord is continuing to bless us” he tells his servant. And it confirmed in his heart that he had done the right thing with Abimelech.
Esau stewed over his Abba’s decision regarding Abimelech for some time. It became a wedge between them. He still loved his Abba, but something changed in their relationship.
(to be continued)
I made Esau the more aggressive of the twins because of how we read he reacted to future problems with Jacob. Jacob was the schemer, so I can easily see him calculating the cost of making the agreement. Rebekah would have no say in these matters, but her guidance of her children would continue the rest of her life; as any mother’s should.
I wondered why Isaac would make an agreement with someone who had run him off too. I feel like the answer I was given fits. It certainly still fits today. We are told that if we do not forgive, neither will our Father in Heaven forgive us. We cannot hold another’s sins against them if they truly repent.
And for those who don’t repent, we still need to forgive them. We don’t have to associate with them, but holding unforgiveness in your heart towards them only poisons you. I read somewhere that unforgiveness is like drinking poison yourself and expecting the other person to die from it. Isaac seems to have learned that lesson well, for I did NOT change his story regarding agreeing to peace between someone who had wronged him. And he WAS wronged!
Father God, thank You for sharing Your story with me! I get excited when I consider Your stories and see them come alive in my mind. I LOVE sharing those glimpses with those who might enjoy them.
THANK YOU for Your forgiveness!!! I pray that I’m not holding unforgiveness in my heart against another. THANK YOU that the neighbor situation is resolved. And it was done so with an act of kindness that YOU put in my heart! Thank You Lord! You are AMAZING.
