Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Genesis

Genesis 26:1-33 10/06/02

Intro: If you are a parent, at one time or another you have seen your child do or say something or react to a certain situation poorly. And you cringed because you realized that you were looking in a mirror. What you saw were some of your own bad habits played back to you in your child.

     Or, perhaps you have said something, did something or reacted in a particular way  that caused you to shriek in terror. Because you realized you have become your mother or father. The very things you swore you would never do or say, you are now doing and saying.

     Like it or not, we do tend to end up like our parents..in some ways. As we look at our text this morning, we will see that Isaac was like his father Abraham in many ways..some good and some not so good. And before we leave this morning, I want you to ask yourself, in what ways are your like your Heavenly Father? And in what ways are you not like Him.

Read: Genesis 26:1

     Like his father, Isaac lived through a severe famine.
 
     Note that the Abimelech Isaac went to was not the same one Abraham knew. Abimelech seems to have been a title for the King of Gerar.

Read: Genesis 26:2

     Why do you think God told Isaac not to go to Egypt? Because Abraham disobeyed God and left the Land of Promise when he went to Egypt. Isaac was his fathers son and I believe he was thinking of going to Egypt but God told him to stay in the land.

Read: Genesis 26:3-6

     God promised that if Isaac was obedient, God would be with him and bless him. Unlike his father, Isaac obeys God and stays in the land.

     Notice something else really important and very encouraging. God says that Abraham was obedient to Him. What? Abraham was disobedient to God when he went to Egypt, and twice lied about Sarah being his sister.
 Still, God said He will bless Isaac because of His fathers obedience.

     Do you know what that tells me?  It tells me that God does not remember, does not count against or remind us or anyone else of our sin when we are His children through faith in Jesus Christ.  Think about that. I don't know about you but that brings me great comfort.

Read: Genesis 26:7

     Here we go, like father like son. Looking out for #1. Isaac, like his father before him, lied to save his neck. I am sure if Abraham was there he would not have been happy with what his son had learned from him. Parents, be very careful, even when you don't think your children are watching, they are and they are learning from you.

Read: Genesis 26:8

     Dumb move Isaac. He couldn't even keep up the lie. To keep the deception believable he had to continually remember and stick with the lie. That becomes increasingly more difficult the longer you live in a lie....... Am I right?

ILL: "Our Favorite Lies"
15. This will only take a minute.
14. This will be a short meeting.
13. The check is in the mail.
12. Leave your number and the doctor will call you right back.
11. One size fits all.
10. Leave your resume and we'll keep it on file.
9. This hurts me more than it hurts you.
8. I just need five minutes of your time.
7. Open wide, it won't hurt a bit.
6. Let's have lunch sometime.
5. It's not the money, it's the principle.
4. Your money will be cheerfully refunded.
3. We service what we sell.
2. Your table will be ready in just a few minutes. 1. I'll start exercising or dieting tomorrow.

Read: Genesis 26:9-11

     Busted! Folks, you will never be able to keep the lie going. You will get caught. Your sin, as Scripture says, will find you out. And this is especially bad because like his father, Isaac's sin was exposed by an unbeliever. This did not help to further the reputation of Isaac's God. Nor will it further the cause of Christ when our sin is exposed before unbelievers.

Read: Genesis 26:12-16

     Notice, that even in the midst of God's blessing comes trial. Like his father before him, Isaac's prosperity became a threat to the people around him and they tell him to leave. Unlike his father, Isaac is not confrontational and leaves. God's people will inherit the land...but in God's time and this was not God's time.

Read: Genesis 26:17-18

     Notice as Isaac traveled, he reopened the wells his father had dug and out of respect for him, called them by the same names. This speaks to me of the value of tradition. Isaac went the way his father had gone. Done what his father had done...almost.

    Tradition, what faithful believers have done in the past, ought not be put aside for what believers today think is better because it is new and innovative. God blessed Abraham through those wells and he would bless Isaac as well.

     BUT, it was also necessary for Isaac to dig his own wells.  To develop new traditions to express his own relationship with God and dependence on Him.

     Christian, let's not forget the rich tradition of God's Church, but let us not dwell there either as we have a tradition of our own to leave to our children.

Read: Genesis 26:19-21

     More digging and more quarreling and more moving. Is Issac being a wimp? He could have defeated the Philistines, but it was not his way...or God's time. Unlike his father, Isaac was a man of peace.

Read: Genesis 26:22

     Rehoboth is becoming one of my favorite Biblical words. It means 'to enlarge'. There will come times in your life Christian, when there will be no quarreling or trials. There will come times of refreshing and enlargement. Enlargement of your heart for God, enlargement of your faith in God's Word, enlargement of your will to be obedient to God. In that 'Rehoboth' or time of enlargement, there will be fruit, abundant fruit and blessing. That is God's promise to all His dear children.

     But understand, a time of 'Rehoboth' most often comes after a time of  trial. It did for Isaac, and it probably will for you too. The Psalmist said 'You have enlarged me when I was in distress'. It is often through difficult times that God enlarges us for the greater things He is preparing for us.

Read: Genesis 26:23-24

     When you walk obediently with God, He will speak to you and you will recognize His voice. He will take away your fear and will replace it with the promise of His presence in which there is complete peace and rest.

Read: Genesis 26:25

     God spoke to Isaac, He revealed Himself to him and Isaac responded how? With public worship. God speaks to you, He reveals Himself to you and how ought you to respond? With public worship.

     Pitching his tent near the altar meant his life, all his life was now committed to God. How about you? Is CBC just a place to be on Sunday mornings? Or have you pitched your tent, committed your life to living for God, helped along by participating in the ministries of this local church? How far is your tent from the altar of God?

Read: Genesis 26:26

     Not the same Phicol Abraham knew. This too was a title given to military leaders in Philistia.

Read: Genesis 26:27

     Now was the time for Isaac to be bold and be confrontational like his father Abraham.

Read: Genesis 26:28-29

     Remember I said that Isaac responded to God with public worship? Well, the public saw his worship and blessings and responded as well. They sought Isaac and wanted to be a part of his life.

     'We have seen'...Abimelech told Isaac. What have others seen in your life? What have they seen in  this church? They MUST SEE Christ and Him lifted up to the glory of God!

Read: Genesis 26:30-33

     Isaac threw a feast when peace was made with the Philistines. This feast represented Isaac's forgiveness for being mistreated by the Philistines. And it represented the Philistines decision to make it right with Isaac.

    I can't help but see a connection to what the church ought to be like in the midst of an unbelieving people. We must exhibit the blessing of God by walking in obedience to God. When this happens others will see it and want what we have. It is then we can share Christ with them. Jesus, like Isaac will forgive and throw a feast for all who believe in Him. And it will be a time of great rejoicing.

Conclusion
 
    The Lord's Supper is a joyful feast, prepared by God, to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ...for all who believe.

As we come to the Lord's Table this morning, I want you to know that...God does not hold your sin against you. When it is confessed and repented, He remembers it no more. Communion is the remembrance and yes a joyful celebration of God's great forgiveness.

As we come to the Lord's Table this morning, I want you to know that...For this brief moment, you can experience a 'Rehoboth' an enlarging of your heart for God. Communion is a time to find peace and fruitfulness in a troubled and barren world.

As we come to the Lord's Table this morning, I want you to know that...If there is a spiritual famine in your life, you will find nourishment. Come, taste and see that the Lord is good.