Read the Passage: Genesis 26

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 26

God’s Covenant (26:1–11)

Gen. 26:1 reads, “There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham.” The earlier famine was reported in Gen. 12:10–20 and occurred more than 100 years prior to the famine in this present chapter. Recall that in the earlier famine, Abraham fled to Egypt. Since Isaac lived in Beer Lahai Roi (cf. Gen. 25:11), which was near the Egyptian border, it would have been logical for him to flee to Egypt for safety. Yet, God commanded Isaac to stay in the land. Note that the man named Abimelech in this passage is likely a different Abimelech than the one in Genesis 20, as that was 75 years earlier. Next, in Gen. 26:2–5, God formally transferred the Abrahamic Covenant to Isaac. While God alluded to the covenant at Gen. 25:11, 21–23, it is not until this present passage that God referred to all three pasts of the Abrahamic Covenant when speaking to Isaac—that is, the personal, national, and universal aspects of the covenant.

Issac was obedient to stay in the Promised Land; however, on account of the famine, he fled to the Philistine city of Gerar. Gerar was nearer to the sea and thus it had more natural resources than Beer Lahai Roi. Earlier, when Abraham went to Egypt, as well as when he was in Gerar, Abraham lied about his relationship with Sarah, claiming that she was his sister (cf. Gen. 12:10–13; 20:1–2). Now, at Gen. 26:6–7 Isaac imitated his father, as he claimed that Rebekah was his sister. Whereas Sarah really was Abraham’s half-sister, Rebekah was Isaac’s second cousin, not his sister. When Abraham lied about Sarah, God warned Abimelech in a dream (cf. Gen. 20:3); similarly, when Isaac lied about Rebekah, God warned Abimelech by allowing him to see them in a personal embrace that was indicative of marriage. After confronting Isaac, Abimelech commanded the citizens of Gerar not to harm the couple.

Isaac’s Prosperity (26:12–25)

In spite of his deception, God still blessed Isaac. Perhaps God was emphasizing the fact that His blessings flow from His covenant, not from man’s performance. Note God’s blessing was upon Isaac such that “Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold” (Gen. 26:12). Indeed, Isaac’s prosperity was so great that the Philistines envied him and took steps to frustrate Isaac, such as filling in the wells that Abraham’s servants had dug and even banishing Isaac from Gerar. After he was ousted from Gerar, Isaac settled nearby in the Valley of Gerar, which was likely unoccupied land just outside of the city. Eventually Isaac settled down and his servants re-dug the wells of Abraham that the Philistines had filled in. Furthermore, at this time, Isaac’s men dug three new wells, the last of which he was able to claim without argument from the local herdsmen of Gerar.

While Isaac’s time near Gerar was materially prosperous, it was surely also emotionally draining. Indeed, Isaac experienced envy and theft at the hands of the Philistines, and later, at Gen 26:27, he would tell Abimelech, “You hate me”—a claim that Abimelech did not deny. In Gen. 26:23–25 God again appeared to Isaac and restated parts of the Abrahamic Covenant, saying, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake” (Gen. 26:24). Given the envy, theft, and hate that he’d experienced, God’s reiteration of the Abrahamic Covenant must have been an encouragement to Isaac. Observe that Isaac’s response to God’s retelling of the covenant was to build an altar and to worship God (cf. Gen. 26:25). This is the same reaction as Abraham at Gen. 12:7 when God first bestowed the covenant.

Abimelech’s Treaty (26:26–35)

In Gen. 26:26–35 Moses notes an unexpected interaction between Isaac and Abimelech. Earlier, Abimelech told Isaac, “Get away from us, for you are much mightier than we” (Gen. 26:16). In light of this command, as well as the quarreling between their respective herdsmen (cf. Gen. 26:19–21), it is surprising to read of this meeting between Isaac and Abimelech. The reason for this encounter was that the Philistines feared Isaac on account of God’s evident blessing on his life, and they wanted to establish a peace treaty with him (cf. Gen. 26:28–29). Given that Isaac was also likely fearful of Abimelech (cf. Gen. 26:27), this unforeseen covenant was surely a welcome event in his life. This chapter concludes by recording the digging of yet another well in Beersheba (cf. Gen. 26:32–33), as well as Esau’s marriage to two Hittite women, both of whom displeased his parents (cf. Gen 26:34–35).

Application Questions:

1. While the Abrahamic Covenant was transferred to Isaac, and not Ishmael, in what ways did Ishmael also benefit from the covenant?
2. Why did God allow Abraham to flee to Egypt in Genesis 20, but He prevented Isaac from doing so in Genesis 26?
3. If the lies of Abraham and Isaac were immoral, how can we explain God blessing them immediately after their deceit?
4. Do you find it hard to rejoice with those who are rejoicing? When you experience trials in life, what promises of God are an encouragement to you?
5. Like Abimelech, can you identify those in your life whom God has unusually blessed? How shall we react to those whom God has blessed?