Year 2 Day 248

Year 2 Day 248


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 26


Message - Scott Woodburn
The end had come, a mighty figure had breathed his last and Abraham no longer walked the earth. Now that the man of faith had died what would become of the promises of God? We see quickly in today’s chapter that even though humanity is in a state of constant change, our Lord never varies. God is immutable. He is unchanging. His promises never falter.


As the Biblical story moves to Abraham’s son Isaac we see great similarities between his life and that of his father Abraham. Just as the Lord had revealed Himself to Abraham bringing commands and promises, so He now reveals Himself to Isaac. Isaac is commanded not to travel to Egypt (v2) and he hears once again the mighty promises of the covenant of grace (v3-5)


Just as Abraham made mistakes in his life so too did Isaac. Like his father before him, Isaac pretended that his wife Rebekah was his sister. Just like his dad, Isaac feared the men of the land and so took matters into his own hands. This time however, king Abimelech wasn’t fooled by the lie and commanded his people not to touch either Isaac or his wife Rebekah (v6-11).


Just as the Lord had blessed Abraham abundantly, so too did Isaac know the Lord’s blessing. He reaped a great harvest and became rich in flocks, herds and servants, so much so that he was envied by the Philistines and told to leave the region by king Abimelech (v12-16).


Just as Abraham had dug wells of water in Gerar so too did Isaac dig his father’s old wells and just as these wells had caused his father trouble, so too did Isaac see strife over the ownership of the water (v17-22).


Just as the Lord had often reiterated his promises to Abraham, so too does the Lord remind Isaac of His covenant faithfulness (v24) and just as Abraham had worshipped the Lord, so too does Isaac build an altar and call upon the name of the Lord (v25).


Just as Abraham had known family trouble with the saga between Sarah and Hagar and Isaac and Ismael, so too does Isaac’s son Esau make life bitter for him (v35) by marrying a Canaanite.


It’s almost as if we’ve seen everything in today’s chapter before. Perhaps Moses repeated himself as he was writing Genesis? Perhaps he confused the story of Abraham with the story of Isaac? Not at all. As we work our way through the familiar stories of Genesis 26 we learn again what Abimelech recognised. He told Isaac “the Lord has been with you…you are the blessed of the Lord.” (v28-29)


Isaac’s father had died but God’s promises remained resolute and unchanging. The Lord was not going to abandon his people and not even death could halt or hinder the progress of the Gospel. This truth remains. Generations rise and fall, people come and go but he Lord’s work never halts. One generation follows the example of the last and many sons resemble the good and the bad of their fathers. The Lord has seen it all and still He is faithful to all that He promises. As another year draws to a close He declares to His church “I am with you, you are the blessed of the Lord.”  


Pray (acTS)


Sing

WSC
Q15 What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.