“We saw clearly that the Lord was with you”

Isaac, great man that he was, was not the most impressive chap, especially in the eyes of Abimelech, the Philistine king of Gerar. Isaac, to save his own skin while in Gerar, had lied about his wife being his sister, and not only fooled the king into believing it, but everyone else too. Until, that is, Abimelech caught sight of Isaac and Rebekah having a grand old time in the bushes in clear sight of his window (Genesis 26:8). 

Abimelech was livid. He sent for Isaac, demanding to know why Isaac could be so stupid saying his wife was his sister – and so selfish too, because if someone had slept with Rebekah it would have brought open shame and dishonour on Abimelech and his people (10). And how embarrassing for the king himself too, being conned in front of all his people by this foreigner who’d come to him for help (1). 

But instead of banishing Isaac from his sight forever, which would have been totally justified, Abimelech, for some strange reason, allowed Isaac to stay and even decreed that anyone molesting either Isaac or Rebekah would be put to death (11).     

But then Isaac became so rich in Gerar “that the Philistines (Abimelech’s people) envied him” and in protest plugged up Isaac’s wells (12-15). The king now faced another major problem in his country, and again it was Isaac who was the cause of it, so this time the king did tell Isaac to move away (16) – or better put, shove off, because he was angry (27).

So why, then, did Abimelech, along with his personal advisor and army general, decide to go and see Isaac in verse 26? It surprised Isaac too, because he asks the king, “Why have you come to see me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” (27). Good question: why would Abimelech, having been insulted personally by Isaac, and his people also being upset by Isaac, want anything to do with him? 

Abimelech’s answer reverberates through every generation in which Abraham’s offspring live, because he says to Isaac, “It’s because we saw clearly that the Lord was with you” (28). In other words, “Despite you being a pain, Isaac, there’s something about you we cannot ignore. It’s why I found myself telling my people not to harm you and to treat you well” (29). 

So does God take that into account with us as well, that like Isaac we’re not that impressive either, but like Isaac God provides us with something that helps people see clearly that the Lord is with us too (1 Peter 2:12)? In which case, “Why didn’t Rebekah trust God to provide?”….(next blog)