Genesis 26:26-33

2008.Jul.26 02:45

Treaty

Read Genesis 26:26-33 | Full Chapter

Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?" They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will 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.'"
(Genesis 26:26-29, NASB)

Abimelech wants a treaty, more or less, with Isaac. He is aware that Isaac is becoming increasingly powerful, and is an economic force to be reckoned with, that he is “the blessed of the Lord”. This is a bit uncomfortable. After all, Abimelech, shortly before this, recommended that Isaac buzz off. Yes, it was probably for mutual good, but still, you can understand that Isaac is less than happy to see the king, especially accompanied by his adviser and military commander. Abimelech’s explanation seems to appease him, though. Or, maybe Isaac just sees this treaty as advantageous to himself as well.

Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace. Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac's servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water." So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
(Genesis 26:30-33, NASB)

So, it could have gone like this. Isaac’s sitting at the entrance of his tent, and sees the king coming with the army commander. He’s had all these troubles with the herdsmen of Gerar, on top of having to move from the land he and his family have been living in. My mind, in this situation, might have jumped to the possibility that Abimelech is about to offer a treaty, yes, but a very poor one on Isaac’s side, with the other option being Abimelech’s army against Isaac’s group. Because things have not been going well for Isaac.

Instead, the treaty is a positive one, and they finally have a well that’s not being contested. One of the biggest difficulties of having faith is those really dark moments, when it just seems like everything is going wrong and one more trouble is going to be too much. And, yet, as here, as with Job, you may be on the edge of a huge blessing. Or, at least, know that if you fall of the cliff, Yahweh is quite capable of catching you still.