Genesis 26:1-5

2008.May.02 15:36

Not to Egypt

Read Genesis 26:1-5 | Full Chapter

Once during Abraham's lifetime, the fields had not produced enough grain, and now the same thing happened. So Isaac went to King Abimelech of the Philistines in the land of Gerar, because the LORD had appeared to Isaac and said: Isaac, stay away from Egypt! I will show you where I want you to go.
(Genesis 26:1-2, CEV)

Famine. It happens. Welcome to Canaan, eh?

Yeah, so, yet another famine, as there was during Abraham’s lifetime, as there will be many other times. In the case of Abraham, Jacob, and Jacob’s kids, they go to Egypt, a theme which I’ve pondered a bit. This time, however, Yahweh tells Isaac that Egypt is not an option. While not explaining his reasoning, Yahweh does promise Isaac that he (God) will send him to a good location; this turns out to be the lands of our good friend Abimelech.

I want to avoid, in my life, responding to God’s saying “No” with a frustration, anger, or fear. Instead, I want to respond with acceptance and hope, recognizing that, as in this case, he always has something better planned for me.

You will live there as a foreigner, but I will be with you and bless you. I will keep my promise to your father Abraham by giving this land to you and your descendants. I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all of this land. They will be a blessing to every nation on earth, because Abraham did everything I told him to do.
(Genesis 26:3-5, CEV)

Yahweh reiterates to Isaac his promises to Abraham, chiefly those of possession of Palestine, multitudinous descendents, and of being a conduit through which God blesses the world. His reasoning? “Because Abraham did everything I told him to do.” That’s right, God blesses because of obedience. Note that this does not imply that God only blesses because of prior obedience, nor that God’s blessings will always be clear or immediate, but simply that obedience pleases Yahweh and he often–utlimately, always–responds to that obedience with blessing, with abundant life (John 10:10).

While Isaac is not sent to Egypt, he does have to live “as a foreigner”, something that pretty much all the patriarchs and matriarchs have to do from time to time. Living as a foreigner has its downsides, if only in being in an uncomfortable environment and probably lacking control, but God often uses these trips to “elsewhere” to both bless and mature the folks in question. This shouldn’t after all come as a surprise; Yahweh seems willing to put us through pretty much anything uncomfortable–as up to downright terrible (see Job)–to bring us that much closer to him.