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Shadowland: Beginnings: Week 31
Isaac the Man
In this chapter, we see Isaac encounter tests eirily similar to what
Abraham encountered, doing better on some, worse on others. His
personality is contrasted with Abraham's with just a few masterful strokes
of the stylus. These scenes set the stage for the sad events of the
next chapter.
- 26:1 Having done better than his father on the first test, we
move on to Isaac's second test.
- 26:2 Unlike Abraham, Isaac never left Caanan. In the same way,
Jesus will never leave Caanan - until He returns to His Father
and then comes again to judge the living and the dead.
- 26:5 Ultimately, Isaac fails to follow God's instruction
when he attempts to make Esau the child of Promise.
Isaac has free will, but God's purpose will be accomplished.
- 26:6 Isaac likes living in civilization, instead of a tent,
but he is no longer meditating daily at the well
of living water.
- 26:7 Just like with Abraham, the worldly civilization
erodes Isaac's trust in God's promises, and he backslides.
- 26:8 And just like with Abraham, Isaac is found out. I wonder if
this Abimelech (a title meaning "king father") "just happened"
to be looking out a window, or if he knew about Abraham.
- 26:9 At least Isaac tells the truth, like Abraham did the second time.
- 26:16 Whereas the former Abimelech saw God's blessing on Abraham
and wanted to keep him around, this Abimelech sees God's blessing
on Isaac and feels threatened by it.
- 26:18 Reopening wells that were stopped. Isaac could be called
the Man of the Wells.
- 26:20-22 Unlike Abraham, Isaac seeks to avoid conflict.
- 26:28 Now that Isaac is finally separated from the world, and again
meditating by a well, this Abimelech, like his predecessor, sees the
light. We cannot be a light to the world while being conformed to
the world.
- 26:33 We now have several wells and a city named Beersheba.
Seven wells are mentioned, in fact, and "sheba" can mean "seven"
as well as "oath".
- 26:34 Esau again demonstates his disdain for God's promises
and covenant - making Isaac's disobedience in the next chapter
all the more egregious.
- 26:35 They were vexed in their righteous souls, but only Rebecca
remembers God's choice of the heir - and like Sarah, she
takes matters into her own hands.
How did Isaac do?
Rate Isaac's response to these tests of faith. Hebrews 12:1
- Rachel is barren
- Respecting God's chosen heir (Genesis 25:28)
- Famine in Caanan
- Fear of death
- The lure of the world
- Violent conflict