The Life of Isaac (9)

The pilgrim’s journey continues from Rehoboth to Beersheba. There the Lord appears unto Isaac and encourages him with, “Fear not.” How often God’s tried children need this encouragement. We read in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” The Lord speaks by the prophet in Isaiah 43:10, “Fear not, for I have redeemed thee.” It is as if He says, “Isaac, I will be with you as I was with your father.”

A Visit by Abimelech

Isaac built an altar there, and he called upon the name of the LORD. He worships God publicly. God has promised him that He will continue to bless him, and that He will multiply his seed for His covenant’s sake, the covenant with Abraham. While Isaac is at Beersheba, he receives a visit from Abimelech, king of Gerar. Abimelech is accompanied by Ahuzzath, his personal friend and advisor, and Phichol, the commander of the army. In the past, the Philistines have shown so much hostility toward Isaac. They have sent him away from their territory. We remember the names of the wells, Esek and Sitnah, which refer to their enmity.

Now, however, the nature of their visit is friendly. It is no wonder that Isaac, in verse 27, expresses amazement at this visit. “Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?” Abimelech and his companions assure Isaac that they have changed their attitude toward him. He also gives the reason for this. “We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee” (verse 28). Even heathen people have to confess that the LORD is faithful to His people and that He assists and delivers them. They, therefore, come to establish an alliance with him, similar to the one that has been made with Abraham.

Now they ask of Isaac that this alliance of friendship may be sealed with an oath and that they make a covenant with him. We read in verse 29, “That thou wilt do us no hurt as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace.” This is certainly not a confession of what they really have done to Isaac and his servants, for in many ways they have tried to harass and obstruct them. However, Abimelech has to acknowledge, “Thou art now the blessed of the LORD.” We read in Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” This is what happens at Beersheba.

After this Isaac made a feast for them, and the following morning the alliance was completed and sealed with an oath. It is the confirmation of a covenant between human creatures. How much greater than this it is when God swears an oath and establishes His covenant, and He will not alter what He once has spoken. This is the comfort for pilgrims through the wilderness.

Well of the Oath

The same day, Isaac’s servants come and tell him about the well that they had digged. We read in verse 32, “We have found water.” The well is called Shebah; therefore, “The name of the city is called Beersheba unto this day.” How different this well is from those that they have digged previously. Although there has been strife and enmity, Rehoboth was the place where the Lord gave room; the enemy was driven away. Yet, the previous wells did not manifest Isaac’s right to these wells of water. They were gracious benefits given to him, and certainly in Rehoboth there was so much room and the enemy so far away that there was much reason for rejoicing. However, here with the well called Shebah, God’s blessing gives Isaac a right upon this place. He may now live there with peace which is confirmed by a covenant and a reason of joy as is evident in the feast that was made. Here is no war but peace and an oath to confirm the covenant. Thus, it also is when the Lord gives the experience of peace, when there is no condemnation, and when His people may have the testimony that God is fully reconciled with them because of the blood of Christ.

We read of this in Isaiah 54:9, “For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee: nor rebuke thee.” Oh, what a place of unspeakable rest, peace, and joy when God by the testimony of the Holy Spirit speaks to the soul of His child saying that whatever made separation between God and the soul has been removed. The Lord will not be angry with him any more. We read in verse 10, “For the mountains shall depart, and the mountains be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” How clearly we see in this wilderness journey of Isaac an illustration of the way in which the Lord leads His people. Those wells that have been mentioned in Genesis 26 give an evidence that He leads them in wisdom from place to place, and so there are also steps in the life of grace. Isaac may experience peace with God which passes all understanding and the covenant faithfulness of Him who never lies but who certainly will fulfill what He has spoken.

May this be a comfort also for struggling souls on the pathway through the desert. The enemy may surround them and attack them. They may often fear to perish, but God never forsakes the works of His own hands. He leads them forth by the right way to go to a city of habitation. Though the enemies may roar, the Lord can drive them away, and when He speaks to the soul, He quiets the storms. What a blessing if we may know the firmness of the covenant that the Lord has made and the completeness of the finished work of Christ in which the heavenly Judge has found full satisfaction of His justice so that He can show mercy in an honest and just way. Of that mercy the Church will sing forever. We read in Psalm 145:19, “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.” May a holy jealousy be given in your heart, young and old, to desire that portion of those who fear the Lord. He will be a loving Guide, Protector, Teacher, and Refuge for them. p

(To be continued)

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