The Record of Isaac’s Sojourn in the Land of the Philistines, Including His Lie Concerning His Wife, Rebekah
Genesis 26:1-16

Lesson 59

background notes

doctrinal points

1. God keeps His promises in spite of the mistakes of believers.

2. God keeps His promises in spite of the hostilities of unbelievers.

 

practical applications
1. Don’t give the unbeliever an opportunity to rebuke you.

2. Don’t copy the sins of your parents.

questions
1. What did Isaac do, according to his reasoning, to protect his wife from the Philistines? Was it the right thing to do?

2. From whom did Isaac likely learn this?

3. What were some of the promises God made to Abraham and his descendants?

4. Where did God want Abraham, then Isaac to stay? Did they stay there?

5. Did God keep His promises to Isaac in spite of his mistakes?

6. What did the Philistines do to Isaac that would have been considered an act of war?

7. How was Isaac rebuked by an unbeliever?

answers
1. He lied and said that his wife was his sister. No, it was wrong.

2. His father, Abraham, for he had done the same thing twice. See Genesis 12:11-19 and Genesis 20:2.

3. See what is known as the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12:1-3, 7. These promises included spiritual and material blessings, the promise of the land of Canaan, many descendants, and of the coming Messiah through whom all the earth would be blessed.

4. In the land the Lord had given to them. Abraham, instead, went to Egypt, and Isaac was headed to Egypt, going into the land of the Philistines.

5. Yes. Isaac sowed in the land and reaped onehundredfold, even in time of famine. He continued prospering with many possessions.

6. They stopped up all the wells that his father had digged.

7. Isaac was rebuked by Abimelech, a pagan king, because he lied about his wife, calling her his sister. See Genesis 26:7-11. Abimelech was more honorable than Isaac.

 

discuss / consider
1. God kept His promises to Abraham and Isaac in spite of their mistakes. How has God shown such grace to you in spite of your mistakes?

2. Are you content to dwell in the land where God has placed you, or are you looking to an “Egypt,” where the grass looks greener?

3. Do you truly believe that God can keep you? That no one and nothing can stop God’s promises of blessing for you? Read Romans 8:31-32 and Romans 8:35.

 

challenge
Isaac was rebuked by a pagan king, an unbeliever. Have you ever been rebuked by an unbeliever? Don’t give an unbeliever such an opportunity.

memorize

• “The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt...” Genesis 26:2

• “Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” Genesis 26:3

• “She is my sister. I said this lest I die on account of her.” Genesis 26:7, 9

• “Isaac sowed in the land, and reaped a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.” Genesis 26:12