GENESIS 26: Famine on the Land

In this chapter we will see how Isaac goes through some trials, which are similar to the ones his father Abraham went through:

a. Famine in the Land

b. Conflict with Abimelech

FAMINE IN THE LAND

Famines were not unusual in the Middle East. They were usually a result of droughts lasting a year or more. Isaac faced one of these famines in the Promised Land.

(Genesis 26:1)  Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines.

Decades before Abraham had gone through similar circumstances. Let’s see what he did then…

(Genesis 12:10)   Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.

Most probably Isaac was tempted to do the same thing his father Abraham had done. During the times of famine, many would go down to Egypt, because there they had a constant source of water from the Nile River. However, God appeared to Isaac and told him not to go down to Egypt. In the middle of his warning, the Lord revealed Isaac something much more important: his life’s purpose.

(Genesis 26:2-5)   And the LORD appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.  (3)  Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.  (4)  I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,  (5)  because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

This was Isaac’s first personal experience with God. Before this He was “the God of his father”, but now Isaac could say that He was also “the God of Isaac”.

Not only this, but God also personally confirmed to Isaac the covenant He had done with Abraham, which was a multi-generational covenant.

The blessing God was giving Isaac and his descendants was in this land. His inheritance was not in Egypt or any other land, but in Canaan. At that moment they were living there as outsiders, but the time would come when the Lord would give the Promised Land to his descendants. The Lord also promised Isaac that in his offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

Even though Abraham went down to Egypt, he learned his lesson and did not go back. He learned not to get carried away by circumstances, but to seek the voice and the direction of the Lord. Abraham learned to “listen and obey” (Hebrew Shema).

(Genesis 26:5)   because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." 

The words translated as “obeyed my voice” are the Hebrew words “Shama b’Koli”, which literally means: “heard my voice”. The verb Shama in Hebrew involves “hearing” as much as “obeying”.

In the text we also read that he kept God’s:

Charge (Heb. Mishmeret)

Commandments (Heb. Mitzvot)

Statutes (Heb. Jukim)

Laws (Heb. Torah)

Even though God had not yet given the Torah on Mount Sinai, the truth is that God’s Laws have existed forever, since they are a reflection of His divine order. Abraham knew God’s order by way of the relationship he developed with the Lord throughout his life. And most importantly, Abraham did not only “hear” but also “obeyed”.

ISAAC OBEYED

The Lord told Isaac not to go down to Egypt, and he heard and obeyed.

(Genesis 26:6)   So Isaac settled in Gerar. 

Isaac settled in the Promised Land, even when the circumstances were adverse. His calling was in the land of Canaan, and God was going to bless him there – not in Egypt.

THE SECOND TRIAL

Isaac overcame the first trial, but not the second one… He made the same mistake his father Abraham made when Abimelech desired his wife Sarah (Genesis 20:2). Isaac also lied, saying that his wife was his “sister”.

(Genesis 26:7)   When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister," for he feared to say, "My wife," thinking, "lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah," because she was attractive in appearance. 

History repeated itself because they did not learn from it (Genesis 20). However, even though he made a mistake, God protected him again by opening the eyes of Abimelech, king of Gerar.

(Genesis 26:8-11)  When he had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw Isaac laughing with Rebekah his wife.  (9)  So Abimelech called Isaac and said, "Behold, she is your wife. How then could you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought, 'Lest I die because of her.'"  (10)  Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us."  (11)  So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."

Isaac lied to safeguard his life, but what he may have failed to realize, was that by doing this, he was risking many lives instead, because by lying he had left the chance open for others to take Rebecca. She was not single, she was a married woman, and if someone took her as his wife it would be a sin, and this would bring a curse upon the families of that place.

On our next study we will finish the 26th chapter of the book of Genesis…