Genesis 26 Devotional
By Pastor Lawrence

This is the only chapter dedicated to the patriarch Isaac, but sadly, it doesn’t really provide us much new information. Instead, it feels more like a twice-told tale since almost the exact same thing happened to his father Abraham in his journey to Gerar, with both men referring to their wives as their sisters to save their own skin and both being caught in a lie. In fact, some scholars actually think this is Abraham’s story, and that Isaac’s name was merely written down by mistake. We don’t believe that at all, though. Rather, we understand that the sins of the fathers are often handed down their sons, not only through blood but even through imitation. We also understand that these events were written down for our benefit and that sometimes it takes a few examples for us to get the point.

On two separate occasions the disciples saw the Lord multiply fish and bread with their own eyes, but they still worried about not having anything to eat. And three times Jesus repeated to his disciples his intention to be crucified but they still did not understand. So, if we are asked to read almost the exact same story a second time, perhaps it’s because the Lord knows we didn’t get it the first time. In fact, the apostle Paul tells his disciples as much when he says to them, “Rejoice in the Lord…I say it again rejoice…It is no trouble to write the same things to you again, for it is a safeguard to you.” Not only do we need to be reminded to rejoice in the Lord more than once, we also need to be reminded to trust the Lord on more than one occasion, for we have a lot in common with these patriarchs of old and tend to forget the precious promises of God.