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Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page In the previous article, we'd explored the notion, that dealt with the similarities between Isaac and his father Abraham -- when it came to their faith trials.
And even though, Isaac is often overlooked by most -- when it comes to this stage of his life. When one does take the time to delve into this part of his record? One would discover, that Isaac was also a man, who'd held tremendous faith in the Most High God -- just like his father had held, before him. And although to most, the statement might not seem to be all that major? But personally, I find it to be of the upmost importance, for it reveals more insight into the man -- who is generally discussed, when it comes to: His name (which means laughter), his mistreatment at the hands of Hagar and Ishmael, and him being a victim of sorts, when it comes to being deceived by those close to him. Nonetheless, we now move forward... for we find that the Sacred Record points out, that after Isaac was faced with a serious famine, that was within the land that God had promised to Abraham and his seed -- Isaac decided to head down to Egypt. But God would end up intervening, after Isaac had made a quick stopoff at his birthplace, that was located from within the district of Gerar: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands, and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." -- Genesis 26:2-5 Needless-to-say, Isaac would end up obeying God, for he'd stayed away from Egypt. So instead, Isaac decided to stay within the district of Gerar. Now it's at this point, that the Philistines, began to take notice of Isaac's wife Rebekah -- for we must not forget, that she was very beautiful. And because of this attraction, once again, we find that Isaac is faced with the same type of "faith-test" -- that his father Abraham had faced, some 100 years earlier, when it came to his wife Sarah. And just like his father before him, Isaac would have the same response about his wife, when the Philistines had came to inquire about her -- just like they did, when it came to his father. And just like his father, Isaac answered: "She is my sister." Now Isaac had told them this, for he feared that the Philistines would kill him, if they knew that she was really his wife. So like I stated earlier, Isaac's response came from the same inner fears, that his father had before him -- when it came to his wife Sarah. But there is a slight difference in this whole ordeal? For we find that the Philistines didn't take Rebekah against her will, like they had done to Sarah. So it doesn't appear that Isaac, or Rebekah was harassed, or harmed in any kind of way -- when it came to Isaac's plot to save his life, by hiding the fact; that Rebekah was his wife, and not his sister. Now understand, that this might have had something to do with the fact, that Isaac was Abraham's son -- for we must not forget, that the Philistines had made an oath with Abraham, some 100 years before. For it was at this time, that we'd found the Abimelech of that day, reaching out to Abraham: "God is with you in everything that you do. Now swear to me here before God that you will not deal falsely with me or my children or my descendants. Show to me and the country where you are living as an alien the same kindness I have shown to you." -- Genesis 21:22,23 Nonetheless, we find that sometime had gone by. And one day, Abimelech the Philistine king, had saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. And after seeing this, the king had immediately summoned Isaac to come before him. And it's at this point, that Abimelech immediately confronts Isaac, as he entered the room: "She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" And just like his father Abraham had done before him, Isaac responded by saying: "Because I thought that I might lose my life on account of her." Then the king would respond the same way, as his father, or grandfather had done 100 years before him: "What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." And because of this, the king would quickly announce a special decree for all the Philistines to adhere too: "Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death." And like I stated before, apparently the events that had happen about 100 years ago, were still in the minds of the Philistines. For those events, seem to be a constant reminder, of how God dealt with the previous Philistine royal family -- when it came to Abraham's household. Remember what the Lord had said to the previous king Abimelech, around 100 years ago, when the issue involved Abraham and Sarah: "You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman," the Lord would tell the king. But being that Abimelech had not yet touch her and did not know that she was Abraham's wife he would make his case before God. Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister,' and didn't she also say, 'He is my brother'? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands." "Yes I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against Me. That is why I didn't let you touch her. Now return the man's wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die," -- (Genesis 20:3-7) So we'd discovered that Isaac, would in a way, follow the footsteps of his father Abraham. And in turn, he too, would learn some very valuable lessons -- when it came to trusting God, and being honest with those, that had crossed his path. But now we move forward -- and it's at this point, we'll learn, how Isaac benefited -- through his obedience to the Most High God. The Sons of God - The Daughters of Men **YOUR CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES - WOULD BE HERE** Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 28) The Twelve Rulers of Ishmael 30) Esau & Jacob - The Birthright 31) Isaac and the Canaan Famine 32) <-CURRENT - BIBLE STUDY ONLINE - PAGE-> 33) Isaac and the Envious King Abimelech Added to Page: 34) Abimelech & Isaac Makes An Oath 39) Jacob - Loyalty or Deception 40) Deceitful Hearts 43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty 
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