Passage
Genesis 26:1-15 (ESV)
Fallen Babylon
Revelation 18:1-24
Key Verse: 18:4
Do Not Go Down to Egypt
Date: Mar. 16, 2015
Daily Bread
Key Verse: 26:3a
First, the Lord appears to Isaac (1-6). There was a famine in the land like the one in Abraham's time. Isaac was probably on his way to Egypt since Gerar lies south of Beersheba. But God knew his servant's weakness and appeared to him at Gerar. He gave him direction not to go down to Egypt but remain in that land. He promised to be with him and bless him. He renewed the Abrahamic covenant with Isaac (3-5). The God of Abraham was now the God of Isaac. Isaac obeyed God and stayed in Gerar (6).
Second, God blesses Isaac a hundredfold (7-15). At first, Isaac was afraid of Abimelek and the Philistines and lied about his wife just as Abraham had done (7-9). But Isaac found out that there was fear of God in Abimeleck (10). God showed that he was protecting his servant (11). When Isaac obeyed God in spite of his fears, God kept his promise and blessed him abundantly so that he reaped a hundredfold the first year (12-15). He became the envy of many neighbors. Obedience to God is the secret of a blessed life.
Prayer: Lord, forgive my calculation. Help me to trust you and obey your word.
One Word: Stay and trust in God!
