IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Do Not Be Afraid

Date: Jan. 24, 2020

Passage

Genesis 26:16-35

16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

17 So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. 19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, 20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

23 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

26 When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army, 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 32 That same day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

34 When Esau was forty years old, he took Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite to be his wife, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite, 35 and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Genesis 26:24

And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”

1. Isaac's well-digging faith (16-24)

Abimilek pushed Isaac to move away because he was too powerful. Isaac moved away and dug a well. But then the Philistines claimed it was their well. Isaac did not fight with them, but dug another well, and then another until he had peace. Yet in his heart he was fearful and anxious.

2. Isaac called on the name of the Lord (25-35)

For the first time, Isaac built an altar and he called on the name of the Lord. This is a sign that his faith was growing and he was seeking God personally. He was not relying on his father's faith, but was engaging in his own intimate relationship with God. Then, God appeared to Isaac and told him not to be afraid but trust his promises. Through meeting God, Isaac's fear problem was solved. Now, he feared God, not people. Then surprisingly, Abimilek came with his officials and sought a peace treaty with Isaac. When we fear God, others fear us for they see God's hand is with us. Afterwards, Isaac's servants dug another well. It was a sign of God's blessing upon his life of faith.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord God, help me to claim your promises personally and experience real peace in my heart.

One Word: Fear God and trust in his promises by faith

Daily Bread

The Lord Judges the Proud

Psalm 75:1-10

Key Verse: 75:2

“At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.

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