Redeemer Reformed Church of Oklahoma City

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. And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. 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. 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, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

So Isaac settled in Gerar. 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. 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. 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.’” –Genesis 26:1-9

Here comes another incident involving food. There is a new famine in the land, and presumably Isaac is going to leave the land of blessing (which is a hard place to live) to go down to the land of cursing (which seems like an easier place to live). God simply stops him before his messes up like his dad. Then they have a worship service of covenant renewal. Isaac hears in the sermon that he is the blessing bearer with all the same promises as his father Abraham.

So Isaac doesn’t leave the land of blessing, and trusts the promises of God to provide for and protect him, right? Nope, he still makes the same mistake his father made twice before him. He tells half-truths to protect himself since preserving his life was more important than obeying God. He doesn’t believe the gospel preached to him.

Now remember that this is the same guy who was himself to be the sacrifice on Mt. Moriah’s altar, but God instead provided a lamb. That’s the God who can’t be trusted?

Isaac was not reviled by the Philistines down in Gerar. He suffered not one bit and was not even threatened. Yes, there was some conflict over wells, but even that turned out fine. He had nothing to fear and everything to gain by obeying and entrusting himself to God. He didn’t though, yet was still accepted, protected, and cherished. God kept the covenant even though Isaac did not. That’s grace.

Thanks be to God that there is another Promised Son, the blessing bearer, who did not fear men. He did not fudge the truth to help himself. He did not protect his personal peace and safety. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. Jesus kept the covenant in perfect obedience on behalf of all those covenant breakers who God chose, like Isaac, before the foundation of the world.

And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.

The related hymns we’ll sing are:
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
Come, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove
Spirit of the Living God
To God be the Glory

Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (in Galatians) is continues. Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15. 

Visitors are always welcome!