Genesis 26:24, commentary and pictures

The Lord came to Isaac in the night at Beer-sheba just after he had gone up from Rehoboth in his father's way. He named Himself the God of Abraham his father and told him not to be afraid, for He was with him to bless him and increase his descendants for His servant Abraham's sake. In this He renewed with Isaac the same covenant sworn to Abraham, to give the land, to multiply his seed as the stars, and to bless all nations in his seed. The assurance came after Isaac peaceably gave up wells that were his by inheritance and by reopening, yielding more than justice required rather than striving with the Philistines. God honored that meek yielding by making room for him and giving fruitfulness in the land, so that even Abimelech and his men could see the Lord was with him and called him blessed of the Lord. His blessing for Abraham's sake shows that God favors some for the sake of others, and Isaac's nearness to God made that presence plain to his neighbors and brought blessing upon all around him.

Appearance and Covenant Promise

The Lord appeared to Isaac in the night at Beer-sheba, the very night he arrived there after going up from Rehoboth. That night visitation belongs to the account of Isaac following his father's way. It came in a time of famine that had carried Isaac toward the land of the Philistines and toward going down to Egypt. Instead of going to Egypt, he was directed to dwell and sojourn in the land God would tell him of and show him.

The speaker identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac's father. This was an appearing of the Angel of the Lord as He spoke to the patriarchs. He commanded Isaac not to fear because He was with him. He promised to bless him and to multiply his descendants for Abraham's sake, because of His promise to Abraham.

The words renewed the covenant with Isaac in the very same terms first given to Abraham. That renewal included performing the oath sworn to Abraham his father. It included giving the land to Isaac and to his seed, being with him and blessing him. It included multiplying his seed as the stars of heaven and fulfilling through Isaac the promises to Abraham, including blessing all nations of the earth in his seed.

The promise continues God's providential dealings with Abraham's family, chosen as progenitor of the Seed. The promise of the Seed was thus carried from Abraham to Isaac and then to Jacob. God reaffirmed to Isaac the covenant blessing and the promises made to Abraham, to be with Isaac, bless him, and multiply his descendants for Abraham's sake. That reaffirmation for Abraham's sake followed Abraham's obedience, including his faithful instruction of his household.

Peacemaking Faith Rewarded

The night appearance at Beer-sheba came the same night of going up from Rehoboth, after refusing to strive with the Philistines over wells that were doubly his by inheritance and by reopening, yielding to them all that they claimed. It followed a peaceful withdrawal from conflict, a moving away to seek a place where he could prosper without strife, yielding to unjust demands. That yielding gave more than justice required in differences over the wells.

The words fear not, for I am with thee, with blessing and multiplying of seed for Abraham's sake, were encouragement after yielding to persecutors for peace, rewarding self-sacrifice with peace with enemies. They mean that God makes room and gives fruitfulness and abundant blessing in that land to such meek non-resistance. The blessing upon Isaac in the land of the Philistines, where famine had carried him, came in consequence of that willingness.

The promise was then visibly proved when Abimelech and his men came and confessed that the Lord was with Isaac and that he was the blessed of the Lord, which they could see only because his continual yielding had given them opportunity. Isaac answered the appearance by building an altar and calling on the name of the Lord, and by pitching his tent and digging a well, showing the disposition of the child of promise in contrast to striving after the flesh.

God's special providence worked for Isaac as one of the progenitors of the promised Seed, because he refused to contend for his rights but committed his cause to God, appearing to him with assurance of presence, blessing, and multiplication of seed. The promised presence and blessing were fulfilled, even when God's presence was not visible and His work was not always known.

Blessing Extended to Others

In calling Himself the God of Abraham to Isaac, the promise belongs to the way God from the choice of Abraham and his family onward took titles that marked His covenant relationship with the Hebrew people. He set the Hebrews apart because the other nations had turned to idolatry. The Sabbath did not cause that separation, but was given as a sign that the living Creator was the God who sanctified them.

The assurance that blessing and multiplication would come for Abraham's sake proves that God blesses some men for the sake of others. One man who lives near to God brings down heaven's blessing on his neighbors, his city, and all those about him, and becomes a great blessing to them in time of trouble. Isaac's own life and prosperity made God's presence evident to his neighbors and drew them to inquire after the truth. That experience belongs to families who live out their faith as missionaries.