Isaac settled and lived and farmed in Gerar in the country of the Philistines, having come there for relief in famine and remaining there at the Lord's bidding, where he prospered under God's abundant blessing and contended with the people around him. It belongs to God's providential care for Abraham's family as the chosen line of the promised Seed, in which the promise of the land and of blessing to all nations through his seed, which is Christ, was renewed to Isaac. The setting recalls that Abraham obeyed God's commandments, statutes and laws, showing that God's requirements were taught and kept before Sinai and that the seventh day was observed from Adam to Moses. Abimelech's fear that taking another man's wife and lying with her would bring guilt proves the law against adultery was already known and binding. His faithful life among the Philistines stands as missionary work by dwelling among others, and God's speaking to him there in an audible voice shows God addresses His people in different ways in different times.
Isaac's Stay in Gerar
Isaac dwelt in Gerar, in the land and country of the Philistines. There he lived and farmed. He had come there to seek relief when famine arose. After God's promise and instruction to him, the Lord told him to remain in that land.
His time among the Philistines was marked by prosperity and God's abundant blessing there. The same account tells of his disputes with them. While he dwelt there God directly addressed and instructed him in an audible voice. This shows that after sin entered the world God speaks to His people in various ways in different periods, including by an audible voice.
Law Obeyed Before Sinai
Genesis 26:6 places Isaac in Gerar after God's promise and instruction to him, and in the surrounding verses God recalls that Abraham obeyed His commandments, statutes, and laws. Abraham had been taught God's requirements and kept them, indeed kept them all. With the verses just before it, the verse shows that the seventh day was observed from Adam to Moses, before the law was given at Sinai.
The sanctified Israel to whom the Sabbath is a sign are Israel under both the old and new covenants who are like Abraham in keeping all God's commandments. In the events connected with this setting Isaac called his wife his sister and Abimelech took her supposing her free. Abimelech's rebuke that one of the people might have lain with her and brought guiltiness upon them shows that taking another man's wife was known to be sinful and guilt-bringing. Abimelech recognized that intercourse with another man's wife would bring guilt upon his people, and the account shows that adultery was known to be sinful before the law was given at Sinai. The incident proves the law against adultery was known and binding before Sinai.
Promise, Providence, and Witness
The dwelling in Gerar belongs to the account of God's providential dealings with Abraham's family as the chosen family through whom the promised Seed would come, placing Isaac there under God's special providence over the progenitors of the promised Seed. It stands in the account in which the promise made to Abraham was renewed to Isaac, the promise of the land and of blessing to all nations through Abraham's seed, which seed is Christ. It places Isaac dwelling in Gerar in the Philistine country where he lived and farmed, and his life there is an example of missionary work done by living faithfully among others.
Isaac settled and lived and farmed in Gerar in the country of the Philistines, having come there for relief in famine and remaining there at the Lord's bidding, where he prospered under God's abundant blessing and contended with the people around him.
It belongs to God's providential care for Abraham's family as the chosen line of the promised Seed, in which the promise of the land and of blessing to all nations through his seed, which is Christ, was renewed to Isaac.
The setting recalls that Abraham obeyed God's commandments, statutes and laws, showing that God's requirements were taught and kept before Sinai and that the seventh day was observed from Adam to Moses.
Abimelech's fear that taking another man's wife and lying with her would bring guilt proves the law against adultery was already known and binding.
His faithful life among the Philistines stands as missionary work by dwelling among others, and God's speaking to him there in an audible voice shows God addresses His people in different ways in different times.
Isaac's Stay in Gerar
Isaac dwelt in Gerar, in the land and country of the Philistines. There he lived and farmed. He had come there to seek relief when famine arose. After God's promise and instruction to him, the Lord told him to remain in that land.
His time among the Philistines was marked by prosperity and God's abundant blessing there. The same account tells of his disputes with them. While he dwelt there God directly addressed and instructed him in an audible voice. This shows that after sin entered the world God speaks to His people in various ways in different periods, including by an audible voice.
Law Obeyed Before Sinai
Genesis 26:6 places Isaac in Gerar after God's promise and instruction to him, and in the surrounding verses God recalls that Abraham obeyed His commandments, statutes, and laws. Abraham had been taught God's requirements and kept them, indeed kept them all. With the verses just before it, the verse shows that the seventh day was observed from Adam to Moses, before the law was given at Sinai.
The sanctified Israel to whom the Sabbath is a sign are Israel under both the old and new covenants who are like Abraham in keeping all God's commandments. In the events connected with this setting Isaac called his wife his sister and Abimelech took her supposing her free. Abimelech's rebuke that one of the people might have lain with her and brought guiltiness upon them shows that taking another man's wife was known to be sinful and guilt-bringing. Abimelech recognized that intercourse with another man's wife would bring guilt upon his people, and the account shows that adultery was known to be sinful before the law was given at Sinai. The incident proves the law against adultery was known and binding before Sinai.
Promise, Providence, and Witness
The dwelling in Gerar belongs to the account of God's providential dealings with Abraham's family as the chosen family through whom the promised Seed would come, placing Isaac there under God's special providence over the progenitors of the promised Seed. It stands in the account in which the promise made to Abraham was renewed to Isaac, the promise of the land and of blessing to all nations through Abraham's seed, which seed is Christ. It places Isaac dwelling in Gerar in the Philistine country where he lived and farmed, and his life there is an example of missionary work done by living faithfully among others.