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Genesis 25:27-28:5<\/strong><\/span> In Genesis chapter 26 we can see where the old adage, \u201clike father, like son\u201d could have come from.\u00a0 Isaac like his father Abraham told foreigners that his wife was his sister.\u00a0 However, the artist Raffaello captured verse 8 from King Abimelech\u2019s perspective in this painting from the year 1519 below: \u201cBut some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out a window and saw Isaac fondling Rebekah.\u201d<\/em><\/span> Today\u2019s Genesis chapter 26 readings open up with Isaac digging wells \u2013 and then moving on when the Philistine\u2019s contest the wells.\u00a0 This shows an incredible amount of patience on Isaac\u2019s behalf.\u00a0 In this arid region of Gerar, water was like gold and people often battled over water.\u00a0 Filling in someone\u2019s well was akin to declaring war.\u00a0 Below is an aerial map of where Gerar and Beersheba are located, just on the northern edge of the Negev desert (see lower left corner of map):<\/span> Verse 22 stood out to me in these readings about the wells: \u201cAbandoning that one, he dug another well, and the local people finally left him alone. So Isaac called it \u201cRoom Enough,\u201d for he said, \u201cAt last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be able to thrive.\u201d\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 For me this was reminiscent of Abraham giving Lot the choice of lands when there was disputes between their herdsmen.\u00a0 Abraham was confident that God would provide even with \u201c2nd choice\u201d of the lands \u2013 and Isaac here seems to be following in his father\u2019s footsteps of wisdom.\u00a0 I also like the naming of the well \u2013 \u201cRoom Enough.\u201d\u00a0 I think sometimes in our world today we can get so competitive with each other, thinking that there is a limited sized pie and we have to get our piece of it!\u00a0 \u201cThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People\u201d author Steven Covey calls this the \u201cscarcity mentality\u201d \u2013 and he encourages us to instead operate with an \u201cabundance mentality\u201d \u2013 that there is ultimately enough pie for everyone.\u00a0 That there is Room Enough.\u00a0 \u00a0How do you find yourself operating in your own life \u2013 more often out of the scarcity mentality or the abundance mentality?\u00a0 \u00a0Do you see the risk of the scarcity mentality?\u00a0 And the blessing of the abundance mentality?\u00a0 Do you believe that there is Room Enough?\u00a0 Below is a modern day photo of a well near the entrance to Beersheba that is believed to be the well Isaac and his servants dug in chapter 25 verses 23-25: \u201cFrom there Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the Lord<\/span> appeared to him on the night of his arrival. \u201cI am the God of your father, Abraham,\u201d he said. \u201cDo not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.\u201d Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord<\/span>. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.\u201d<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n Genesis chapter 27 today is a very interesting and challenging chapter\u2026\u00a0 both Jacob and Rebekah are deceitful.\u00a0 And Isaac is suspicious of the whole charade.\u00a0 And yet, Jacob receives the verbal blessing from Isaac, which was binding back in those days.\u00a0 I think this chapter is challenging in that it can bring up the question of sin \u2013 and can sin be used to fulfill God\u2019s will?\u00a0 You know I\u2019m going to defer to our resident-expert on Genesis \u2013 Bob Deffinbaugh from bible.org.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Check out this quote from Bob in his summary of this chapter: \u201cThe purpose of God as expressed to Rebekah in <\/span>Genesis 25:23<\/span> was perfectly accomplished without one alteration. The sins of Isaac and Esau and Rebekah and Jacob did not in any way thwart God\u2019s will from being done. In fact, their sins were employed by God in such a way as to achieve the will of God. God\u2019s sovereignty is never thwarted by man\u2019s sin. To the contrary, God is able to achieve His purposes by employing man\u2019s sinful acts to further His plans.\u201d\u00a0 Then, check out everything Bob has to say on this challenging chapter <\/strong><\/span>at this link<\/span><\/strong>.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0Surf down to Bob\u2019s Conclusion at this link if nothing else \u2013 it is very intriguing! Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter in the Comments below.\u00a0 Below is an oil painting from 1639 by Dutch Baroque painter Govert Teunisz Flinck (who was a pupil of Rembrandt) of Isaac blessing Jacob:<\/span> Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Genesis chapter 25 titled \u201cThe Principle of Divine Election\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and commentary on chapter 26 titled \u201cIsaac Walks in His Father\u2019s Steps\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong>\u00a0 Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Michael W. Smith\u2019s song \u201cYou Won\u2019t Let Go:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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