Isaac calls on the name of the Lord

Genesis 26:24-33

Today’s text would be just right for Father’s Day, because it is about the powerful influence of Isaac’s father, Abraham. Genesis 26 is the only chapter in the book with Isaac as the main character. The previous chapters were mostly about Abraham. The chapters that follow are mostly about Isaac’s son, Jacob. It’s hard to focus exclusively on Isaac.

In Genesis 25 we read about the death of Abraham and the birth of Isaac and Rebekah’s twin sons, Esau and Jacob. This chapter also alerts the reader that there will be conflict between these brothers.

Like father, like son

You know the saying, “like father, like son.” This is particularly true of Abraham and Isaac. There are many parallel elements to their stories. Both father and son experienced famines that required them to move to other places seeking food. The Lord instructed Isaac where to move and said, “I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham . . . because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Genesis 26:3-5). The promises God made to Abraham would continue with his son, Isaac.

Both father and son married beautiful women, who, while traveling through dubious territory, they attempted to pass off as their sisters (see 12:11-20, 20:1-18, and 26:6-11). These attempts at deception were never successful.

Abraham and Isaac both experienced great prosperity. Abraham had to separate from his nephew Lot because “the land could not support both of them living together because their possessions were so great” (13:6). When Isaac planted a crop, the yield was a hundredfold! “The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy” (26:12-13).

Both men had similar dealings with Abimelech (but this might not be the same person, since Abimelech is a generic name given to the kings of the Philistines). The Philistines were jealous of the prosperity of Abraham and Isaac, and they would often sabotage their water wells.

Abraham made a treaty with Abimelech that gave the place where it happened the name Beersheba, which means “the well of the treaty.” During the time of the famine, Isaac also went to Beersheba where the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham’s sake” (26:24).

A final similarity between Abraham and Isaac was their construction of altars to the Lord. When Abraham set out in obedience to God’s call to “go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you” (12:1), he built altars along the way. When Isaac went to Beersheba and the Lord appeared to him, extending the covenant he had made with his father, Isaac responded by building an altar.

Life-changing encounters

I live in Springfield, Ill. People come from around the world to visit Abraham Lincoln’s home, tomb, museum, and library. This town is steeped in all things Lincoln. There are lots of historical markers that testify to the significance of that location to the national story.

In today’s text, Isaac marks the spot where God’s promises to his father are transferred to him. He builds an altar. We hear of altar boys and altar girls. We hear of brides and/or grooms being left at the altar. We hear about altar calls. An altar is usually a raised structure or place that is the focal point of worship. Some Christian churches refer to the table where the bread and the cup are celebrated as the altar. Altars are not unique to Christianity. Sometimes we find small altars in Chinese restaurants or Asian nail salons. The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem had an altar of incense and an altar for burnt offerings.

In the Old Testament, altars were built to mark the spot where a central life-changing event took place and God was encountered. When the flood waters receded, Noah built an altar. When Abraham responded to God’s call and arrived at a new place, he built an altar.

Isaac built his altar to call on the name of the Lord. He had been promised land, numerous descendants, and blessings so bountiful that others would feel its effects. Isaac was hesitant to leave that place, so he pitched a tent there and had his servants dig a well. He planned to stay awhile.

Coming in peace

Just when Isaac was comfortably settled in, he received some visitors. They were leaders of the Philistines—Abimelech, the king; Ahuzzath, the king’s advisor; and Phicol, the commander of the king’s army. The last time Isaac had encountered these high-powered individuals, they had told him, “Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us” (26:16). Isaac had moved on.

Now they seek a visit with Isaac, and he is perplexed. “Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?” (26:27). But they had seen how the Lord had blessed Isaac, and they wanted to be on his good side. They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you, so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you so 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” (26:28-29).

There was no denying that Isaac was on the Lord’s side. It’s important to note that Isaac used this opportunity to cement an alliance. He provided a feast. “In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths, and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace” (26:31).

This was a rare, sweet time in the life of God’s people. They had harvested an extraordinarily bountiful crop. Their flocks and herds were healthy, and they had peace with their enemy. The day the Philistines left, Isaac’s servants came to him with the news that the well they had dug was found to be a great source for water.

This is the only chapter in the Bible given over entirely to the story of Isaac. Maybe times of peace and prosperity don’t warrant significant coverage. When we read about Isaac, we have to acknowledge the goodness of his inheritance from his righteous father. Those who are blessed with righteous forefathers and foremothers have a distinct advantage in life. Inheritance should not be thought of as exclusively material. We can inherit values, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

This passage invites us to explore the central focus of our lives. What “altars” have we built? What do we worship? That determines our legacy for the next generation.