1.There was famine once again in the land where Isaac was as it was in the days of Abraham his father -Vs1.
Isaac goes to Abimelech the king of Philistine – (unto Gerar meaning dispute and struggle) and it looks like he was on his way to Egypt.
God had mercy on him and told him not to go down to Egypt (which represents the world and our old life) because in Gen: 12 we find that Abraham went down to Egypt without consulting God. It was from there that he got Sarah’s maid Hagar and you know what happened later.
But when God spoke to Isaac, he obeyed God and did not go to Egypt – Vs 6
So, the outcome was:
a.He sowed and reaped hundredfold – Vs 12
b.He waxed great, went forward till he became very great – Vs13
c.He had so much possession that the servants of the philistines envied him – Vs14
d.and they showed their hatred towards him by
.Filling the wells which Abraham had dug – Vs15
.Abimelech said – “Go from us for you are mightier than us”.
2.So Isaac departed and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar (Still in the same Jurisdiction) – Vs17
Isaac re-dug the wells which his father had dug and the Philistine had stopped them. But again each time Isaac re-dug the wells, the herdsman of Gerar came and strove saying “This is our water”.
3.Then he went UP from there out of Gerar (dispute and striving) to Beersheba (Perfect/Peace) which means that we need to come out of all disputes and strivings into the peace of God and peace of mind.
So, again the outcome was:
a) The “SAME” night the Lord appeared to him and spoke to him – Vs 23,24
And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham’s sake.”
What a blessing! But what was so special about Beersheba that the Lord appeared to him there? In Genesis 21:31-33 we read that Abraham had planted a grove in Beersheba and called there on the name of the Lord the Everlasting God and also Abimelech had made a covenant with Abraham here. So, Isaac had to come out of Gerar – all disputes to the place of peace and freedom where his father had called on the name of the Lord.
Therefore, the result of obeying God was unimaginable blessings and the result of moving out of striving was a visitation from God.
Egypt represents our old life.
Gerar represents our old mind.
When you are free from your old life, you receive God’s unimaginable blessings.
When you are free from your old mind, you receive God’s Visitation.
God Bless you!
Bro S. R. Manohar