The Impact of Isaac's Second Theophany on Biblical Narratives

 I lived under my father's shadow for 29 years; Isaac under his for 75!

• We both learned and honored our Father's values and lifestyle while he lived.

• After he died, we had to choose: continue in his shoes or go in a new direction?

• God made the decision for Isaac in his first theophany.

See His faithfulness and assurance today in the second..

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Isaac the peacemaker, Genesis 26 source: https://dansa87blog.wordpress.com/2016/09/30/genesis-26/

 Isaac's First Theophany Confirms Him as Heir to His Promise

Isaac* (1896-1716 BC) obeyed the LORD's command to stay where he was, and NOT to go down into Egypt as his father and mother had done. God had called Abraham (1996-1821 BC) out of Ur and made him a traveler.  I suspect that Isaac was patterning his life on his father's and continuing his pilgrimage.  But God had a different calling for Isaac, one that was uniquely his own.  It was a "stand and wait" command, and it was difficult to obey due to opposition from the native peoples of Canaan. 

An asterisk* after a name means that person is in SPIRITUAL LIVES.Abimelech (generic name) had asked Isaac to leave because he had grown much greater than he, and Isaac settled in the valley of Gerar some distance from the city and its king. It was here that a hundred years before Abraham had dug wells in partnership with the former Philistine king and established a covenant of wells with him.

Over time, the Philistines had filled in the wells that Abraham had dug, and Isaac had his servants reopen them. He gave them back the names his father had given them and affirmed the name "Beersheba," the well of the oath.

In the often-quoted, "from Dan even unto Beersheba," Jdg_20:1, it represents the southern boundary of Canaan, as Dan, the northern. In the time of Jerome* (347-420 AD), it was still a considerable place, and still retains its ancient name — Bir es-Seba. - Smith Bible Dictionary

Isaac's servants dug a well in the valley and found water, but the shepherds of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's shepherds and said, "This water belongs to us." So Isaac named the well "Quarrel." 

Isaac's servants dug another well, and there was a quarrel about that one also, so he named it "Enmity." 

He moved away from there and dug another well. There was no dispute about this one, so he named it "Freedom." He said, "Now the LORD has given us freedom to live in the land, and we will be prosperous here." 

Isaac left and went to Beersheba. 

That night, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid; I am with you. I will bless you and give you many descendants because of my promise to my servant Abraham."  - Genesis 26:24

Isaac responded at once to this wonderful experience by building an altar there, connecting the word he had received with worship. He also "called upon the name of the Lord and pitched his tent there."  Verse 25  

Then he set up his camp there, and his servants dug another well. 

This was about 20 years after the LORD appeared to him the first time he had visited Gerar and Abimelech. Why?

John Calvin* (1509-1564) explains:

This vision was to prepare him to listen more attentively to God, and to convince him that it was God with whom he had to deal; for a voice alone would have had less energy. Therefore, God appears, to produce confidence in and reverence towards his word. In short, visions were a kind of symbols of the Divine presence, designed to remove all doubt from the minds of the holy fathers respecting him who was about to speak.

Isaac had lived with his famous and overpowering father for 75 years, clearly as the subordinate figure. He had no children until he was 60, but his earnest pleading with the LORD to open Rebeah's womb was an act of love and power which God affirmed with this second theophany. The first one was directional and instructive. God wanted Isaac to lead a different kind of life, establishing the promise in the Land of Canaan.

Shortly after this,  Abimelech came from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army to see Isaac.  So Isaac asked, "Why have you now come to see me, when you were so unfriendly to me before and made me leave your country?" 

They answered, "Now we know that the LORD is with you, and we think that there should be a solemn agreement between us. We ask that you promise not to harm us, just as we did not harm you. We were kind to you and let you go peacefully. Now it is clear that the LORD has blessed you." 

Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 

Early next morning, each man made his promise and sealed it with a vow. Isaac said goodbye to them, and they parted as friends. 

On that day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well which they had dug. They said, "We have found water." 

He named the well "Vow." That is how the city of Beersheba got its name. -Genesis 26:17-34

Isaac overcame the difficulties and became a peacemaker, the first one we have seen so far and the first recipient of the promise that comes with that calling: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. – Matthew 5:9.

This second theophany established Isaac as the second of the Israelites' 3 patriarchs, son of the first and father of the third.  He was the only one of the three who never left the land of Canaan, the only one to have had only one wife, and the only one whose name was not changed.  He lived longer than his father and his sons, dying at 180 years of age.  A unique man of God!

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Isaac is the first Old Testament character whose life reflects the character of Jesus, the "turn the other cheek' actions that demonstrate love for our enemies. If he could do it, so can we!

Turn the other cheek, and remove from persistent strikers.

Worship the LORD, honor my father, and wait for the LORD'S direction.

Be thankful for the place the LORD has given us and love the place we live.

Dig wells: 1) go deeper into God's Word to find that living water; 2) value the work of others who have gone before, like those in SPIRITUAL LIVES

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Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6