I come today to the 26th chapter of
the book of Genesis.
If you have your Bible, turn there, and
if you have our notes and outlines, be
sure and use them.
And may I also add, if you do
not have notes and outlines, we invite you
to write in and ask for yours today.
Now, frankly, when I was a much younger
preacher than I am now, chapters like this
worried me, especially here in the book of
Genesis, when there's so many exciting chapters.
And very frankly, when you read this chapter
here, it doesn't seem to be very exciting.
In fact, it isn't.
It's rather colorless, uninteresting.
In fact, it's sort of blah when you
read it.
And especially when you have an exciting man
like Abraham here before this, then you have
the exciting man Jacob that's coming before us
now.
And this chapter is all about Isaac.
In fact, it's the only chapter that's really
all about Isaac.
And it doesn't seem to be very exciting.
All he does is dig wells.
And yet, in later years, I've come to
examine these chapters and have found out that
God has a message here for us also.
In fact, a very important message, because we
need to recognize that what Paul said is
quite accurate.
In Romans 15, 4, he says, "...for whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of
the Scriptures might have hope."
And this is a chapter to give some
of us patience, because very frankly, I think
this is a chapter for folk like some
of us.
I must say, I come under this category,
but don't get the impression by just reading
this chapter, this is all God wants.
I'm glad the Lord had a man around
like Abraham, and a man like Jacob, and
a man like David, because they were go
-getters, and they were aggressive.
And that God can use also.
But this chapter has a great message for
many of us, and I'm sure that we're
going to get it.
Because again, Paul said all, "...Scripture is given
by inspiration of God, and it is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness, that the man of God may
be perfect, truly furnished unto all good works."
Now, with that thought in mind, let's come
to Genesis 26.
Here Isaac, the beloved son, has the covenant
confirmed to him.
And then we find him dropping into the
same sin of unbelief that his father Abraham
did.
And then we see him digging these wells
in the land of Gerah.
This doesn't seem to be very exciting, but
there's a message here for us, and so
today let's not miss it.