Isaac's Deceit

Isaac’s Deceit

(Genesis 26:1-11)

Yearly Theme:  “Patience is…”

Series Title:  “Divine Patience (Part 2)”

February 20^th, 2022

Something to think about:

Famed British author, Samuel Johnson, once wrote, “Dishonor waits on perfidy [dishonesty].  A man should blush to think a falsehood; it is the crime of cowards.”[1]

We come again upon a story of deceit today, which rivals last week’s message.  Like his father, Isaac was more afraid of losing his life over the beauty of his wife than he was on trusting GOD and His protection.

In the same town, by another king with the same name, and under very similar circumstances, Isaac put his own life above that of his wife, Rebekah all because he feared man more than GOD.  And yet, we read in today’s passage of Scripture, that Isaac had just been reassured by GOD that the covenant He made with Abraham would be extended to him (Isaac).

Undoubtedly, Isaac had seen the hand of GOD throughout the course of his life, and understood the miraculous provision of GOD toward his family.  So why would he not trust GOD to have his back?  Let’s read and find out…

Genesis 26:1-11 (NLT),

A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.

² The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. ³ Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. ⁴ I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. ⁵ I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” ⁶ So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

⁷ When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” ⁸ But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.

⁹ Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

“Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.

¹⁰ “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”

¹¹ Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!” ^[2]

Here’s the takeaway this morning:

Key Point:  “GOD’s patience extends beyond our doubt.”

Like last week, what can we learn about the effects of deceit from this passage today?...

•  in GOD and  of man cannot  .

Genesis 26:2-6 (NLT), ²  The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. ³  Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. ⁴  I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. ⁵  I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” ⁶  So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

•  drives  .

Genesis 26:7 (NLT), When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.”

Something to take home:

Again, Samuel Johnson wrote these timeless words, “Fraud and falsehood only dread examination.  Truth invites it.”[3]

Truth and honesty are rooted in what is real.  When a person is unable to see and experience what is real, deception ultimately overtakes them and steers them into a world of fantasy and doubt.  When left with this reality, a person can no longer tell what is true from what is false, and thus, ultimately live a lie. 

Unlike Abraham and Isaac, truth must override fear.  No matter the cost, truth must rule the day, and our lives.  When we fully embrace the truth and leave all falsehoods behind, then, and only then, do we encounter true liberty and peace.  However, until then, we live under the timeless grace and patience of GOD who desires not allegiance, but, rather, complete trust!

Key Point:  “GOD’s patience extends beyond our doubt.”

[1] "Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers" by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, p. 242, 1895.

^[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ge 26:1–11). Tyndale House Publishers.

[3] Samuel Johnson, Lectures on the Elements of Political Economy, 1831.