BULLETIN ARTICLE
11 August 2019
GOD’S PROMISES
In the book of Genesis much is written about the life of Abraham. Much is also written about the life of Jacob. In between them is Abraham’s son, Jacob’s father, Isaac, whose record as a main character only occupies a few chapters in the book of Genesis. In fact, it is in Genesis 26 that we read of most of the happenings in Isaac’s life.
What is interesting is that the issues that Isaac faces in Genesis 26 are rather similar with those Abraham, his father, faced previously in Genesis 12, 20 and 21. Both Isaac and Abraham feared so much for their own lives that they hid from the residents they were living with the true identity of their wives. Similarly, both Isaac and Abraham encountered trouble with the people living there about rights to the water well(s). The author of Ecclesiastes is right to say: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9).
While the similarities in the issues are noteworthy, we often tend to focus so much on the foreground to the extent that we forget about the God who is working in the background. Actually, the writer of Genesis is not only fully conscious of the similarities but he also seems to be using them to advance the theme of God’s faithfulness to his promises. What we learn is that God’s faithfulness in the past can be counted on in the present, and also into the future. Just as he has done for the fathers, he will also do for the sons. This can be seen in the way God protected both Abraham and Isaac from harm even though they were foreigners in the land they were living in. Not only did he protect them, he also granted them favour in the eyes of the rulers in these lands. God also reiterated to Isaac the promise he made to Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the sky. These lands would soon be his and his descendants and that through them blessing will come to all nations of the earth because of Abraham’s obedience. Likewise, it is expected that Isaac must be just as careful to ensure, by his perfect obedience, the transmission of the heritage for generations to come.
Moreover, God’s faithfulness is not only in what he says or promises. He demonstrates it tangibly by ensuring that Abraham and Isaac, and all that they own have access to good well water, a much needed source of life especially in the Middle East environment they were living in.
Here are some questions for our personal reflection:
· How has God been faithful to you and your family?
· How has he physically provided for you?
· How might you live in such a way that models for your future generations what it means to live in perfect obedience to God? God is faithful – are you?
