Genesis 26:17-35
“‘I am the God of your father, Abraham,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.’” (Genesis 26:24, NLT)
We humans are naturally prone to fear. There is a reason why the Lord has said, “Do not be afraid” so many times. We can understand why Isaac would have been fearful. He was surrounded by neighbors who were jealous of him and hostile toward him. Because they felt threatened by Isaac, they told him to move away from them.
Opposition is a fact of life. We can’t stop it. But how we deal with it determines whether we overcome opposition or opposition overcomes us. The Philistines became contentious over the wells Isaac dug and claimed them as their own. Now Isaac was mighty with many servants, so he could have lit them up! But instead, he chose to trust in the LORD and let God be his defense. He knew he was a stranger and sojourner in the land, but more importantly, he knew that God was his Provider. As Isaac trusted in the LORD to work it out, God gave him room in the land. He also caused the Philistine king to seek a peace treaty with Isaac.
Have you ever been in a contentious situation where you wanted to “stand up for your rights” but the Lord told you to let Him take care of it? How did that make you feel? How did it work out?
Some people thrive on contention. They are not content unless they are picking a fight with someone. But the Lord we serve is called Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). This does not mean that we settle for peace at any price. We have our convictions of right and wrong, and we must stand by them. But we should make every effort to live in peace with others.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14, NKJV)
Isaac lived in peace with God and men. He could do this because he knew that God was with him and would protect and provide for him. Consequently, the LORD assured him and blessed him for all to see. When you face opposition or are afraid, how can you patiently commit yourself to God and continue to do good?