Thursday, December 19, 2019

Isaac’s consequences of fellowship by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce


Message: Isaac’s consequences of fellowship by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian arts ministries: Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

 Living in the United States of America, we are facing every day’s consequences of fellowship. How to live and overcome the consequences? My friends, do you have great strength and wisdom from above? Do you rely on human resources or fully lean on the strength of Almighty God?  Today, let us discover the historical event in the Old Testament. When Isaac faced the obstacles of his enemy, quarreled about the territory, what is the strength of Isaac? What are the spiritual insight and Biblical principles we can apply to this generation to learn from it? Why Abimelech king of the Philistines decreased the hostiles and sought a peace treaty with Isaac? This message and content will help you to find out the answers.
Consequences of fellowship 
 Now there was a famine in the land beside the earlier famine of Abraham’s time and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said,
“Don’t go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants, I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands; and through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me, and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees, and my laws.” (Gen.26:1-6)
 So Isaac followed his father Abraham to obey the instruction of the Lord and stayed in Gerar. Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold because the Lord blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with the earth. (Gen.26:12-14)
a)      King of Philistines forces (Gen. 26:16-18)
King of Philistines Abimelech said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” (v.16). Therefore Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. (v.17). Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. (v.18)
b)      Herdsmen of Gerar quarreled   (Gen. 26:19-21)
            Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. (v.19)  But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” so he named the well Esel (means convention), because they disputed with him. (v.20)  then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also, so he named it Sitnah. (means enmity) (v.21)
c)      Isaac moved on and dug another well
 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth. (means plenty of room) saying, “ now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”  From there he went up to Beersheba. That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham. (Gen.26:22-24)
d)     God’s promises & blessing overcome the enemy
Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well. Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. Isaac asked them, “why have you come to me since you were hostile to me and sent me away? (Gen.26:25-27)
e)      Make a treaty
 They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you, so we said, “There ought to be a sworn agreement between us. Let us make a treaty with you. That you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And you are blessed by the Lord.  (Gen.26:28-29)
f)       An oath for a peace settlement
 Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way and they left him in peace.( Gen.26:30) That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, “we have found water! He called it Shibah (means “oath”), and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba (means “well of the seven or of the oath”.
Militarily & political implication
First, though militarily and politically superior, the king of Philistines Abimelech recognized God’s blessing and protection to Isaac through Abraham. Even though he envied Isaac and forced him to move away. However, to the end, he admitted that God is with Isaac, because of the covenant to Abraham which has passed down to Isaac. Therefore, the king Abimelech sought an agreement from Isaac to live in peace, the treaty, which had done the same with Abraham (see Gen.21:22-32). Both sides said an oath that does no harm from each other.     
Second, if you are a servant of God like Abraham, Isaac, you shall serve the Lord faithfully, obey His commands, decrees, and laws, most important is to trust in the Lord’s promises. Let the Lord reveals His blessings and fulfill His promises. In due time, the peace settlement will be revealed and the battle will be gained by the Lord.
Biblical principles
a.       God owns it all. Kingdom people no need to quarrel over the territory. “Bless are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matt.5:5) When the servant of God's humble self before the Lord, God will vindicate for his servant. God’s bounty provides to his servant is beyond human’s riches.  
b.      Trust in the Lord and be patient to deal with consequences. Bless are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. (Matt.5:9)
c.       Obey the Lord and forgive the enemies. Let God vindicate your faith in Him, and deal with your enemies in God’s timing.  
Life implication
 When you face conflicts or dealing with the consequences of fellowship, people may envy or jealous about your riches, wealthy, faith, blessings, talents, gifts, and intends to quarrel over the property, treasures, or copyright. We should learn from Isaac, and keep our heart steadfast, meek, and trust in the Lord’s promises. Don’t quarrel over it. If it is the will of God for you to be blessed, He will provide sufficient grace to you to move on for the next life journey. Once we are faithful to serve the Lord, His blessed assurance to the servant of God always yes.   




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