Bible Commentaries
Genesis 26

Verses 1-35

CHAPTER 26 Isaac in Gerar

1. The famine (Genesis 26:1 )

2. Jehovah appears unto Isaac (Genesis 26:2-5 )

3. Isaac in Gerar where he denies Rebekah (Genesis 26:6-11 )

4. Isaac’s prosperity and the digging of wells (Genesis 26:12-22 )

5. Jehovah appears at Beersheba (Genesis 26:23-25 )

6. Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26:26-33 )

7. The wives of Esau (Genesis 26:34-35 )

When the famine came Jehovah commanded Isaac not to go to Egypt. As Isaac is the type of Christ risen from the dead and Egypt is the type of the world, this command has a significance. Isaac is separated from Egypt as Christ and His people are, who share in Him a heavenly place. We also notice, while the Lord spoke to Abraham that his seed should be like the sand of the sea (the natural descendants) and the stars of heaven (the spiritual seed) to Isaac the Lord promises the seed as the stars of Heaven; this confirms the typical character of Isaac.

In Gerar he failed as his father failed. And while Sarah was seized by Abimelech, Rebekah is not touched nor separated from Isaac. Christ and His church are inseparable.

The digging of the wells and Isaac’s patience fully manifests his character; a little picture of the patient suffering of the Son of God “who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not.” Then Jehovah appeared unto him again and he receives still greater blessings as the reward of his obedience.

When Esau was 40 years old he manifested his defiance still more by taking wives of the Hittites to the grief of his parents.