The Blessing of Grace

From Gerar Isaac went up to Beer-Sheba, and The Lord appeared to him that night and said, " I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of My servant Abraham."
So Isaac built an altar there, called on the name of Yahweh, and pitched his tent there. Isaac's slaves also dug a well there.
 Now Abimelech came to him there from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, " Why have you come to me? You hated me and sent me away from you."
They replied, "We have clearly seen how The Lord has been with you. We think there should be an oath between two parties- between us and you. You will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done what was good to you, sending you away in peace. You are blessed by The Lord."
So Isaac prepared a banquet for them, and hey ate and drank. They got up early in the morning and swore an oath to each other, then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace. On that same day Isaac's slaves came to tell him about the well they had dug, saying to him,  "We have found water!" He called it Sheba. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-Sheba to this day. Genesis 26:23-33

Abimelech's herdsman had quarrelled with Isaac's over wells they had dug twice. Scripture tells us that they were envious, so Isaac went away and now they come to him in fear. Anger and fear are works of the flesh. Isaac had walked away, turned the other cheek rather than fight, he had applied grace and God blessed him. When they came to him in fear he did not poke fun at them but did as they had asked and made a covenant with them, again he applied grace.

Two opposite behaviour patterns and two different outcomes. Isaac had God's favour, Abimelech did not and recognised it, this is why he asked for a covenant, to buy protection.

Next Isaac's slave had dug another well, straight away after Isaac had sent Abimelech on his way in peace, Isaac was blessed with another well. Get the picture? Trusting the Lord, obeying Him brings blessing. We do not need to strive for blessing it is ours by faith. Amen!

 

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