Abimelek makes peace with Isaac (Genesis 26:26 – 26:33)
After Isaac settled in Beersheba, King Abimelech arrived from Gerar to visit him. Abimelech brought with him Ahuzzath, his personal advisor, and Phicol, the commander of his forces (possibly the same commander that was recorded as dealing with Isaac’s father, Abraham). Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to visit…
Isaac’s wealth and power threaten others (Genesis 26:12 – 26:25)
After Abimeleh issued orders to the citizens that nobody should harm Isaac or his family, Isaac had a very successful year with his crops (despite a famine in the land). Because God had blessed Isaac – he reaped a hundred times what he had sown. Isaac became rich and his fortune continued to…
Isaac tells men Rebekah is his sister (Genesis 26:1 -26:11)
During a famine in the land of Canaan, Isaac went to Abimelek (aka Abimelech), who was the king in Gerar where the Philistines lived. On his way, God stopped Isaac and instructed him to not go to Egypt (as his father Abraham had done during the last famine). God reminded…
John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus (Matthew 3:1 – 3:12)
John the Baptist preached in the wilderness of Judea, telling his audience, “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven has come near.” John was the one spoken of in the Old Testament through the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of a man calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way…
Matthew describes the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1 – 1:17)
The book of Matthew opens with a genealogy of Jesus and a note that there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen generations from David to “exile in Babylon" (when Nebuchadnezzar took the southern tribe of Judah into captivity in Babylon), and fourteen generations from exile to the birth…
The Birth of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19 – 25:26)
After a quick peek at Ishmael’s genealogical record, the Bible now turns back to the family line of Abraham and Isaac. We are reminded that Abraham was the father of Isaac who, at 40 years of age, married Rebekah. After 20 years of marriage, Isaac prayed for a child and…
Ishmael’s sons (Genesis 25:12 – 25:18)
This section of the Bible presents a genealogical account of the line of Ishmael, the son of Abraham and Hager (Sarah’s Egyptian slave). In this story, Ishmael’s sons are listed, some of who prove important to the continuing narrative of the Old Testament. Ishmael lived to be 137 years old.…
The death of Abraham (Genesis 25:1 – 25:11)
In later age, Abraham took a new wife, Keturah who bore him six sons, including some lines which would become significant (and enemies of Isaac) in later chapters – the Ashurites (Assyrians), Letushites, Midianites, Shuhites, and Leummites. Abraham left everything to Isaac and gave gifts to his remaining sons and…
A wife for Isaac (Genesis 24:1 – 24:67)
Abraham was an advanced age when he asked his servant to swear he would find a wife for his son Isaac and that he not get a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites (from the area where Abraham was living at the time) but would instead travel to his old…
Abraham is tested by God (Genesis 22:1 – 22:19)
God called out to Abraham commanding he take his son Isaac to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Following God’s instructions, Abraham cut wood for the offering and the following morning, loaded his donkey and took two servants and Isaac with him to the location…
