Genesis 26:1-11 Like Father Like Son

Before Isaac was born, Abraham went to Gerar, the land of King Abimelech. Fearing that the king might kill him and take Sarah for a wife, Abraham lied by saying that Sarah was his sister.

Years later, a famine hits the land, and Isaac goes to Gerar where his father had sojourned. As he prepared to go to that land, the Lord reiterated to Isaac the promises He had made to Abraham.

The Lord promised to be with him, to bless him, to bless his descendants, to give him all the lands he had promised to Abraham, to multiply his descendants as the stars of heaven, and to bless all the nations through him.

When Isaac came to the land, the men asked him about his wife. He responded, “‘She is my sister,’ because he was afraid to say ‘my wife,’ thinking the men of the place might kill me on account of Rebekah, for she is beautiful” (Gen 26:7).

When the king found out that Isaac had lied, the king was irate. The king knew that one of the men might have taken her for a wife bringing trouble on the nation.

Where did Isaac learn this behavior? Is it possible that he learned it from his father, Abraham? Recall that Abraham practiced this lie not only with Abimelech but also with the Pharaoh when Abraham had earlier gone to Egypt on account of a famine.

Our kids watch what we do. Our grandchildren take notice of our actions. They are very much apt to follow our example.

The Lord commands us to train our children in the way in which they should go. As we do so, we should remember that we can influence them for good or for bad. We can be a positive influence or a negative influence.

As believers we should take every opportunity to teach our kids good theology and to model godly living. Moses put it this way, “And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deut 6:6-7).

Mothers and grandmothers also have an important role to play. Paul wrote to Timothy, “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” (2 Tim 1:5).

Let’s remember these passages as we live out the days the Lord gives us. By His grace we can be godly examples to the next generation and the generations to follow. Our contemporary culture has an ample supply of negative role models. You and I must allow Christ to live through us producing the fruit of the spirit so that others might be attracted to Him.