(Read Genesis, chapter 26.)
From the opening verses of this chapter we learn that " there was a famine in the land"- the land which God had given to Abraham and to his seed forever, and where Isaac was to dwell. God encourages him afresh to this by this promise:"Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee and will bless thee;" and He reaffirms to Isaac the promises made to Abraham (vers. 3-5). This shows us that, even in the path where God had put his servant, there were to be trials of faith, and dependence upon God; even as at the present time those who occupy the position and path marked out for us in God's Word, in separation from the world, acknowledging the Lord Jesus as our only Head and Center must expect testings as to faith and obedience to God's revealed will.
Genesis 22 :i affords us an example how God tries or tests His servant Abraham's faith. We also know how He permitted trials to test His servant Paul; and He will test us also, that the trial of our faith may work patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope, with the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. But we must not be moved from our place of testimony through trial, for it is not our experience which decides whether or not we are in God's path, but it is the Word of God 'which is to be our guide, and settle all such questions for His people.
Egypt is a type of the world, where Isaac was not to go. In days of testing, we also may seek relief by departing from the place of God's appointment. Abraham did this on a similar occasion (ch. 12 :10). So did Elimelech later on (Ruth, ch. i) ; but such departures only bring sorrow, shame, and trouble to the child of God, while he who endures the trial in the place where God puts him, increases in blessing.
Isaac did not go all the way to Egypt, but abode in the border-land, in a town of the Philistines, who are a "type of natural men in heavenly things." He dwelt at Gerar-"wandering"-he became a wanderer instead of a pilgrim, as many a child of God has done by departing from the narrow path with God-not going all the way back to the world (Egypt)-but becoming wanderers, in association with natural men in heavenly things, which the world-church largely is.* *The proper faith of the child of God cannot be exercised at "Gerar," and God allows Isaac to be humbled there, even by a Philistine. Faith is sustained and blessed of God in the path He has marked out for His obedient people. [ED.*
Of course in such a place Isaac failed in his testimony (vers. 6-11), as many a child of God has done to his sorrow. But God's eye was upon His servant, and even in Gerar He blessed him, according to His promise, so that Isaac grew until he became very great and had great possessions.
Naturally this excited the envy of the Philistines and brought on strife and contention, for God will not allow His child to remain comfortably at ease in a false position. A Philistine can be at home in Gerar, just as an unsaved worldling can be at ease in a dead profession, but no true child of God can ever be really happy there; nor will he be allowed there the refreshments of soul which are rightfully his.
The Philistines had stopped the wells which Abraham's servants had digged, and filled them with earth, as a world-church to-day by earthly contrivances stops the pure streams of life and joy in the Lord, which are the blessed heritage of God's own children, and which those who have preceded us in the truth have opened up for the household of faith.
Finally, Isaac departed from Gerar, but only to the Valley of Gerar-not completely away from the country of the Philistines. He had not yet returned to the place of God's covenant, so that even while his servants found a well of springing water -type of the ministry of Christ by the Holy Spirit -he was not at peace. The herdsmen of Gerar claimed the water, as Protestantism to-day claims much of the precious truth which God gave His people to enjoy in communion with Himself. God has reopened His word to faith; and the living truth, which for long had been lost sight of, is restored for faith to enjoy. Many in our day would enjoy precious truth if it does not lead them too far. Many will take justification by faith, salvation by the blood of Christ and title to heaven through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much other precious truth, if only they do not have to go too far from Gerar. They would have the well of springing water, but not separation from what hinders full appreciation of our heavenly calling.
Isaac dug another well at Sitnah-"opposition." Opposition is what is found when the truth as to separation and practical holiness is maintained. It is sure to meet with opposition on the part of the great world-church, until, like Isaac, the follower of Christ moves out in full obedience and enjoyment of what God has marked out as His people's portion; then they find Rehoboth-" enlargement"- and here the Philistines do not follow them.
Now begins Isaac's true walk with God. He went up to Beer-sheba-"well of the oath"-where his father Abraham had " called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God" (Gen. 21:33), and where Abraham dwelt after the trial of his faith in offering up his son Isaac.
Thus did Isaac, sustained of God, come out of the land of the Philistines, into the place where God could fully be with him and bless him; and where we also, walking in accordance to His Word, shall be blessed. To Rehoboth-" a large place "- God would bring His people. There, communion is found. "The Lord appeared unto him, and said, "I am with thee." Does not our mind revert to the 23rd Psalm, " Thou art with me? " Or to Enoch, who walked in such close fellowship with God that one day he was not found ? He never returned, for God had taken him to Himself. We remember also the three Hebrew young men in the fiery furnace, and with them a fourth, "like the Son of God." And it is the blessed portion of every Christian to walk with God, to know His blessed presence, and to have secret communion with Him.
Isaac builded an altar there. He had none in Gerar. Now he can worship. There is no real worship except as we walk in fellowship with God. In communion with God we enter into the blessed knowledge of the Son of God-His blessed person. His atoning work, His love to us, the blessed promise of His return, how He has glorified God, and made Him known to us. It is this which enables us to worship.
At Beer-sheba Isaac "called upon the name of the Lord." We do not read of this in Gerar. What a blessed privilege we have in prayer. In worship we offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving:in prayer we make known to God our needs or intercede for others, and offer thanks as well for mercies received. We cannot live and enjoy the full Christian life unless we are a praying people. Oh, that God would lead us to be a people of deep, earnest, constant prayer and supplication!
At Beer-sheba the pilgrim character of Isaac is shown, for here he is able to walk in separation from the Philistines. An obedient walk with God must lead His child not only to separation from the follies and sins of a world away from God, but in separation from an empty profession of Christianity which has but "a name to live," while it is dead-a profession which admits to its ranks skeptics, Higher Critics, unbelievers of many kinds and various characters who, in greater or less degree deny the Person or atoning work of the Lord our Saviour. In association with evil, the child of God not only defiles himself, but in so far, links the holy name of the Son of God with that which is evil.
As citizens of heaven, we are not of this world, but pilgrims passing through, and daily
" Pitch our moving tent
A day's march nearer home."
Can we wonder that thus separated to God Isaac "digged a well" at Beer-sheba and found abundant refreshment there-"a well of water, springing up to everlasting life," as our Lord said to the woman, who left her water pot to tell the people of her city what and whom she had found.
The Holy Spirit has come to tell us what we have in Christ Jesus, and to guide us into all truth. He is here to glorify Christ and to give to God's people new views of the beauties and perfections of our Lord, as revealed in God's Word. Through the Spirit's guidance we drink afresh and again of this Living Water. At "Beersheba," in fellowship with God, we can " dig " into the pages of the Word, and the springs of refreshment will gush forth. May we ever dwell beside this well.
And now we find that the Philistines themselves have to bear testimony to Isaac's blessedness. They say, "We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee." As the Lord says of those who keep His Word and deny not His name (His own real character), "I will make them who say they are Jews (God's people), and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee " (Rev. 3:9). This is the final result of a real separation to God. But if they see in us only "a good man," of "square dealings," a good citizen, considerate of others, they see only what a good worldling may show while journeying on the way which leads to perdition. The Philistines' testimony to Isaac was, "We saw certainly that the Lord is with thee." It points to a different character as well as a different companionship than the worldling ; just as "they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus." Oh, may this character be ours, beloved reader, which is found in separation from the world and its aims, while enjoying true fellowship with Him who has called us by His grace. F.