# 241 Pressing On In Spite Of Our Mistakes

The Book of Genesis

Day 241

Ge 26:7 And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, "She is my sister"; for he was afraid to say, "She is my wife," because he thought, "lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold." 8 Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. 9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, "Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, 'She is my sister'?" And Isaac said to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die on account of her.'" 10 And Abimelech said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us." 11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, "He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death."

 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.

It’s déjà vu all over again! Like father, like son. Isaac has obeyed God’s simple command to “dwell in the land.” However, like his father Abraham, he falters when it comes to trusting God for his physical protection. This fear of being killed for the sake of their wives evidently was very real to them. So real, that they put their wives at risk of being sexually assaulted.

But once again God bails out his chosen one by allowing Abimelech to witness Isaac showing affection toward Rebekah in a manner that obviously indicated she was much more than his sister!

One of the amazing aspects of this account is found in verse 8 which says “when they had been there a LONG time,” somehow God had managed to place a hands off aura around Rebekah and she was spared any sexual violation.

Well, once discovered, Abimelech was furious with Isaac, just as the Abimelech of Abraham’s days was furious with Abraham!. No doubt, this account of the incident with Abraham had been passed down from generation to generation and the warning given in Abraham’s day was probably still ringing in the ears of this Abimelech! “You are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, restore the man’s wife and you shall live. If you don’t, you and all who are yours shall surely die.” (Gen 20:3) It’s the sort of thing that’s hard to forget!

This Abimelech wanted no part of this and so he orders his people not to touch Isaac or his bride, anyone touching them would be put to death!. With that kind of protection, Isaac went on to sow in the land and reap a great harvest, and the Lord blessed him, and prospered him, just as he said he would if Isaac would obey the simple command to dwell in the land!

When you and I respond affirmatively to God’s commands, we, like Isaac and Abraham are likely to make mistakes along the way. (Usually due to unnecessary fears that rise up in our hearts) Let’s not allow our mistakes to keep us from the blessing. Let’s not lose sight of the command. Let’s confess our shortcomings, and receive God’s forgiveness and get back to the simple task that God has laid before us. God’s not looking for a perfect heart to carry out His tasks……just a willing one.