January 10, 2023 - Genesis 26-28

“Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father” (26:1-3). A lot is happening in these chapters: Rebekah passed off as Isaac’s sister, the ordeals with the Philistines and Abimelech, Isaac to Beersheba where he set up an altar to the Lord, Jacob vs. Esau, and Jacob’s dream. Day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, things constantly change. What’s the old proverb? “The only constant in life is change.” Well, that’s not exactly true, is it? God does not change: “I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6) & “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

The point? God covenants with Isaac and Jacob as he did with Abraham. God promised, and his promises do not change. When everything around us seems to be falling apart, when the foundations seem to be crumbling, when our faith grows weak, God is still there and he is still faithful. Isaac’s and Jacob’s experiences, and ours, with God will be the same as Abraham’s. We will always find God to be faithful.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

there is no shadow of turning with thee.

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness!

Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided.

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! -- Thomas O. Chisholm (1923)