The Patience of Isaac
We don't tend to hear very many sermons or object
lessons on Isaac. Abraham, yes, and Jacob, but I can count the number of
lessons based on Isaac that I have heard or read in my lifetime on one hand,
and still have a finger or two left over. But this doesn't mean that we
can't learn a thing or two from his life!
Genesis 26 tells an interesting story about Isaac: "Then Abimelech said
to Isaac, 'Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.' So Isaac
moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled
there." (Gen. 25:16-17)
The story starts out with Isaac being thrown out of the land he had settled
in. If you go back to Gen. 26: 2,3, we find that God even TOLD Isaac to stay
in this land: "The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, 'Do not go down to
Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a
while, and I will be with you and will bless you.'" (Gen. 26:2,3 NIV)
Now, I don't know about you, but if God had told me to settle somewhere and
someone came along and told me to get out, it wouldn't have settled very
well with me. In fact, I would have been four plus MAD! But not Isaac. The
Bible simply says that he "moved away from there and encamped in the
Valley of Gerar"
So what can we learn from Isaac? We can learn about conflict resolution! We
can learn that God's way is usually non-confrontational. God's way is a way
of peace.
Another example of Isaac's non-confrontational personality is found a few
verses later: "Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the
time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after
Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh
water there. But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's
herdsmen and said, 'The water is ours!' So he named the well Esek,
because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they
quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there
and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it." (Gen 26:16-22
NIV)
After leaving Abimelech's land, Isaac tried to reopen the wells his father
Abraham had dug, but each time, the people of the land quarreled with him,
claiming the well as their own. This happened three different times!
And each time, Isaac's response was the same: He went on his way and dug
another well!
Gen. 26 goes on to report something else very interesting: "Meanwhile,
Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and
Phicol the commander of his forces. Isaac asked them, 'Why have you come
to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away' They answered, 'We saw
clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, "There ought to be a
sworn agreement between us" - between us and you. Let us make a treaty with
you'" (Gen 26:26-29 NIV)
Because of all of this, Abimelech, a heathen king, was brought face to face
with the power of God. Would Abimelech have ever recognized God's hand on
Isaac if Isaac had quarreled with him when he was thrown out of the country?
Likely not! Why not? Because Isaac would have been reacting in a human way,
in a "normal", "ordinary" way. But because Isaac chose to react differently,
Abimelech noticed.
Is this not why Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek? Let's take a look at
Jesus' exact words:
"But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on
the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to
sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If
someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the
one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from
you. You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes
his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous
and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you
get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your
brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt
5:39-48 NIV)
Why? Peter gives us the answer: "For it is God's will that by doing
good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men." (1
Peter 2:15 NIV)
The apostle Paul gives us yet another reason: "Do everything without
complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in
which you shine like stars in the universe …" (Phil 2:14-16 NIV)
Friends, when we refuse to be confrontational, when we choose to follow
Jesus' advice and turn the other cheek, we, by our good example, can change
those around us! We can set their feet on the right road, the road that
leads to life!
The next time something doesn't go your way, the next time someone misuses
you, remember Isaac and follow Jesus' advice: Just move on! You never know
when this non-confrontational attitude will serve to silence the foolishness
of those around you, will make you stand out like stars!
In His love, Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a
tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to
Christian devotionals and inspirational poems,
www.scripturalnuggets.org ,
with Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org .