Old Testament: Gen 26.9–11

To read the Bible in a year, read Genesis 25–26 on January 10, In the year of our Lord Christ 2023

By Don Ruhl 

Like his father before him, Isaac feared a society when he did not have to fear. For example, Rebekah was beautiful to behold. Therefore, when Isaac sojourned among the Philistines, he feared that they would kill him and take Rebekah. So, he told everyone that she was his sister. 

When the king found out what Isaac had done, he confronted Isaac and rebuked him for possibly bringing disaster on the Philistines from God: 

Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’” 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.” So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

– Genesis 26.9–11 

Isaac had persuaded himself that the Philistines had no morals. However, at this time in the history of the Philistines, they still had a measure of morality and of belief in the one true and living God. 

Isaac had misjudged the people. 

Questions: 

• Have you ever misjudged a group of people? 
• Have you ever been misjudged? 

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