The Blessed LifeThe Blessed LifeGen 26:1-33Gen 26:1-33

TO BLESS: to endue with TO BLESS: to endue with power for success, prosperity, power for success, prosperity, fruitfulness, longevity, to be fruitfulness, longevity, to be given a rich and abundant given a rich and abundant life.life.

The Blessed LifeThe Blessed Life

The place of Isaac’s blessing is The place of Isaac’s blessing is geographical – gerar (annoyance) geographical – gerar (annoyance) how does one turn their frustrations how does one turn their frustrations into fruitfulness?into fruitfulness?

1.1. ISAAC STAYED IN THE LAND. (2-6)ISAAC STAYED IN THE LAND. (2-6)

There was famine in the land.There was famine in the land.

““Behold the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Behold the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver Him, on those who hope in His mercy, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.” PS 33:18-19famine.” PS 33:18-19

““The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their The Lord knows the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in evil times, and in the days of famine ashamed in evil times, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.” PS 37:18-19they shall be satisfied.” PS 37:18-19

““What shall separate us from the love of Christ? What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution or Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” RM 8:35RM 8:35

2.2. ISAAC STRUGGLED IN THE LAND.ISAAC STRUGGLED IN THE LAND.

There was famine (v1), fear (v7), There was famine (v1), fear (v7), failure (v7); fighting (15: 20,21) failure (v7); fighting (15: 20,21) frustration (13,21).frustration (13,21).

3.3. ISAAC SOWED IN THE LAND. (12-13)ISAAC SOWED IN THE LAND. (12-13)

““Then Isaac sowed in that land, and Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundred reaped in the same year a hundred fold, and the Lord blessed him. The fold, and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper until he man began to prosper until he became very prosperous.” (12-13)became very prosperous.” (12-13)

Sowing in difficult times may prove Sowing in difficult times may prove more significant than what appears more significant than what appears to be more favorable times. Isaac to be more favorable times. Isaac sowed to his future rather than sowed to his future rather than reacting to his present. He dug wells. reacting to his present. He dug wells. There are seven references to wells There are seven references to wells in our text.in our text.

““And let us not grow weary while doing And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap good, for in due season we shall reap if we don’t lose heart.” Gal 6:9if we don’t lose heart.” Gal 6:9

““Nothing in this world will take the place of Nothing in this world will take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has always solved and always will solve the always solved and always will solve the problem of the honor roll.” problem of the honor roll.”

Calvin CoolidgeCalvin Coolidge

4.4. ISAAC SACRIFICED IN THE LAND.ISAAC SACRIFICED IN THE LAND.

(v25)(v25)

““So he built an altar there and So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there; and there pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug wells.” (v25)Isaac’s servants dug wells.” (v25)

3 Times the word “there” appears in 3 Times the word “there” appears in v25. “There” in the place of promise v25. “There” in the place of promise Isaac lived and sacrificed.Isaac lived and sacrificed.

““God is ready to assume full God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” yielded to Him.”

Andrew MurrayAndrew Murray