Genesis Part 2 - Week 8

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 26:12-15 

¹² When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. ¹³ He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. ¹⁴ He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. ¹⁵ So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. 

The Philistines became jealous of Isaac because of the wealth the Lord had given him. In retaliation they “filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt.” Water rights are highly significant even today. Those can begin strong disagreements and even wars. The servants of Isaac’s father had dug the wells and without them there would be no way for Isaac’s livestock to get water. 

REFLECT 

Do you live in an area today where there is a debate about who has the rights to the water? If so, you can understand what Isaac was facing.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 26:12-25. This passage tells about more strife over wells and the rights to the water. In spite of the conflict, God continued to bless Isaac and repeated the promises to him that first were given to his father, Abraham.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 26:26-29 

²⁶ One day King Abimelech came from Gerar with his adviser, Ahuzzath, and also Phicol, his army commander. ²⁷ “Why have you come here?” Isaac asked. “You obviously hate me, since you kicked me off your land.” ²⁸ They replied, “We can plainly see that the Lord is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty with you. Let’s make a covenant. ²⁹ Swear that you will not harm us, just as we have never troubled you. We have always treated you well, and we sent you away from us in peace. And now look how the Lord has blessed you!” 

Even the unbelievers recognized that the Lord was the cause for the success and wealth of Isaac. They wanted to make a treaty with Isaac. They apparently thought Isaac and his group was becoming stronger than they were and might overtake them. The weaker wanted to make a treaty with the stronger. 

REFLECT 

Be encouraged when others recognize God has blessed your life for believing in Him and honoring Him in your life.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 26:26-35. See how they celebrated the treaty that was made. See also how Isaac’s servants rejoiced after finding water. The last verse in this passage shifts from Isaac to Esau and tells of the wives he married and the grief that brought to his parents.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 27:1-4 

¹ One day when Isaac was old and turning blind, he called for Esau, his older son, and said, “My son.” “Yes, Father?” Esau replied. ² “I am an old man now,” Isaac said, “and I don’t know when I may die. ³ Take your bow and a quiver full of arrows, and go out into the open country to hunt some wild game for me. ⁴ Prepare my favorite dish, and bring it here for me to eat. Then I will pronounce the blessing that belongs to you, my firstborn son, before I die.” 

Isaac loved the wild game that Esau brought home (see Genesis 25:28). This is why Esau was his favorite son. It is Isaac’s dying wish to have some of that wild game. He urges Esau to find some and prepare his favorite dish. Afterwards Isaac promised to pronounce the blessing that belonged to Esau as the first-born son.  

REFLECT 

What is your favorite dish? Is that what you would ask for if you were facing death? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 27:1-20. Several things stand out in this passage. It was Jacob’s mother who came up with the idea of how Jacob could deceive his father and her husband. Esau must have really been hairy for the skin of the young goats on Jacob’s hands and neck to deceive Isaac. In Jacob’s answer about how he found the game so quickly, he used a spiritual lie as a reason.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 27:30-33 

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. ³¹ Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.” ³² But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.” ³³ Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!” 

Esau was cut out of the blessing of the first born because it had been given to Jacob. Isaac told Esau about his blessing Jacob, “Yes, that blessing must stand.” Some wonder why it could not be changed after Isaac realized the error, but the Bible does not say.  

REFLECT 

Have you ever made a decision that could not be reversed? What were the consequences? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 27:21-40. In this passage you will see that there were some promises made to Esau but they were not nearly as significant as what was promised Jacob. Isaac wept that he had given the blessing to the wrong son. Esau pleaded for something for his benefit so Isaac gave him a few promises.   

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 27:41 

⁴¹ From that time on, Esau hated Jacob because their father had given Jacob the blessing. And Esau began to scheme: “I will soon be mourning my father’s death. Then I will kill my brother, Jacob.” 

This sets the stage for Jacob now being sent away by his mother to save him from Esau’s anger. Rebekah decided to send her favorite son away. Regrettably, she never saw him again because she died before he returned about 20 years later.  

REFLECT 

Have you ever made a decision that you later regretted because it did not work out as you hoped? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 27:41-46. This tells of Rebekah’s decision to send Jacob away to her brother in Haran. Some estimate that was about 450 miles away. That was a tremendously long ways to travel in those days. Rebekah’s comment about the local Hittite women is similar to what is said in Genesis 26:34 about how Esau’s wives from this group were a grief to her and Isaac.