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E-pistle

                                   Dr. Curt Scarborough, President         FreeWay Foundation            October 29, 2007

Silent Suffering and Free Forgiveness

(Genesis 26)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

Written March, 1995

        Isaac was like a valley between two gigantic mountain peaks:  Abraham

and Jacob.  Although his name appears in the famous phrase identifying God,

"God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," he often is overlooked as a rather wimpy,

non-descript personality.  Yet if Abraham is the "Father of the Faithful" and Jacob

is the "Father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel" . . . Isaac could well be called the

"Father of Forgiveness."  A miraculous son of promise, whose name means

"laughter," Isaac was ridiculed by his older half-brother and he almost became

the first human sacrifice.

I.  A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK

        Genesis 26 begins with a famine in the land, as is the case in so many

other accounts of God's providence in the Old Testament.  This adversity moved

Isaac to the place where God wanted him to be.  God appeared, spoke to him,

convenanted with him, and warned him not to go to Egypt, where his father

Abraham had gotten into trouble.

        Isaac obeyed, but followed his father's example of compromise and

lost integrity, just as Abraham had done in Genesis 12:10-20 and 20:1-18.  When

confronted about his lie, Isaac confessed the sin and his motivation, realizing

that the offense impacted unbelievers.  Abraham's sins brought a plague upon

the Egyptians and threatened the welfare of the Philistines.  So did Isaac's.

A lesson for us:  Our sin is not only against God and harmful to ourselves, it

also hurts unbelievers who hold God's people to a higher standard.

II.  A MAN BLESSED BY GOD

        The land of famine (v. 1) now became for Isaac a land of abundance

(v. 12).  In that same year, he sowed and reaped a hundred-fold return.  Notice

the "exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20)

blessings Isaac received from God.  The progression of prosperity in verse 13

is amazing:  He began to prosper . . . continued prospering . . . became very

prosperous.  This cycle is typical of God's merciful dealings with mankind. 

We see famine and sin, followed by repentance and confession, followed by

blessings and prosperity.

III.  A MAN PERSECUTED BY UNBELIEVERS

        The Philistines envied Isaac's prosperity (v. 14).  Father Abraham

had been troubled earlier over the wells he had dug, Genesis 21:22-34. 

The treaty had been broken, and his wells filled with dirt.  (Unbelievers often

desire for God's people to fail and leave, because they are "shown-up"

and uncomfortable.)  So now the Philistines demand that Isaac leave; he

opens the wells his father had dug, called them by the names his father had

given them, and dug additional new wells, vv. 18,19.

        It may be good for us to go back to the place where our own spiritual

forefathers dug wells and discovered life-giving water,  We may have to dig

out the dirt which the enemy has shoveled in there.  But, unstopping the wells

can be most beneficial for the refreshing, renewing, reviving which the

church needs so desperately today.  We don't need any structures or innovative

programs . . . we need to get "back to basics" . . . finding and unstopping those

artesian wells of God's grace and power, and calling them by the names our

fathers did.

IV.  A MAN WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT

        The events come rapidly and the opposition mounts daily.  The

unbelievers claim, "This well is ours!"  over and over.  Isaac names the disputed

wells "Esek" meaning Quarrel, and "Sitnah" meaning Enmity (hatred, hostility),

vv. 20,21.  Each time Isaac avoided conflict and moved.  This may seem wimpy

in these days of litigation and demanding our rights, but a deep principle of

Godliness was in operation here.  Such a spirit of forgiveness and non-violence

should characterize those of us who follow Christ and His teachings. 

(See Matthew 5:38-48; 6:9-15; & 18:21-35.)

        Once again we see adversity moving Isaac to the place God wanted

him to reside.  Here where God spoke to him and renewed the covenant,

Isaac built an altar (worshipped), called on God (prayed), pitched his tent

(dwelt, abode), and dug a well (providing for present needs and for future

generations).  Digging a well represents the discipline of providing a cistern

where God's Water of Life can be collected and distributed to a thirsty world. 

Yet even in this place of covenant renewal, worship, and service, unbelievers

continued to harass Isaac.  They hated him sent him away, destroyed his work,

stole his property, and lied about their motives. 

        In spite of everything, Isaac continued to treat them with kindness.

With never-ending patience, and unlimited hospitality, he feasted them, swore

not to retaliate against them, and sent them on their way without hostility,

vv. 27-31.  That same day according to Genesis 26:32, Isaac's servants exclaimed,

"We have found water!"  When Christians today live in the spirit of forgiveness,

we too shall discover the Rivers of Living Water flowing out from our lives

to bless others, John 7:38,39.

        Isaac asked, "Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?"  (Genesis 22:7).

John the Baptist answered that question:  "Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes

away the sin of the world!"  (John 1:29).  Let us today resolve to follow that

Lamb with a spirit, like Isaac's of silent suffering and free forgiveness.

Below is "A Sermon Idea . . . "  We hope that this will help you in studying

and preparing sermons or lessons.

Brother vs. Brother

Dr. Curt Scarborough

Introduction:

        Even among Christian ministers, there are disagreements, misunderstandings,

and conflicts.  This is not untypical, as we can see in Scripture:

1.      James and John (and mother) vs. other disciples.   Matthew 20:20-28.
2.      Paul vs. Peter.  Galatians 2:11-21; I Corinthians 9:1-6.
3.      Paul vs. Barnabas.  Acts 15:36-41.

The causes of these conflicts include immaturity, selfish ambition, meddling by

a family member, hypocrisy, low self-esteem, different background, education, gifting,

and temperament, disagreement over staff relationships and leadership style, and

not having the same ministry vision. 

PRINCIPLES ON BROTHER VS. BROTHER CONFLICT

1.      All are different:  God made us that way, I Corinthians 4:7.
2.      Mind your OWN business, John 21:21,22.
3.      Don't judge your brother's servant, Romans 14:4.
4.      Accept those who serve Jesus differently from yourself:
a.      Three reasons, each introduced by "for."  Mark 9:38-41.
b.      Even if they have unworthy motives, Philippians 1:15-16.
5.      Learn from and accept another's ministry, II Peter 1:15-18.
6.      Be teachable, flexible, willing to change your opinion,

Colossians 4:10; II Timothy 4:11.

7.      Be forgiving and be reconciled immediately, Matthew 5:24;

Ephesians 4:26.

Conclusion:

1.      Much of the conflict among brother ministers (and Christian

denominations) has to do with differing gifts, I Corinthians 12:1-12.

2.      Desiring a particular spiritual gift or office is permitted, even

encouraged, I Corinthians 14:1; I Timothy 3:1.

3.      Attempting to acquire spiritual gifts or offices by worldly means

is not only impossible, it is a sin, Acts 8:19-24.

4.      The Father wants to give His children good gifts from the Holy

Spirit, if they'll just ask Him, Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13.

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