We read the only story that features Isaac where he is not part of someone else’s story. Genesis 26 tells us the story of Isaac and the wells. Here is how the story begins.
“A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.”
When you truly understand the word of God you will see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob represent, God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the 1st three verses of the Bible all three parts of God are present.
“In the beginning God (Father) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light (Jesus the Light of the World),” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.”
Before God created anything He established the Light. Do you create anything in the dark where you cannot see? The world was created for 1 reason. It was created to Glorify the Son of God, the Light of the World, Jesus. In the 1st chapter of John Jesus is the word.
“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
The Word and the Light are one. Jesus tells us that He only does what He has seen His Father do. Jesus later says that if they have seen Him they have seen the Father. Genesis chapter one proves Jesus was with and in the Father from the beginning. Jesus was promised by God that He would have an inheritance. He would have descendants that are numerous and cannot be counted. Isaac is our 1st Old Testament example of Jesus.
Look at the Promise from God to Isaac. God promises him that he will have a large number of descendants and the land just as He promised Abraham. A famine hit the land. From Jesus’s point of view the earth has been in famine since Adam and Eve at the fruit. The Garden was removed from Earth. Notice when we read more in chapter 26 we see Isaac did exactly what Abraham did. He lied to King Abimelech just like Abraham did about his wife Rebecca. Isaac tells Abimelech that Rebecca is his sister. Here is the interesting part Abraham lied to Abimelech before Isaac was born. Isaac does exactly what Jesus says, he only does what he has seen his father do. I know what you are thinking Isaac wasn’t alive yet how can he have seen what Abraham did. When Abraham lied to Abimelech it was 1 year before Isaac was born. Isaac was part of Abraham therefore he saw what his father did.
The next thing that happens is Isaac plants fields and reaps 100 fold. Isaac builds a house and has established residency in Gerar. That is not what God told him to do. God told him to sojourn which means stay there temporarily. Did you ever read anything about Abraham or Jacob planting crops? No you haven’t because they never settled down. They were always on the move with their herds. Isaac was tempted take ownership of the land before the proper time. Jesus was tempted the same way. After the people became jealous they kicked Isaac out of their land. Isaac then moves 3 times and each time he moves he opens back up the wells his father dug. Each time the locals take ownership and Isaac moves again. After the 3rd move the Lord comes to Isaac and promises him again descendants but not the land. Isaac already had the land. After the encounter with God Isaac builds an alter to God just like his father did. Are you following the pattern of your Heavenly Father? If people see you do they see Him?