In Genesis 26, these two (2) men also came to visit Abraham’s son Isaac as written:
“And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of”Gen. 26:1
There was a crisis in the land where Isaac lived and like some of us he decided to move to Egypt. In the face of crises we are often tempted to start applying some worldly principles to survive. We are quick to adopt unscriptural or seemingly scriptural principle to resolve our financial, family or even challenges in kingdom service. But God told him not to do that. There is a word of promise I gave to your father Abraham and I am giving same to you now. Stay on that word and I will prosper you in this land. It was on the strength of this word, hearing and obeying (faith) that he “..sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him”.
The word of the Lord had begun to find expression in Isaac’s life as it was in the life of Abraham his father. So mighty was this work that “..the Philistines envied him” and asked him to “..Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we”. He dug a well and they quarreled or strived over it. He dug another and the quarreled and he called it hatred. This speaks of the imperfection, weaknesses and issues that Isaac had to contend with and cast out for that which is perfect to remain. Envy, strife and hatred are works of the flesh that must be cast out as we yield to the Holy Spirit. Finally, he dug another well and named it “room for all” for he had gotten complete victory and there was no more quarrel over it.
It was while these were going on that he had the same visitors that came to his Father Abraham when he was having similar experience that Isaac was now passing through. “We saw CERTAINLY that the LORD was with thee” they said. Again there was clear evidence of what God was doing in Isaac’s life, such that all eyes can see it. By the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses a thing is established. God by repeating this twice is saying that there must be a COMPLETE and total work of salvation in the life of a people.
But to what purpose is God doing this mighty works in us? Is it so we can feel good or have a cheap way of boasting about who we are? In both the experience of Abraham and Isaac, those who hated, envied and strived with them came back to make peace with them. God’s plan is that through us he will draw all men to himself.
In John 12:32 Jesus said “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”.
When Jesus is lifted or exalted in our lives, men will be drawn to him through God without much organize evangelism with horn speakers and microphone all over our street. Jesus is exalted when his purposes are being fulfilled in our lives. When his kingdom comes in and all other kingdoms is subdued then shall His will be done in our lives which the earth as it is in heaven. Paul says in one of his
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” God is reconciling the world to himself through us for he “hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”.2 Corinth. 5:20.
God had said to Abraham that through him the nations of the earth will be blessed. The kings of the earth and every tongue will come seeking the God of Abraham and Isaac through us.
May we receive grace to hear and obey the word of the Lord at this time and grace to yield to the working of the Holy Ghost in us until the Lord’s work is COMPLETE and total in our lives. May God’s mighty hand be evident in our lives and may men be drawn to God through us. Amen.
