Genesis 26  Isaac and Rebekah lived by Beer-lahai-roi,  the same place that Hagar met the Lord when she had run away from Sarah. "Thou art a God who sees".   When there was another famine in that land, Isaac moved his family to Gerar in the south... an area where Abimelech, king of the Philistines ruled.  There, the Lord spoke to Isaac and established His covenant as He had made with Abraham. 

Isaac had the same insecurities as his father.. and made the same false statements.. saying his wife was his sister, so that they would not kill him.  When he was found out by Abimelech, he was promised safety.  Isaac was very blessed in his sojourn there.. " Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred-fold. And the Lord blessed him, and the man became rich and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy." 

But, there was a problem..  every well that he needed.. wells that Abraham, his father had actually dug, was being stopped up by the Philistines because the envied him.  Finally, Abimelech asked Isaac to move away and he did.. 3 times!  "Then he went up from there to Beersheba".   It was here that the Lord appeared to Isaac and spoke to him again, " I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you, I will bless you and multiply your descendants, for the sake of My servant Abraham."  It is here that Isaac built an altar and "called upon the name of the Lord.. " 

It was very evident to Abimelech that Isaac was blessed by the Lord.  He came to Isaac to establish an oath or covenant between them, that Isaac agreed to. Things were going well.. until Esau decided to get married.  He chose not one but two Hittite women.. Judith and Basemath.. " and they brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah." 

Oh, the grace.. the unmerited favor.. of our God.  He showed grace to Isaac.. just like He had to Abraham.. just as He does to us.. moving us to the places that He chooses and doing what He chooses to do in our lives.  We are not told much about Isaac's faith except for this one time when he builds and altar and calls on the name of the Lord. But, we see God's blessing on his life and know that God had a plan for his descendants that were far beyond anything Isaac could imagine... or had the power to do! 

Father in heaven,  You are a great and mighty God.. the God who sees and hears and forgives and blesses! You are the infinite grace Giver and we praise the glory of Your Name!  Thank You for the blessings that You have bestowed on us today. Thank You for comfort and peace in hard times.  Thank You for answered prayers and unexpected gifts!  May Your will be done in each of us today, Lord God.. and may the name of Jesus Christ be praised and exalted in our homes, in our churches, and in our communities. We pray this in His great Name. amen.