bargain as his who sold a birth-right for a dish of pottage. Esau ate and drank, pleased his palate,
satisfied his appetite, and then carelessly rose up and went his way, without any serious thought,
or any regret, about the bad bargain he had made. Thus Esau despised his birth-right. By his neglect
and contempt afterwards, and by justifying himself in what he had done, he put the bargain past
recall. People are ruined, not so much by doing what is amiss, as by doing it and not repenting of
it.
Chapter 26
Chapter Outline
Isaac, because of famine, goes to Gerar. (1–5)
He denies his wife and is reproved by (6–11)
Abimelech.
Isaac grows rich, The Philistines' envy. (12–17)
Isaac digs wells God blesses him. (18–25)
Abimelech makes a covenant with Isaac. (26–33)
Esau's wives. (34, 35)Verses 1–5
Isaac had been trained up in a believing dependence upon the Divine grant of the land of Canaan
to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still cleaves to the covenant.
The real worth of God's promises cannot be lessened to a believer by any cross providences that
may befall him. If God engage to be with us, and we are where he would have us to be, nothing
but our own unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort. The obedience of Abraham to the Divine
command, was evidence of that faith, whereby, as a sinner, he was justified before God, and the
effect of that love whereby true faith works. God testifies that he approved this obedience, to
encourage others, especially Isaac.
Verses 6–11
There is nothing in Isaac's denial of his wife to be imitated, nor even excused. The temptation
of Isaac is the same as that which overcame his father, and that in two instances. This rendered his
conduct the greater sin. The falls of those who are gone before us are so many rocks on which
others have split; and the recording of them is like placing buoys to save future mariners. This
Abimelech was not the same that lived in Abraham's days, but both acted rightly. The sins of
professors shame them before those that are not themselves religious.
Verses 12–17