Parallel Sin #1 Parallel Sin #2 All the Way Home Three Lessons Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Parallel Sin #1 Parallel Sin #2 All the Way Home Three Lessons 1

Exodus 20:5-6 (NASB) 5  You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6  but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Parallel Sin #1 Abraham went down to Egypt. Isaac intended to follow this pattern, but … Egypt represented the world and sin; therefore, it couldn’t be a place of blessing. God showed no impatience! God appeared to Isaac, instructing him to stay in the land, reiterating the blessing. This was a full blown statement of the blessing. 2

God said to Isaac, “Stay in the Land”! Repeated Sins Genesis 26 God said to Isaac, “Stay in the Land”! 3

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Parallel Sin #2 God appeared to Isaac for the first time, and Isaac immediately fell into sin. This is very similar to Peter in Matt. 16:15-23. 4

Matthew 16:15-23 (NASB) 15  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17  And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18  I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

20   Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ. 21  From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22  Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” 23  But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Parallel Sin #2 God appeared to Isaac for the first time, and Isaac immediately fell into sin. This is very similar to Peter in Matt. 16:15-23. Isaac knew of a few miracles. But we know of many more, including the resurrection! God exposed Isaac’s sin through Abimelech. 4

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Parallel Sin #2 God exposed Isaac’s sin through unbelieving Abimelech (maybe the same Abimelech). Isaac had lived under this lie for a long time. How sad that the world should see our duplicity and failures as Christians that the world sees in itself – Matthew 5:16. 5

Matthew 5:16 (NASB) 16  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Parallel Sin #2 God exposed Isaac’s sin through unbelieving Abimelech (maybe the same Abimelech). Isaac had lived under this lie for a long time. How sad that the world should see our duplicity and failures as Christians that the world sees in itself – Matthew 5:16. Abimelech safeguarded Isaac’s family and gave them permission to live in the land. 5

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 All the Way Home What did Isaac repeat? He doubted God’s ability to provide. He doubted God’s ability to protect. 6

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 All the Way Home Isaac did not want to return to Canaan, he tried to hang on to the Philistine territory, and he compromised himself and his family. God blessed him his first year – 100 fold crops. God blessed him in subsequent years – great wealth. This blessing came from God, even in Isaac’s disobedience, but it brought trouble too. Finally, he got to where God wanted him, and God appeared to him again. 7

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Three Lessons Lesson #1 – Although Isaac wandered from the Lord, when he was brought back, he remained for 80 years! Lesson #2 – When Isaac was in a place of God’s blessing, Abimelech recognized it and respected him for it. 8

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Three Lessons Lesson #3 – Genesis 26 records some sins of Isaac, yet nowhere else in Scripture does God refer to them. This did not disqualify Isaac from being in the line of the Messiah. In fact, God praises Isaac in Hebrews 11:16-20. 9

Hebrews 11:16-20 (NASB) 16  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. 17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18  it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” 19  He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. 20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

Repeated Sins Genesis 26 Application Where in your life are you doubting God’s ability to provide? Where in your life are you doubting God’s ability to protect? What is it taking God to get you home? 10