Genesis

בייה

Genesis 26 – Famine and Blessing

This Study is in the Loving Memory of James Will and Ida Simmons Belk ז”ל.

(Genesis 26.1) says, ‘וַיְהִי Vah Yih Hee – Behold, it happened. [What happened?] – There was רָעָב Raw Awv famine – בָּאָרֶץ Baw Aw Rehtz in the land. [This was a huge deal,] מִלְּבַדMee Lih Vahd besides – הָרִאשׁוֹן Haw Ree Shon the first – הָרָעָב famine in Abrahams days And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines to Gerar.’

Why are some areas facing a scarcity of food? Why have food prices skyrocketed? We could speculate. However, perhaps preparing, planting, growing, and harvesting organic gardens in the space available to us for our health’s sake would be better. It’s a family and community-friendly activity. We have been growing and canning our food for years. It helps reduce food costs.

Eretz Canaan was in a famine when Abraham, Sarah, Lot, and all those with them entered the land according to (Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Lech Lecha 12:1). That was one dimension of the second test Abraham faced. The sixth Hebrew word of (Genesis 26.1) is הָרִאשׁוֹן Haw Ree Shon meaning the first. In the year 2023, From Creation, when Abraham was 75 years old, Eretz Canaan experienced the first famine. The point is that righteous people may experience trials that have nothing to do with sin or improper conduct. Abraham’s second trial was to encourage us to remain humble, faithful, and steadfast in our service to God.

Lord would not permit Isaac to leave Eretz Israel. (Genesis 26.2-6) says, ‘And the Lord appeared to him, and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you, and your seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham, your father. And I will make your seed multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give to your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws. And Isaac lived in Gerar.’

(Genesis 26.12) says, ‘Then Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, and Lord Blessed him. And [Isaac] became rich, and gained more and more, until he became very wealthy; For he had possessions of flocks, herds, and great store of servants; and the Philistines envied him.’

Isaac prospered one hundred percent. Every seed he planted in his first year during the famine produced a hundredfold! What kind of statement is this to us? HaTorah is sharing that even though Isaac was tested, he was greatly blessed. Isacc followed the path of Abraham by obeying Lord’s voice and by keeping Lord’s Charge, Commandments, Statutes, and Laws. Dear Friends and Family, we will be blessed if we remain humble, faithful, and steadfast in our service to God.

(Genesis 13.8-9; 11) says, ‘And Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I beg you, between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself, I beg you, from me; if you take the left hand, I will go to the right; or if you depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Lot chose for himself the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed east, and they separated themselves, one from the other. Abraham lived in Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent toward Sodom.’ Remember, Lot’s herdsmen did not muzzle their herds because, in their eyes, they assumed that Lot would inherit the Land of Canaan. They were wrong!

Abraham deeded the Land of Canaan to Isaac. (Genesis 13.14-15) says, ‘Lord Said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, Lift now your eyes, and look from the place where you are to the north, south, east, and west; All the land you see, I will give it to you and your seed forever.’ (Genesis 26.3) says, ‘I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you, and your seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham, your father.’ (Genesis 15) suggests that Eliezer of Damascus would become his eventual heir. Lord corrected that thought, saying, ‘The word of Lord came to Abraham, saying, [Eliezer of Damascus] shall not be your heir; but he who shall come forth from your own bowels shall be your heir.’ (Genesis 25.6) informs us that Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines and sent them to the land of the east, yet Ha Torah does not spell out the gifts. Abraham set his sons up as wealthy nomads with servants, sheep, and cattle. How do we know this? (Genesis 24.1) says, that ‘Lord Blessed Abraham entirely in all things.’ This includes all his sons. (Genesis 26.6) says Isaac became rich. Yet, (Genesis 25.5) says, ‘Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.’ This is about the deed in (Genesis 23.17-18), ‘the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders around, were made over To Abraham for a possession in the presence of the Hittites, before all who went in at the gate of his city.’

The Philistines envied Isaac and stopped the wells that Abraham’s servants dug after the death of Abraham. The herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac’s herdsmen. Isaac’s herdsmen dug the wells of Abraham. It is important to understand that even though we are greatly blessed, people and nations will challenge us. Look at how Israelis are being challenged this very day. (Nehemiah 4.15-17) says, ‘So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn till the stars appeared. Also, at the same time, I said to the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, so that in the night they shall guard us and labor in the day. And neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; everyone brought his weapon with him, even to the water.’ Dear Ones, the point is that we must stay on the path of Ha Torah and remain focused.

Isaac requested his servants to keep digging. (Genesis 26.22) says, ‘And [Isaac] moved from there, and dug another well; and for that [ The herdsmen of Gerar] strove not; and [Isaac] called the name of it Rehoboth; and [Isaac] said, For now, Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.’

Isaac went up. Isaac took the higher road.

(Genesis 26.23) says, ‘And [Isaac] went up from there to Beersheba.’ Remember the story of Beersheba? [Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant at Beersheba. See Genesis 21.25-34)] It was there that Lord appeared to Isaac. (Genesis 26.25) says, ‘[Isaac] built an altar there, called upon the name of Lord, and pitched his tent there.’

(Genesis 26) shares many Holy Scriptures where we observe Isaac following in Abraham’s footsteps. Following in Abraham and Isaac’s footsteps should be our goal. As we journey towards Erev Shabbat, may we have rest, comfort, unity, peace, lovingkindness, good health, and financial success. May each of us have a wonderful week and a beautiful Shabbat.

Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

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