Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 27 November 2021

Scripture Text: Genesis 26:13-25

Message: “The LORD appeared to him”

INTRODUCTION

1. God never promised a Life of Ease

2. Problems of Life

a) They may come in any form

b) They may even be recurring

c) Some problems may even be called “chronic”

3. The question is how we may face the Problems of Life effectively

THE BLESSING OF GOD

1. The blessing of Prosperity

a) “The man began to prosper” Genesis 26:13a

b) “And continued prospering” Genesis 26:13b

c) “Until he became very prosperous” Genesis 26:13c

2. A description of Isaac’s Wealth

a) He had possessions of flocks Genesis 26:14a

b) And possessions of herds Genesis 26:14b

c) And a great number of servants Genesis 26:14c

ENVY OF THE PHILISTINES

1. The wealth of Isaac

a) It was new and fresh wealth

b) Isaac lived like a guest- resident in this Philistine territory

2. The Problem of Envy

“So the Philistines envied him” Genesis 26:14d

a) Hostility of the Philistines

i) This was felt

ii) This became more obvious

b) Acts of Hostility

i) Stopped up all the wells
which all the servants of Abraham had dug Genesis 26:15a

ii) Filled the wells with earth Genesis 26:15b

iii) Water was critically important!

c) A direct word from Abimelech

i) Expulsion
“Go away from us” Genesis 26:16a

ii) Reason given
“You are much mightier than we” Genesis 26:16b

SOLUTION TAKEN BY ISAAC

1. He would not fight with Abimelech

“So Isaac departed from there” Genesis 26:17a

a) It would be wrong to fight

i) He was a guest-resident

ii) He had no right to fight anyway

b) He chose to move away

c) He would have to trust the Lord implicitly

2. Finding other wells his father Abraham had dug

a) Isaac dug again the wells of water
which they had dug in the days of Abraham Genesis 26:18a

b) These had been filled up after
the death of Abraham Genesis 26:18b

c) Isaac called them by the names
which his father had called them Genesis 26:18c

d) Isaac’s servants dug in the valley,
and found a well of running water there Genesis 26:19

3. Quarrels with the Philistines

a) The Esek well

i) The Philistines servants found fault Genesis 26:20

ii) It was called “Esek” (“Quarrel”)

b) The Sitnah well

i) The Philistines struck up a quarrel again

ii) It was called “Sitnah” (“Enmity”) Genesis 26:21

c) The Rehoboth well

i) Another well was found

ii) No quarrels this time

iii) It was called “Rehoboth” (“Spaciousness”) Genesis 26:22b

4. Isaac’s Faith expressed

And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Genesis 26:22

a) “Now the LORD has made room for us” Genesis 26:22c

b) “And we shall be fruitful in the land” Genesis 26:22d

THE LORD’S APPEARANCE TO ISAAC

23 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “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 My servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Genesis 26:23-25

1. Isaac moved to Beersheba

2. God’s appearance to him

3. God’s word to Isaac:

a) “I am the God of your father Abraham” Genesis 26:24b

b) “Do not fear” Genesis 26:24c

c) “For I am with you” Genesis 26:24d

d) “I will bless you and multiply your descendants
for My servant Abraham’s sake.” Genesis 26:24e

ISAAC’S APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

1. He built an altar Genesis 26:25a

2. And called on the name of the LORD Genesis 26:25b

3. He pitched his tent here Genesis 26:25c

4. His servants dug a well Genesis 26:25d

CONCLUSION

1. God’s Non-Appearance to be understood

2. His Appearance to be deeply appreciated