‘Survival’ means our ‘existence’, ‘endurance’, ‘persistence’ which involves our ‘resolve’, ‘purpose’ and ‘perseverance’. What do we need to survive? Is my goal in life is just to survive? What are the essentials to survival?
In Genesis 26:12-18 we will see what decisions were made by Isaac for the survival of his family. The decisions that Isaac made were critical and proved to be the right ones for the survival of his family. The reason these events are recorded in the Word of God is for us to review and learn from. What allowed Isaac, and his family to survive, will allow us to survive if emulated which means to ‘copy’, ‘match’ and ‘follow’.
We will notice from Scripture that Isaac has been blessed and he has prospered. He has been so blessed that he makes the people of the land nervous and they feel intimidated by his family’s presences. Abimelech says to Isaac, “go from us; for thou art much mightier than we…”. It is true that in this unbelieving world the presence, and success, of believers is of great concern and there is a desire for believers to relocate.
In the valley of Gerar Isaac makes an important decision that was the key for his family’s survival. Isaac was a man of wisdom and he knew what his family needed most of all was key to life itself. Isaac’s first priority was to find ‘water’! Isaac did not concern himself with entertainment, luxury, or what would make things easy, none of the ‘extras’ of life were on his mind. Isaac was concerned with the ‘basics (fundamentals, essentials, necessities) of survival for his family. Without water they would all die!
Isaac didn’t call for new ideas, new approaches, in fact the Bible says in verse 18, “and Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father…”. Isaac realized this was no time for some new experiment he simply said, “my father Abraham was here and he dug some wells of water that allowed him to survive, and prosper, what we need to do is to get back to those wells for survival.”
What Isaac discovered was that the enemies of his people had tried to hide the wells with debris and rubbish. So the first order of business, for survival, was to remove all the debris, and rubbish, the world had placed at the openings of these wells. Folks, we need to go back to the wells of our believing forefathers but to do so we need to get rid of all the rubbish! To many today are like the Athenians, in Paul’s day, always listening, and wanting, what is new.
Give me the ‘Old Time Religion’ that believed the Bible is the Word of God, Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life, and the Ten Commandments are still ‘commandments’ not just suggestions! That local churches that are preaching the Word, teaching the Word and involved in world-wide evangelism are worthy of support with attendance and offerings.
………READ JER. 6:16…………SEE YOU SOON – BRO. ED