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 will multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.”
Genesis 26:24
We read in Genesis chapter 26 that the LORD appeared to Isaac twice. First time (26:2) to stop him from going down to Egypt and Isaac obeyed the LORD. When the LORD in his Sovereign providence stopped Isaac, He not only reminded him of the Oath that He had made with Abraham on the Mount Moriah, (Genesis 22:16-18) but assured Isaac that He will “perform” the Oath. Now the second time when the LORD appeared to Isaac (26:24) he was no longer living in the valley of Gerar in the neighbourhood of the Philistines but back in Beersheba, the place where Isaac had been in the closet communion and fellowship with his God. It is the same place where after the mount Moriah experience Isaac came back with his father Abraham and dwelt there. Isaac knew for the rest of his life that the LORD provided a lamb for him and the LORD was going to provide the Lamb in future in the fullness of time. Isaac had fears as he came back in Beersheba and the Philistines had been giving him and his family hard time to discourage them. But the LORD drove his fears away and encouraged the hearts of his people by reminding them about the Gospel promises. Coming back to Beersheba also meant that Isaac in his life of sanctification had to separate himself from the world to make a distinct stand, and yet he was not out of the world. Here is a great lesson for true Christians to learn. As Jesus said, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” John 17:16
Today there is so much fear in the world. There are many things to make people fearful. Man’s one big fear is the fear of death, which came into the world as a result of first Adam’s sin of disobedience (Romans 5:12) But thank God for Jesus, the second Adam, by whose obedience “..many are made righteous” (Romans 5:19)
True remedy to man’s fears is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The angel’s message to shepherds at night was ” Fear not!” Why? “for , behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy…For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) Jesus is truly God and truly man.
Sin brings fears but Jesus is the Saviour from Sin, who is able to drive sinners fears away. The Death of Jesus Christ as an Atonement for our sins is the key to understand how our fears are driven away. The promise “Fear not for I am with thee” is the blessed promise and assurance for those who are redeedmed by the Blood of the Lamb of God, that is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. (Amen!)
