Genesis 26:26

Genesis 26:26 says, Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.  Abimelech and some of his friends came to see Isaac.  Since there had been problems between Isaac's servants and the servants of the people already there, Isaac may have thought there would be trouble.  Whether Isaac did or not, we should never let preconceptions control our interactions with other people.  Verse twenty-seven states, And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?   As just stated, Isaac seemed to think that Abimelech and his friends were there to continue to give him problems.  At least Isaac took the time to talk to them.  Sometimes, we might solve what we see as potential problems with other people if we simply talk to them.  Even when we know that we are where God wants us to be, we don't need to act hateful or resentful towards other people, even if they have caused us problems in the past.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;  Abimelech and his friends said that they saw that the LORD was with Isaac.  Though they did not accept the LORD, or God as we would say, as their God, they did recognize His work in Isaac's life.  Even if people around us do not acknowledge God personally, they should at least be able to see His work in our lives, if we are followers of Christ.  Abimelech and his friends wanted to make a covenant with Isaac, not because of who Isaac was himself, but because of Isaac's relationship to God.  Verse twenty-nine adds, That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.  I guess we would call this a non-aggression treaty.  Abimelelech said that his friends and he had done Isaac no harm, and they wanted to agree that neither Isaac nor they would cause the other harm.  We should always attempt to live at peace with people of the world, and we should never approach them with a desire to cause them harm.  Verse thirty declares,  And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. Then verse thirty-one adds, And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.  Isaac prepared a feast for them, and the next morning Abimelech and his friends departed in peace.  When possible, it is always better for us to live in a peaceful relationship with the lost of the world, especially if they come to us seeking that peaceful relationship.  Verse thirty-two states, And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.  Islam's servants came that day and told him they had found water in the well they were digging.  As He will with us if we put our faith in Him, God had met Isaac's need.  Verse thirty-three declares, And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.  Isaac named the well Sheba, and the city became known as Beersheba, and it remained so far years.  God did not just temporarily provide for Isaac's needs, nor does He for us today.  God will always provide for our needs if we are following Christ faithfully.  Verse thirty-four states, And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:  Esau married a woman who was not of the same faith as he should have done.  Again, just because Esau was the son of Isaac and Rebekah did not mean that he had a personal relationship with God, though I not saying that he definitely didn't. Sometimes, his actions did show that he didn't seem to consider God's direction for his life.  Verse thirty-five declares, Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.  Esau's choice for a wife brought grief to Isaac and Rebekah.