Genesis 26:26-33 Believers become effective witnesses of Christ by the visible fruit they bear
Genesis 26:26-33 Believers become effective witnesses of Christ by the visible fruit they bear
26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’” 30 Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace. 32 Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac’s servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
Background
Isaac’s wealth has made him a formidable resident in Gerar, whose superiority Abimelech has come to acknowledge. Abimelech seeks out Isaac in hopes of securing a political understanding; Isaac’s right to live in the land in exchange for peace. Isaac has succeeded in establishing a foothold of God’s kingdom in Gerar by being an effective witness for Him. Today’s devotion encourages us to bear fruit through which we become effective witnesses for Christ.
Observation
We see plainly that the Lord has been with you; so we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us.
Despite fierce persecutions, Isaac’s wealth and stature continue to increase because God is with him. Isaac had become a formidable force and that prompted Abimelech to re-examine his relationship with him. Phicol who accompanied Abimelech as in the days of Abraham was possibly a generic name for commander of the Philistine army. Isaac expressed suspicion at Abimelech’s reversal of heart, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” Abimelech had begun to see Isaac as a force to be reckoned with because of Isaac’s fruitfulness. He interpreted Isaac’s fruitfulness as the result of God’s favour towards him: We see plainly that the Lord has been with you. Abimelech did his best to gloss over his previous unjust treatment of Isaac, “we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace”. Although Abimelech’s reply was not the most sincere, he offered to make a covenant with Isaac which Isaac accepted through an oath.
The oath here approximated Abraham’s oath that included a peace treaty, the rights to use of land and water supply. Abimelech, in seeking out Isaac hoped to secure a political understanding and agreement at least in his life time. The oath signified a new milestone in the beginnings of the young nation of Israel. Isaac commemorated the oath he made with Abimelech by naming the newly dug well Shibah, (which literally means oath). Isaac also reaffirmed the name of the city as Beersheba as previously employed by Abraham.
Truth
Believers become effective witnesses of Christ by the visible fruit they bear
God’s favour towards Isaac is evident by his increasing wealth and influence. Despite outright persecutions even by Abimelech himself, he persevered and prospered. As Isaac had become a formidable resident in the land, Abimelech was forced to ratify the peace treaty his predecessor made with Abraham. Likewise, people will come to recognise that God is with us by our righteousness and fruitfulness. In this post-truth era, people have become increasingly skeptical. We have seen in all strata of society, borders blur between truth and lies, honesty and dishonesty, fiction and nonfiction. People no longer believe what is reported in mainstream news media, in product advertisements and even for that matter, the church because of the scandals. Therefore, the gospel of Christ must be made plain through the believer’s lifestyle, character and the fruit of his work. Although people may not enter into the church, but they will see the irrefutable evidences of righteousness and divine favour in the lives of believers. A believer can be an effective witness for God when he start to bear fruit in his personhood, family, career and charitable works. These are the four important areas (in order of importance) that believers must bear fruit.
a. He bears the fruit of righteousness. He is trustworthy and his words carry weight. He walks in the truth and emanates the fragrance of righteousness, humility and mercy. Because his ways are righteous and pleasing to God, even his enemies make peace with him (see Proverbs 16:7).
b. He bears fruit in his family. He does his best to care for his family and gives them physical, emotional security and spiritual direction. In due time, his children will bear his legacy and become righteous and influential in the society.
c. He bears fruit in his career. With diligence and skilful hands he accomplishes the tasks entrusted to him. He is a valuable asset to his company and contributes to the society through his conscientious work.
d. He is fruitful in works of charity. He is like an angel of light to his friends. He makes time to serve the family of faith and to provide for the poor and marginalised.
Unfortunately, many believers for some reason are still struggling in various problems of work and their family. Such must persevere as Isaac did; they must exercise the discipline of grace by reading the bible, praying and doing what is right. In due time, believers will prosper if they do not give up. The adage, “seeing is believing” holds true. As believers prosper and bear fruit, they will see the people around them turning to Jesus. Therefore, church leaders must come to understand that sustainable evangelism is only possible if members bear fruit through discipleship.
Believers should never focus on the wounds of life but on the promises of God
Isaac did not dwell on the hurts of mistreatment by the Gerarites as evident by his willingness to first hear out Abimelech and then to make peace with him, his persecutor. What gave Isaac the ability to take things in his stride and press on towards the goal? Isaac believes that despite the circumstances set against him, God’s promises are unstoppable. No man is able to hinder him from obtaining that which God has promised. This is evident by him giving the wells the same names his father had previously employed (see Genesis 26:18). Isaac’s propensity towards faith in God’s promises while releasing the bitterness towards his persecutors largely contributed to his success.
Jesus teaches that in order for one’s prayers to be effective, he must release all bitterness and forgive as God has forgiven him. Forgiveness is a commitment and resolve to put down our resentments while opening the door to possible reconciliation.
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:25-26
Nevertheless, true reconciliation and restoration of relationships require all parties to acknowledge their faults and repent. Jesus teaches about restoration of relationship,
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” Luke 17:3,4
Many churchgoers are caught in various entanglements of hurts and bitterness preventing them from obtaining the promise.
Application
Are you effective in influencing the people around you and bringing them to church? A fruitful person is definitely more effective in the work of evangelism. The people they bring to the church tend to be fruitful as well. Therefore, endeavour to be a disciple of Christ by participating in your church’s cell group programme. Be diligent in reading the word and praying in the Spirit daily. You will in due time bear fruit that is plain for all to see.
Have you been bearing grudges of people who have mistreated you? Your rational: you will forgive only when they repent. But at the same time, you are not opening the door for possible reconciliation and repentance. Perhaps, you have been focusing on forgiveness which has not been forthcoming. You should instead focus on the divine promises and be obedient to do what Jesus has commanded. What God has given, no man or powers can take them away. God says to the people,
“Return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you.” Deuteronomy 30:2,3
Dear Lord, make me a disciple of Christ, sanctify me and cause me to bear fruit. Use me to win souls through my preaching as well as the visible fruit of my labour. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.