OCTOBER 29, Genesis 26:1-5, 27-32

You are first in an ice-cream queue and someone steps up and insists that he should go before you. What do you do? Although we may feel like retaliating, we are taught in the bible to be meek. Step back. Imagine you and a friend come across a beautiful seashell while walking along East Coast beach. You thought that would be a nice souvenir and pick it up, only to hear from your friend he thinks it should be his. What would you do? It is alright, dear child, give it to the friend. It is not that the bible teaches us to be cowards; there are things we must stand up for. But in the examples above, it is ok to give in.

In today’s text, we read of a famine which made Isaac consider going to Egypt but God stopped him on his way and promised him that He would bless him to give him all the countries in the land of Canaan. Wow – what a great promise it was! So Isaac planted his field in this place and reaped a bumper crop. The Philistines were very jealous. Abimelech, the Philistine king, hated him and planned to do something bad to Isaac...

The Philistines sealed Isaac’s wells of water, and told him to leave. Isaac moved to a valley, and his servants dug another well. The Philistines seized it and said it was theirs. Again, Isaac let them have it, and moved away without quarreling with them.

Isaac’s servants dug another well, and the Philistines claimed it too! Isaac suffered persecution without complaining or retaliating. This is amazing and would be impossible for a normal man. How did Isaac do it? It is because he remembered God’s promise to him, and trusted that God will fulfill His promise. So Isaac went on to another place, and yet another well was dug.

When Abimelech saw how generous and meek Isaac was and how God blessed him, he went to see Isaac. His subjects were taking away Isaac’s wells and yet Abimelech said he did no wrong to him. Did Isaac argue with him? No, instead he made peace by having a feast together with Abimelech. The next day he sent Abimelech and his people away. What a quiet, patient, meek and saintly man he was! What a child of God! Emulate Isaac. He was meek and willing to forgive those who had wronged him. He would not fight back.

Thought: Think about how you can be meek

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be meek when I relate with friends. When they hurt me with their words and actions, help me deal with them patiently and peaceably for this is the right thing to do. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.