And the Lord appeared, &c.— It is pleasing to observe the propriety and goodness of this gracious appearance of the Lord to Isaac, when he returned to Beer-sheba, where his father had dwelt, after the envy and insults which he had met with from Abimelech and his people.
REFLECTIONS.—Isaac, under God's blessing, in the land of his sojourning, still abounds. His land produces a hundred fold, his servants increase, his cattle multiply. This produces,
1. The envy of the Philistines. They could not look on him but with an evil eye. Note; It is the tribute which genuine worth pays, to be envied.
2. Their ill-usage and expulsion of him: for what can stand before envy? They should rather have shared his blessings, by seeking to his God: but, led by their wicked hearts, they stopped the wells Abraham had digged. Note; The envious man will put himself to expence and trouble, rather than not gratify his ill-will. Still unable to bear him, they at last desired him to be gone.
3. He consents, and quietly removes farther off. Note; It is generally wise rather to yield for peace' sake, than quarrel.
4. His care to find other wells. He opens old ones, and digs new. Note; In searching for the waters of truth, we may use the labours of those who digged before us; and add our diligence still to improve upon them.
5. The Philistines followed him with disputes from well to well, while he quietly recedes from his right, and retires farther. At last he finds another well, and there they left him in peaceable possession, and he calls it Rehoboth, in token of the enlargement he enjoyed there. Note; They who follow peace, will find it at last. If perverse men will strive with them in this world, at least they will find Rehoboth, a place of enlargements, and peace in heaven.
6. God's appearing to him with encouraging promises. Note; The season of most comfort with God, is frequently when we are most beset with the perverseness of men.
7. His grateful acknowledgment. He built an altar, and perpetuated thus in his family the good ways of his father Abraham. Such is the gracious effect of bringing up a son in the way he should go.