Isaac and Rebekah in Gerar

There was a famine in the land, another one after the famine in Abraham’s days. Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. There Yahweh appeared to Isaac and told him not to go down to Egypt, but to live in the land he would show him.

God told Isaac to stay in that land. He said he would be with him and bless him. He would give those lands to Isaac and his offspring, and he would keep the oath he had sworn to Abraham, Isaac’s father.

God also said Isaac’s offspring would become many, like the stars in the sky. He would give all those lands to Isaac’s offspring, and through his offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed. God connected this promise with Abraham’s obedience.

So Isaac lived in Gerar. When the men of the place asked about Rebekah, Isaac said she was his sister. He was afraid to say she was his wife, because he thought the men there might kill him because Rebekah was beautiful.

After Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech looked out through a window and saw Isaac showing affection to Rebekah. Then Abimelech realised she was really Isaac’s wife. He called Isaac, and Isaac admitted he had said otherwise because he feared for his life.

Abimelech said Isaac had put them in danger, because one of the people might easily have taken Rebekah and brought guilt on them. So Abimelech commanded all the people that anyone who touched Isaac or Rebekah would be put to death. How does this story show both God’s promise and Isaac’s fear?