The second part of Genesis 26 makes one thing clear: Isaac has inherited the unconditional promise of blessing and God is being faithful. It seems that everything Isaac touches turns to gold. Wherever he goes he flourishes. In fact, he flourishes so much that people around him start to feel threatened by him. They ask him to leave the area because his wealth is overshadowing them. He is growing too big for their pond. It is a graphic picture of blessing overflowing. But that is how God’s blessing works. It always overflows. It’s not particularly practical for something to ‘overflow’. But because God’s blessing is an expression of God’s love it will always overflow. God wants to show us that his love is greater than we can contain. He wants to bless us beyond what we can now contain. “My cup runs over,” says David in Psalm 23:5. That is not particularly practical. Why not just fill the cup? Isn’t ‘full’ enough? Why must it run over? The cup flows over for Isaac and David because God’s love is without measure and so he gives without measure. But note this. He wants us to do likewise for others. Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Let your generosity extend beyond what is practical. Let it flow over. Give with wisdom (for unguided generosity can create problems) but do so liberally knowing that God will replenish those who are generous.
Give thanks to God for the blessings he has given you.
Read and reflect on Genesis 26:12-18
