When Isaac was between 60 and 80 years of age there was a famine in the land and he brought his family to Gerer, which was under the leadership of Abimelech (Avi-melech), king of the Philistines.  We saw in a previous sermon regarding Abraham and Abimelech that the name/title Avimelech means “my father is king.”  This very well could be the same Avimelech that Abraham met with and lied to. Since Abraham lived 175 years it is possible that Avimelech was much younger than Abraham when they meet, and that he could still be alive at the time of this account with Isaac. There is also another indication in this chapter that gives credence to the very real possibility that this is the same Avimelech.

Isaac Blessed

Because of a drought Isaac moves to Gerer, an area ruled by Abimelech (Avi-melech), king of the Philistines. Isaac’s father, Abraham, had also lived in this area during a drought. At that time Abraham lied about his Sarah, saying she is his sister, instead of saying that she is his wife. Avimelech innocently takes Sarah as wife, but is restrained by God from having relations with her. This incident took place within the year that God Himself came in the flesh and prophesied to Abraham that Sarah would conceive Isaac. This whole incident endangered the conception of Isaac. The lie brought shame upon Abraham.

Genesis 25 - Jacob and Esau - the Birthright

Sermon by Messianic Rabbi Jeff Zaremsky.

Sermon by Cantor Keren Tarr on the topic of God seeing us.

Abraham’s Family, How Yeshua Kept from Sinning Even as a Youth

The Bible clearly tells us that Yeshua was tempted in all ways as we are, yet He did not sin.  How did He do it? Did He have something available to Him that we don’t have available to us? If that was the case than He would not have been tempted in all ways as we are, so that can’t be the answer. Yet He did what no one has done, but which all are called to do. So how did He do it? Finding the answer to that question is the vital key to living a godly life. We will discover the answer to that all important question today, from the Bible.

Tu B’shevat.