Topic: DON’T SUCCUMB TO FEAR – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 10 September 2021 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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DON’T SUCCUMB TO FEAR
“And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, she is my sister; for he feared to say, she is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.” Genesis 26:7 KJV
When you read the book of Genesis 26 in a hurry, you will think that the Bible says that Isaac came into that land of Gerar and then sowed in that year. No! First, the Lord said to Isaac, “stay in this land, and I will bless you in this land.” And Isaac did. He probably didn’t reap the first or second year but He kept on sowing and sowing. At a point he wanted to run to Egypt but God told him not to (Genesis 26:6).
The next Bible verse doesn’t say that he started sowing in the land immediately. No! He dwelt there and began to love and serve God there. When the men of the place asked him of his wife, he said she was his sister because he feared they might kill him if he disclosed her true identity. You see that he was already living with the people of that country and had blended with them! It was not a one-time thing.
Abimelech reacted to what Isaac did: “And Abimelech said what is this that thou hast done unto us? One of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us” (Genesis 26:10 KJV). In other words, “you deceived us. Somebody else could have wooed your wife and before we know it, we would be in trouble. You could have told us that she is your wife.” But Isaac was afraid because the people were ungodly. He didn’t want trouble. And Abimelech charged all his people that anyone that touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death. Never succumb to fear. When you succumb to fear, you will compromise and won’t be able to stand. But when you stand, God will fight for you.
Further Reading: Genesis 26:6-14
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Proverbs 8-9; Evening- 2 Corinthians 3