Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

A VOICE IN THE NIGHT

This entry was posted on 03-08-2010 and is filed under STUDIES IN GENESIS.

"And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake.'" (Gen. 26:24 NKJV).

At night our fears grow worse. We cannot sleep and we begin to worry. It is then that we need an assuring word from the Lord. This is what Isaac experienced firsthand. His servants had been trying to dig a well for their master but the Philistines kept filling them up with dirt. There were also many quarrels going on between his herdsman and the Philistine herdsman. Finally, a new well was dug and there was no quarreling. That is the night God visited Isaac with a word of encouragement.

The first word of encouragement had to do with God's person: "I am the God of your father Abraham." How many times had Isaac heard about God from his father! I remember so many evenings when my father gathered all of us together and read the Bible to us. I also remember my mother's earnest prayers, many of them for me. The second word was in regard to God's presence: "Do not fear, for I am with you." That is a very good thing to remember when you cannot sleep because of strife that is going on in your life. Has He not promised, "I will never leave you nor forsake you"? When David walked through the valley of the shadow of death he feared no evil. Why? Because God was with him ~ "Thou art with me." Third, the voice in the night reminded Isaac of God's promise: "I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." God keeps His promises. He is not like presidents and politicians who say one thing and do another. Claim the wonderful promises of the Lord! Because of this assuring voice in the night, Isaac got up the next day, built an altar, and called on the name of the LORD. This was a first for Isaac but it would not be the last. Now he was on the right road ~ all because of that voice in the night. The next time you are troubled and cannot sleep, think of God's person, presence, and promises. I guarantee you it will be better than a sleeping pill.

Prayer: Father, thank You for your calm and assuring voice in the night. May we always honor you and call upon you in our times of trouble. Through Christ we pray.