The God of Pilgrims (Genesis 26:1-35)

In many respects the life of Isaac looks similar to the life of the modern believer. We too experience famine (read: economic crises), have neighbors become our enemies, and experience unrest in our pilgrimages. Yet we see a God who relentlessly pursues us just as he pursued Isaac on behalf of the righteousness of another. We live our lives ambivalent towards the providential hand of God and yet He is ever present, faithful to his covenant people. At the end of the day, though God has richly blessed Isaac in all of his endeavors and continues to bless us in a number of ways, we still struggle with unrest and discord. This unrest that we experience must force us to turn our eyes to the Lord. There is no rest to be found in this world or within ourselves. It is only in and through Jesus that true shalom (peace) will be brought to a world bent on sin and chaos.