FROM time to time in the life of the true believer in Jesus as their Saviour and sin-bearer there is given by the Lord affirmation of his saving love and blessing. These blessing from God can be given at any time, but often they are given by the Lord when our struggles with the persecution of the world either threatens or is strong upon us. We have example of this in the 26th chapter of Genesis, where Isaac was experiencing trouble from the world represented by Abimelech and his people.

While Isaac was suffering persecution from Abimelech and his herdsmen God appeared to Isaac and assured him not to be afraid for He, God, was with him to bless and increase his family in the years to come (v.23-24). In verse 25 we have recorded for us the reaction of Isaac to this blessing of God. Let us now dwell upon this response of Isaac to God's blessing in order that we may understand its nature and content, so that we may learn how to respond to God's gracious and sovereign blessings when they come.

Are we able to see and appreciate this response, which is in four parts. The first part is expressed in the action of Isaac. We are told that, in response to this promised of blessing given to him by God, he built an altar there. What does this action on the part of Isaac suggest to us.

In the first place Isaac renewed his faith in the gospel of God's grace towards him. God had taught Abraham and others before him that the way to approach him was by way of sacrifice for the atonement for sin. This was the purpose of building an altar, so that such sacrifice would be made before God. By this Isaac confessed his sin and unworthiness afresh, and put his trust in the atonement whereby his sins were placed upon the innocent animal, which then was put to death to suffer the punishment Isaac's sin deserved, and so God could be just in forgiving Isaac his sins. In this action Isaac looked forward to the promised sacrifice which Christ, the incarnate Son of God, would make on the cross for the atonement of the sin of the world.

In building the altar Isaac expressed humble worship, praise and commitment to God who so blessed him, coming as a penitent sinner and putting his trust in the way of forgiveness and acceptance God had provided, which the re-affirmation of God's blessing showed.

In the second place we hear that Isaac called on the Name of the Lord. He came to God in prayer on the ground of the sacrifice made on the altar. The response of the true believer in Jesus as Saviour always has this response. Calling on the Name of the Lord is to come before God in the revelation of acceptance which is embodied in the meaning of his Name. Such prayer is an expression of wholehearted trust, confidence and commitment to God as God and Saviour, and to seek to worship and adore before his majesty for his mercy, love and grace shown to a miserable sinner. It is to bow down in heartfelt thanksgiving to God for his goodness and love.

In the third place we hear that Isaac pitched his tent there where God had visited him. What does this action represent? Surely it represents the resting of his soul upon God who had visited him with such blessing, and building his life on the sure rock-like foundation, knowing that on this foundation of trust in the Lord, the storms of life would never cause his life to be shattered and fall. Jesus expressed this, and its importance at the end of his sermon on the mount (Matthew 7: 24-27) where he speaks of the rock-like foundation of building the house of our life on him and his word, where the foundation is found to be so firm that the one who has such faith will not be shaken or fall whatever the storms of temptation and trial of life should beat on him.

This includes a deep commitment to serve the Lord all the days of his life, trusting, not in his own strength and goodness, but in God's unfailing salvation and goodness.

In the fourth place we hear it was at this place of blessing from God that his servants dug a well. This action expressed the firm conviction that this place was the place where God wanted Isaac and his family to live, and the conviction that God had led him there to a place of safety and prosperity. It had the conviction that it was the place where God would be found, and his strength and protection known.

Digging a well meant that this was the place where the roots of life would be put down. It expressed permanence and safety.

This is place of safety for all true believers. The place is the foundation of the teaching of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the cornerstone. This expresses the resting our life and soul on the true foundation of Christ as our sin-bearer and Saviour, and through the faithful study of the Word of God, and the operation of the Holy Spirit, building on the sure foundation of Christ our rock, and so resisting all the temptations of Satan to embrace false teaching and error which Satan floods the church of God.