Genesis 26:14-16

The Philistines envied him

The prosperous are subject to envy

1.

Great estates subject the best of men to envy.

2. Philistine spirits envy all increase of good to the Church of God (Genesis 26:14).

3. Men fearless of God make no scruple of doing the greatest injuries to His servants.

4. All the saints right, persuades not the wicked from doing wrong.

5. A malicious spirit destroyeth that which itself needeth, only to mischief the righteous man.

6. Water-mercies are very great, therefore would the wicked take them from the just (Genesis 26:15). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Lessons

1. Powers as well as peasants join together to afflict the saints.

2. Worldly men in power would not suffer the godly to prosper by them.

3. Exilement is the best which wicked powers allow to saints.

4. God’s greatning of His saints causeth the powers of the world to diminish them (Genesis 26:16). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

No worldly blessing is unalloyed

Isaac’s prosperity was not unalloyed. He suffered from envy. Be sure of this, that for every blessing man pays a price. If the world has gained in medical skill, it has lost that simple life which made it unnecessary. If we heap possessions round us we lose quiet, we get anxiety. Every man pays a price for his advantages, for talents, for property, for high station; he bids adieu to rest, being public property. It was so with Isaac. He had great possessions, “and the Philistines envied him.” We are told that he met the envy with patience, and removed from well to well. At last the Philistines desisted. Thus patience wears the world out. Endurance, meekness, the gospel spirit, this is the only true weapon against the world. Hence, Christianity can have no addition. It is final. There is nothing beyond this--“Love your enemies.” Isaac like Christ had conquered by meekness; and then it was that there was shed abroad in his heart that deep peace which is most profound in the midst of storm, “the peace of God which passeth all understanding.” (F. W. Robertson, M. A.)