How to Overcome Provocation as Isaac Did - Gen 26:1-35
Intro - How should we respond we were are bullied?
As children we all encountered a bully and learned that it is better to avoid a fight and to overcome opposition with kindness, wisdom and friendliness.
Illustration:On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham--no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom." No literal portrait of Jesus exists either. But the likeness of the Son who makes us free can be seen in the lives of His true followers.
Bill Morgan.
Illustration: I remember one bully name Steven who picked on me when I was small. I needed to learn the importance of the truth, "Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good." (Rom. 12:21) Only when I could overcome with love, blessings and intelligence could I find a way to be bigger than the problem instead of succumbing to it. Isaac learned this lesson when he was provoked as well.
In similar ways Isaac experiences severe harassment from the Philistines who envy him for his prosperity. God gave Isaac extraordinary wisdom since He knew that unless the Lord fights the battles for us we are doomed to failure. James also reminded us about how to settle conflicts when he wrote, "What is the source of conflicts and quarrels, is it not your own desires that wage war in your members? YOu lust and do not have so you fight and quarrel. (James 4:1-4)
Let us look at some of the key guidelines for overcoming evil provocation from the life of Isaac:
1. God honored Isaac because of His wonderful love and faithfulness to His promise. Isaac acknowledged that fact that everything he had came from God’s almighty hand. When we are grateful we are less apt to grow angry and over-react to provocation.
2. Isaac showed us how to deny ourselves and our rights and conveniences rather than quarreling with his enemies. Isaac chose to live in obscurity rather to live in a place where he was constantly badgered by men of envy, scorn and jealousy.
We can find comfort in the fact that God sometimes leads us out of arenas of temptation when it is necessary to maintain our testimony.
3. Isaac opened up wells that his father had dug and even called them by the same names as a sign of respect to his father and his father’s God. When people trust and obey the Lord they can expect to enjoy an inner sense of satisfaction that transcends any earthly reward.
The Lord facilitated all of Isaac’s farming by multiplying his crops a hundredfold. All of this came at a time when everyone else suffered through a terrible famine. The Lord provided Isaac with many willing servants to assist in his work that he employed and maintained.
Godly people can enjoy sweet fulfillment from the bread of God’s word and the rivers of life supplied by the HOly Spirit who quenches all thirsty souls. Those who fail to grow in Christ deprive themselves of many heavnely blessings and the ability to be a teflon person in times of provocation.
4. Isaac busied himself in ordering his servants to dig new wells. It is not enough to simply rely on what our forefathers of the faith have done for us. The Lord wants us to press on to accomplish innovations for the benefit of multiplying his kingdom’s sphere of influence.
We must learn to expect opposition from many who resist change or misunderstand our motives. Isaac even acknowledged the opposition by naming the first two new wells, Esek and Sitnah which mean contention and hatred. Do not be in a state of denial. Cast all of your care on the Lord and He will sustain you.
Ask others to pray for you as well and the prayers of the righteous will avail much.
5. Isaac knew that it was impossible for the godly to live without persecution. Paul wrote, "All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." Believe that the Lord will use adversity for your good . He is able to utilize the hate that we will get from the world, the flesh and the devil for His greater good in many ways. Rom. 8:28.
Thank God ahead of time that His ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts than your thoughts. He is able to sovereignly work through a host of suffering to bring you to a better place by closing some doors so other doors will open to greater plateaus of service and fruitfulness.
6. Isaac learned to let go of things that were not essential for doing God’s will. There are many non-essentials in life that are just not worth fighting over. Learn to choose your battles carefully.
REcognize that God will give you the wisdom to know what to do in times of provocation if you will only ask Him. Do not be anxious for anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Do not go complaining to everyone around you.
Illustration: We used to sing an old hymn in our chapel in the Nigerian seminary where I taught for 20 years.
"Are you weary, are you heavy hearted, tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus." In Hausa I would sing that song as I mourned all the hardships and persecutions I faced for helping to start more than 650 churches in Nigeria. "Ga ya wa Yesu,Ga ya wa Yesu. He is a friend that is well known. You have no other such a friend or brother. Tell it to Jesus alone." That would bring great comfort and strength to me during those depressing and fearful days, but the Lord delivered me from all my fears and set me upon a rock that showed His mighty power through the worst of times and the best of times - just like Isaac.
7. Isaac did not allow himself to over-react to provocation. He did not display any overt offence by speaking out of anger or fear.
Pray that the Lord would give you discretion and self-control in your speech so you will not have to live to regret a wrong word spoken in anger or fear.
8. Isaac refused to allow any unwholesome talk come out of his mouth, but only what was helpful for building others up according to their needs. (Eph. 4:28)
Learning to control our tongue is a key ingredient to successfully navigating through times of provocation.
9. Isaac applied the wisdom of Prov. 15:1 - A harsh word stirs up anger but a soft answer turns away wrath." Learn how to speak with a soft tone of voice.
10. Isaac built an altar to God and there he pitched his tent for a dwelling. When we dedicate our life, our home and our activities to the Lord’s purposes we can expect to receive God’s blessings.
Even though Isaac’s surrounding were less than hospitial he was able to enjoy calm amidst the storms of life because he openly declared everything as belonging to the Lord and consecrated for HIs purposes.
Application: Publicly declare the fact that the Lord is the controller of every aspect of your life, your family and your relationshis and your ministries. Only then are we are to appropriate the truth, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Rom. 12:21
11. Isaac refused to drag up past provocations so as not to inflame present problems. Isaac showed how to peacefully make friendships with Abimelech as a sign of reconciliation and peace with his former Philistine oppressors.
Isaac used prudence and caution in the way he receives Abimelech’s offer for peaceful co-existence, but manages to cement a healthy bond of friendship.
Always act out of love above all other principles when you are relating to all kinds of people. Isaac even prepared a feast for Abimelech and covenanted a bond of peace and friendship with his former enemy. One of the best ways of overcoming opposition is to let friendship, love and kind deeds overwhelm them with good.
Do everything you can to lessen the sting of former offenses. Try not to drage up past grievances that might widen the gap of relationships.
Thank God that things sometimes have to get worse before they can get better.
Conclusion:When the wife of missionary Adoniram Judson told him that a newspaper article likened him to some of the apostles, Judson replied, "I do not want to be like a Paul...or any mere man. I want to be like Christ...I want to follow Him only, copy His teachings, drink in His Spirit, and place my feet in His footprints...Oh, to be more like Christ!"
Source Unknown.
