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In today’s reading (Genesis 25 and 26), I was struck by the theme of being separate—how God calls His people to be set apart from the world. Before Abraham died, he separated Isaac from the stepsiblings he had after Sarah’s death. This suggests that Abraham learned that kin (which in this case symbolizes our desires that aren’t in line with God’s desires) can and do bring complications into a life set apart for God. As much as Abraham loved Lot, his presence caused ongoing difficulties. Just as God originally instructed Abraham to go alone, Abraham ensured that Isaac would not be surrounded by those who would distract him from God’s path (Gen. 25:6).

There are a couple of events in this chapter that reinforce the overarching theme that God calls us to rely solely on Him rather than on our own desires and inclinations.

First, Rebekah demonstrates her faith in God when she cries out to Him for understanding during her difficult pregnancy (Gen. 25:22).

Her being healed from barrenness when Issac cried out to God (Gen. 25:21) might have been the point of Rebekah’s conversion.

God’s response to Rebekah reveals an important truth—He calls people to Himself not based on merit but on His mercy (Romans 9:10–16). Perhaps this is why Rebekah favored Jacob over Esau; she knew God’s divine choice. Regardless, this event reinforces the reality that God’s ways are higher than our own, and our goal should always be to align ourselves with Him rather than relying on our own understanding.

And then secondly, like his father before him, Isaac fell into the familiar sin of calling his wife his sister to protect himself. Yet despite his shortcomings, God reaffirmed His covenant with Isaac—not because of Isaac’s merit but because of His promise to Abraham. Again, this highlights the recurring theme: God’s faithfulness is not contingent on human perfection but on His mercy and promises.

The closing verse of Chapter 26 brings us back to where we began—being separately devoted to God is imperative in our life journey. In the last verse, we see how Esau's choice to marry outside of God’s plan had negative consequences. 

“And they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah” (Genesis 26:35).

Esau and his foreign wives became a source of grief for Isaac and Rebekah, reinforcing two important truths:

  1. God calls us to depend on Him, not on family, rulers, or the world’s systems. Abraham and Isaac’s lives were marked by divine guidance, not human alliances.

  2. God’s people are chosen by His mercy, not by their righteousness. Abraham and Isaac both stumbled in their faith journeys, yet God’s covenant remained intact because He is merciful and faithful.

These chapters remind us that being set apart for God is not about our achievements but about His grace. Let’s try to remember to walk in humble dependence on Him, trusting in His sovereignty over our lives.