Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Genesis Chapter 26
Metaphysically Interpreting Genesis 26:1-33
26:1And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. 26:2And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt. Dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. 26:3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee. For unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father. 26:4And I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. 26:5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
26:6And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 26:7And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon. 26:8And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 26:9And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife. And how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her. 26:10And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. 26:11And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.
26:12And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him. 26:13And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great. 26:14And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household. And the Philistines envied him. 26:15Now all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth. 26:16And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us. For thou art much mightier than we.
26:17And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 26:18And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 26:19And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 26:20And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. 26:21And they digged another well, and they strove for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah. 26:22And he removed from thence, and digged another well. And for that they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth. And he said, For now Jehovah hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
26:23And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. 26:24And Jehovah appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. 26:25And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of Jehovah, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants digged a well.
26:26Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host. 26:27And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore are ye come unto me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? 26:28And they said, We saw plainly that Jehovah was with thee. And we said, Let there now be an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee, 26:29that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace. Thou art now the blessed of Jehovah. 26:30And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. 26:31And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 26:32And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. 26:33And he called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.
May 23, 1926: Genesis 26:12-25
What is the metaphysical meaning of the word “Isaac”? The word “Isaac” means “laughter, happiness.” Isaac was the son of Abraham. “Abraham” symbolizes the awaking of divine faith. When faith in God begins to awaken in the heart of man and he realizes the good that is his as a son of God, he is naturally carefree, joyous, and happy.
What is a leading characteristic of one who always sees the joyous side of life? A leading characteristic of one who is continuously joyous is the prosperity consciousness. Joy and happiness open channels through which numberless blessings come to one. “And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold: and Jehovah blessed him ... and he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and a great household.”
What do the Philistines represent? The Philistines represent unregenerate material thoughts.
“Now all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.” Explain. Faith (Abraham) delves down into the deep things of Spirit and unearths inner springs of life (wells). The pure life essence from this source connects the spiritual source of life with soul consciousness, which brings inner peace, joy (Isaac), and contentment that the world cannot give. However, in the beginning of spiritual unfoldment the outer senses (Philistines) stultify this fine substance and life of Spirit.
What is the double mission of the Isaac faculty in man? The double mission of the Isaac faculty in man is to reopen the hidden springs of life and to keep the soul consciously connected with the inner Source. This course brings joy to the whole man, and enables him to live in peace with his outer thoughts, the Philistines.
What does Abimelech represent? Abimelech represents the directive power or the will on the sense plane. Abimelech was the king of the Philistines.
The wells that Isaac’s herdsmen dug were claimed by the Philistine herdsmen in the valley of Gerar. Explain. The contention here out-pictured symbolizes striving for possession of the life generated in the body. This contention takes place between the higher and the lower natures of the individual at a certain period of his spiritual unfoldment.
What is the meaning of the word “Rehoboth”? The word “Rehoboth” means “broad places, enlargement.” In truth it symbolizes an overcoming of one with life and substance. In this manner peace is permanently established.
Define the word “Beer-sheba”. The word “Beer-sheba” means “well of the oath, seventh well.” It denotes the establishing of a right relation in consciousness between the spiritual and the seven creative life centers of the natural man. Beer-sheba was the place to which Isaac went after he had peaceably retained possession of the well Rehoboth (symbolizing an expansion and a broadening of the consciousness). “And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of Jehovah.”
May 1, 1932: Genesis 26:12-25
What is the metaphysical meaning of the word “Isaac”? The word “Isaac” means “laughter,” “joy.” Isaac was the son of Abraham. “Abraham” symbolizes the awaking of faith in God. When faith in God begins to awaken in the heart of man and he realizes the good that is his as a son of God, he is naturally carefree, joyous, and happy.
What is a leading characteristic of one who always sees the joyous side of life? The leading characteristic of one who is continuously joyous is the prosperity consciousness. Joy and happiness open channels through which numberless blessings come to one. “And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold: and Jehovah blessed him . . . and he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and a great household.”
What do the Philistines represent? The Philistines represent unregenerate material thoughts.
“Now all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.” Explain. Faith (Abraham) delves down into the deep things of Spirit and unearths inner springs of life (wells). The pure life essence from this source connects the spiritual forces of life with soul consciousness, which brings inner peace, joy (Isaac), and contentment that the world cannot give. However, in the beginning of spiritual unfoldment the outer senses (Philistines) obstruct this fine substance and life of Spirit.
What is the mission of the Isaac faculty in man? The Isaac faculty in man has a double mission: first to reopen the hidden springs of life, and second to keep the soul consciously connected with its inner Source.
What does Abimelech represent? Abimelech represents the directive power or the will on the sense plane. Abimelech was the king of the Philistines.
The wells that Isaac’s herdsmen dug in the valley of Gerar were claimed by the Philistine herdsmen. Explain the symbolism of this statement. The contention here out-pictured symbolizes the strife between the higher and the lower natures of the individual for possession of the life generated in the body. This contention takes place at a certain period of man’s spiritual unfoldment.
What is the meaning of the word “Rehoboth”? The word “Rehoboth” means “broad places,” “enlargements.” In truth it symbolizes an overcoming of error, which results in an inner expansion of true thoughts of life and substance and in man’s becoming one with that life and substance. In this manner peace is permanently established.
Define the word “Beer-sheba”. The word “Beer-sheba” means “well of the oath,” “seventh well.” It denotes the establishing of a right relation in consciousness between the spiritual nature and the seven creative life centers of the natural man. Beer-sheba was the place to which Isaac went after he had peaceably retained possession of the well Rehoboth (symbolizing an expansion and a broadening of the consciousness). “And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of Jehovah.”
May 16, 1937: Genesis 26:12-25
What is the meaning of the name Isaac? Isaac means “laughter,” “joy.”
Under what condition does man know greatest joy? The greatest joy that man can know comes from a consciousness of peace gained through obedience to divine law.
What is represented by the words “a famine in the land”? This expression represents a lack of the joy of living brought about through man's mistaking religion for a thing of gloom and failing to use his faith constructively. When this condition prevails, man turns to the subjective substance and life (represented by Gerar) for sustenance.
What follows when the thought of joy enters the subjective consciousness? Subjective joy fills man with peace and happiness and causes him to prosper in his undertakings.
Isaac prospered, becoming “great” and then “very great,” so that “the Philistines envied him.” What is symbolized by this state of things? As one keeps the law of increase in the realm of Spirit one gains true contentment and satisfaction, which grows as one's development proceeds. The struggle between the spiritual and the sense nature is a silent one, but it does not entirely cease, until one withdraws in thought from all connection with the sense realm (the Philistines).
In order to avoid strife is it sometimes necessary to yield our position? To preserve peace it is sometimes necessary to yield a point, rather than enforce our personal will on others.
Isaac abandoned the first two wells dug by his servants, when the Philistines contested his right to them. What is represented by his action? Esek, the name given by Isaac to the first well, means “strife,” “contention.” There can be no joy in strife and contention and he who prizes joy must refrain from both strife and contention. Sitnah, the second well, means “opposer,” “persecutor,” “hatred,” and the same thought applies.
The third well, Rehoboth means “broad places.” What is its metaphysical significance? When we in thought separate ourselves completely from the low ideals of the senses, we find abundant room for joy in life, and this joy becomes our strength.
Explain the meaning of Beersheba. Beersheba (“well of the oaths,” “seventh well”) symbolizes man’s readiness to establish himself in Truth and to rest completely, mind, soul, and body, in that consciousness, since he can find peace and satisfaction in nothing less.
August 16, 1942: Genesis 26:18-31
What is the greatest joy that man can know? The joy that comes from a consciousness of peace through obedience to divine law.
Can anyone be at peace who insists on claiming his rights even if he must do so by force? No. Force is the method of the sense consciousness for gaining its ends, and sense is a stranger to true peace.
Do we have any “rights” in the sense realm? No, for we are spiritual beings, and our rights are of this order.
What do the wells that were dug by Isaac’s herdsmen represent? They are the inner sources of life that are opened up by joy (Isaac means “laughter”).
Should these inner resources be surrendered without a struggle? Joy cannot survive selfish strife. Since the resources of the inner realm are exhaustless, it is better to seek new sources that do not arouse envy or struggle, than to strive and resist after the manner of sense man.
Why is Isaac represented as receiving from Jehovah the promise that he would be blessed for Abraham's sake? Because the man of faith is joyous. Faith (Abraham) gives one confidence and assurance, removing anxiety and fear completely from the heart, and giving rise to lasting joy.
Why did Isaac’s servants dig a well in Beer-sheba? Beer-sheba represents the establishing of an agreement between the inner and the outer man. Joy as well as faith has a share in the maintaining of the inner realm in man's consciousness. The inner realm is the source of abiding joy. Isaac dug a well or opened up the springs of joy and gladness that were first tapped by faith.
What is symbolized by the [visitors?] Abimelech, Ahuzzath and Phical to Isaac? These characters all have to do with the sense will in man, and their visit to Isaac indicates that sooner or later the sense man realizes that true joy can be had only through faith in God and the following of the way of life that expresses what is good and right.
“Thou art now the blessed of Jehovah.” Why was this said to Isaac? The joy that comes from faith in the good is a blessing in every sense of the word. Spiritual joy, like love, “taketh not account of evil” but impartially blesses all who come in contact with it. Isaac “made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.”
August 12, 1945: Genesis 26:19-33
Is contention justifiable where peace can be gained by nonresistance? No, but under some circumstances nonresistance does not insure peace. Where sincerity and honor prevail over pretense and falsity, it is safe to trust to nonresistance to cement peace.
What conduct reveals spiritual strength? The giving up of man-made rights in order to keep the peace with others. Such conduct requires spiritual [unreadable phrase].
What is represented by the wells that Isaac's servants dug? They represent the inner springs of life that are opened up by joy. Isaac’s servants represent the spiritual thoughts in charge of the life forces in us (represented by the animals). These forces can be raised to a higher level of expression by spiritual thinking.
How is it that the expression of these inner forces is sometimes negative and hurtful? Because sense consciousness may determine it, and as long as this is the case, spiritual consciousness is shut out.
How does Jehovah make “room for us”? By making elevation of thought possible to us, that we can rise above the limitations of the sense world. In the spiritual realm there is always room for unlimited growth and expansion, and elevation of thought brings us out into it.
What must be abandoned by those who wish to develop spiritual strength? Contention, anger, and strife. The first two wells dug by Isaac's servants were given names signifying these things after the herdsmen of Gerar strove for them. The Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle. Joy is impossible where contention exists.
What discordant state in the consciousness of the individual is represented by the strife over the well Esek and the well Sitnah? It represents the strife for supremacy that takes place between the higher and the lower nature of the individual during a certain stage of his unfoldment.
How is such discord overcome? By a change of attitude on our part. By learning to understand the nature of the discord we are better able to deal with it, so as to overcome in ourselves the spirit of contention, anger, and hatred, and look for what is good and constructive.
Does sense consciousness seek joy for its own ends? Yes, the unregenerate will (Abimelech) seeks it in an effort to put itself in harmony with joy (a covenant), but this venue is not permanently successful. It endures for a time only. “Isaac sent them away.”
Metaphysically Interpreting Genesis 26:34-35
26:34And when Esau was forty years old he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 26:35And they were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 12-26-2013
