The Pulpit Commentary — Genesis — Section 391

IIOMILETICB. Vere. 12-22.-.A good mam,'a prosperity. I. WHENCE IT PROCEEDED. 1. T¼ industry Qf Isaac. "Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfo1d." An intimate connection subsists between diligence and prosperity. (1) Ae there ie no harvest without a seed-time, eo there is no increase of wealth without the putting forth of personal labour in its acquisition (cf. Prov. x. 4; xiii. 4; xxviii. 19). (2) Ae by God's appointment harvest follows seed-time, so com- monly "the hand of the diligent maketh rich" (cf. Prov. xiii. 4; xxi. 5; xxviii. 19). 2. The blessing of God. "And the Lord blessed him." As without Divine assist- ance the best contrived and most laboriously applied means may fail in the accumu- lation of material goods, so with heavenly succour the least likely instruments can achieve success. The harvests of the farmer depend more upon the goodness of God than upon the excellence of the plough (cf. Ps. cxxvii. 1, 2). II. IN WHAT IT BEBULTED. 1. The envJJ of the Philistines. Envy, one of the works of the flesh (Gal. v. 19 ; Jamee iv. 6 ), 11 frequent characteristic of evil men (1 Cor. iii. 3; Titus iii. 3), an occasional infirmity of pious souls (1 Cor. iii. 3; Phil. i. 15; 1 Pet. ii. 1), and straitly forbidden by the law of God (Exod. xx. 17; Ps. xxxvii. 1; Jamee v. 9), is commonly excited by observing the prosperity of others (Pa. xxxvii 7 ; lxxiii. 7 ; Eccles. iv. 4 ; cf. Rachel and Leah, eh. x:n:. 1, 15 ; Joseph's brethren, eh. xxxvii. 4--11, 19, 20; Acts vii. 9; Miriam and Aaron, Num. xii. 1-10; the princes of Darius, Dan. vi. 4), is usually accompanied with some degree of hatred (Cain, eh. iv. 4--8 ; Sarah, eh. xvi. 5, 6 ; Laban, eh. xxxi. 5), 11nd inevitably tends, as in the case of the Philistines, to hostility, secret or open. 2. The ~ci.()'11, of .Abimelech. The growing power of the patriarch had filled the monarch s mind with alarm. Interpreting the character of Isaac by his own, he conceived it impossible to possess large resources without using them to acquira dominion over othere. Modem kings and statesmen are scarcely further advanced, the prosperity of neighbouring empires being commonly regarded as a menace to the liberties of their own. It is the mission of Christianity, as regards both nations and individuals, to show how power of every kind can be possessed without injury, and wielded with advantage, to the highest interests of others. III. How IT WAS ILUNTAINED. By-1. Patience, or the exhibition of it. meek and unresisting spirit in submitting to injury. Whon Abimelech requested him to lenve the town of Gerar, he left. When the Philistines filled up his futher's wells, he quietly dug them out ngain. When tho herdmen of Gerar wrangled with his shepherds nbout a spring, he simply go.ve it up, and sought another; nnd when this too was disputed, he retired and sank n third. And all the ,vhile his flocks anti. herds kept on multiplying. A beautiful example of the spirit which Christ hue enjoined (Matt. v. 39-42), and of the promise which Christ has mnde (Matt. v. 5) to hie followers. 2. Perseverance, or tho diligent exercise of means in selecting pasture grounds nnd digging wells; not permitting himself to be discouraged by the o,.iposition of his neighbours, but, while peacefully allowing himself to he despo1led, steadily nttending to bis business. An illustration of thut quiet, deter- mined, nnd unwearied application which often contributes more to success in life than brilliant abilities. 3. Piety, or the grateful recognition of God's hand in putting an end to the irritation and annoyance of his neighbours, and giving him at last a comfortable settlement at Rehoboth. It is grace in God which affords quiet neighbourhoods to reside in, easy circumstances to live in, and hopeful futures to trust in ; and it is piety in us to acknowledge that grace. Learn-1. That there is only one royal road to material prosperity, viz., diligence and devotion. 2. That if material prosperity can procure comforts, it is 11lso attended by drawbacks. 3. That material prosperity is often thrown away in litiga- tion when it might be preserved by submission. 4. Thnt material prosperity should 1tir the heart's gratitude to God,  3/10 'l'HE BOOK 01!' GENESIS. [cu. XXVI. 23-35