Fear of Giving in to Fear

When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26:3, 7, 31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is interesting that God had just spoken to Isaac that He was going to bless him due to his father Abraham's obedience; and that he would make Isaac's descendants “as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands.” Yet, when he came in to Gerar, Isaac still lied to the leaders that Rebecca was is sister, because he was afraid they would kill him. So, despite the word God had just given him, he was fearful of death, and he even sinned to protect himself and his wife. Was he thinking that the promise would end because of this encounter with these people, and he had to take it in his hands to make sure that didn't happen? Was he trying to use his best wisdom to preserve his life and therefore the promise? Was he just acting out of anxiety and fear, impulsively and protecting himself? Regardless, God did not hold this against him or nullify his promise. He did not punish him or reduce his blessing. He turned the situation to good, and delivered on the promise he had made to both Abraham and Isaac, Isaac's behavior not withstanding. Is that because Isaac's intentions were good? Is it because God just showed him mercy? Is it because God knows our weaknesses and that we will not be perfect? is it because God understands the nature of fear, despite faith? Is it because no matter what, that God will never backtrack on His word? Probably all of these and more. Our ways are not his ways. But as we falter in our own weaknesses, and get afraid despite what we know from the word of God, we can remember that God is not put off by our frailty. He will not condemn what he has already saved. And he is not seeking to pin us when we stumble. He has plans for us, to give us a future and hope as we follow him. He never changes.