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Topic: An Unreliable Neighbour
[DCLM Daily Manna 18 March 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Genesis 26:6-16 (KJV)
Key Verse: “For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him” (Genesis 26:14).
MESSAGE:
A charcoal-burner carried on his trade in his own house. One day he met a friend, a fuller, and entreated him to come and live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbours and that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The fuller replied, “The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned, for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again with your charcoal.”
The goodwill that existed between Abimelech and Isaac was like that of the charcoal-burner and the fuller. Isaac was a son of promise, while Abimelech was an uncircumcised Philistine. Abimelech appeared to be a good neighbour at first when he rebuked Isaac for fearing to introduce Rebecca as his wife. He used his kingly authority and charged the Philistines to refrain from harming either Isaac or his wife. However, the growing prosperity of Isaac, awakened the envy of the inhabitants. The envious Philistines were afraid that from a sojourner he would go on to be a settler, and acquire rights of property. Abimelech asked Isaac to depart from his land because he was waxing too great for his comfort.
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The Philistines exhibited the carnal and corrupt nature of fallen man which grieves at the good of others. Like Abimelech, the sinner may pretend to be good initially but when his selfish interests are at stake, he reveals his true nature.
The only proven agent that can change the charcoal-burner nature of the sinner is the blood of Jesus: it washes whiter than any fuller on earth can achieve. Why not turn your heart over to Jesus today?
Thought For The Day: Envy and wickedness portray the nature of the carnal mind.
The Bible In One Year: Numbers 31-32
