Genesis 26:25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.
If I were Isaac, I would be tempted to use my position of power (favored by God) in some sort of retaliation for the earlier behavior of the Philistine herdsmen. They filled in multiple wells (which were timely and expensive to dig). They chased him out of town. Now they want a sworn agreement? Now that they see God is with him?
Genesis 26:26-27 Meanwhile, Abimelek had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?”
Thankfully, Isaac responds with a cooler, more godly head than I would have. He makes a feast for them, invites them to the table. He uses his status as God’s child for reparation instead of further division.
Genesis 26:28-29 They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you that you will do us no harm, just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. And now you are blessed by the Lord.”
Precious Savior, Sometimes life is contentious, sometimes people are cruel. But always we have the power to act as Your hands and feet, to use our status as You children to facilitate reparation instead of further division. Forgive us when we choose poorly. Help us always to strive to shine Your light. Amen.
Genesis 26:30 Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
Have a blessed day.