1. Once there was a time of hunger in the land. This was besides the time of hunger that happened during Abraham’s life. So Isaac went to the town of Gerar. He went to see Abimelech king of the Philistines.
2. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Don’t go down to Egypt. Live in the land where I tell you to live.
3. Stay in this land, and I will be with you. I will bless you. I will give you and your descendants all these lands. I will keep the agreement I made to Abraham your father.
4. I will give you many descendants. They will be as hard to count as the stars in the sky. And I will give them all these lands. Through your descendants all the nations on the earth will be blessed.
5. I will do this because your father Abraham obeyed me. He did what I said. He obeyed my commands, my teachings and my rules.”
6. So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
7. Isaac’s wife Rebekah was very beautiful. The men of that place asked Isaac about her. Isaac said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to tell them she was his wife. He thought they might kill him so they could have her.
8. Isaac lived there a long time. One day as Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out his window, he saw Isaac. Isaac was holding his wife Rebekah tenderly.
9. Abimelech called for Isaac and said, “This woman is your wife. Why did you say she was your sister?”Isaac said to him, “I was afraid you would kill me so you could have her.”