We ended our last study in the Patriarchs with the story of Isaac and Esau, and the fateful day Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of red stew. Today we will examine an overview of Isaac’s life in Gen. 26. This is the only chapter in Genesis completely devoted to Isaac. We aren’t told the span of years these events cover, but it is very possible that they encompass the vast majority of his life on Earth. In many ways, Isaac’s life is a reflection of his father’s life; the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Like his father Abraham, Isaac’s life will include episodes of famine and failure, all of it immersed in God’s presence through the ups and downs he will encounter. It is the knowledge that “God is with us” that gives us hope and sustaining power as we journey through the challenges of life.