Jan 25, 2025
The 2025 edition of Our Best Thought is inspired by our 2025 Bible Reading Plan and features writings thoughtfully crafted by contributors reflecting on their daily devotions. “Our Best Thought“ is taken from the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” as a reference to God: “Thou my best thought, by day or by night.”
Reading: Genesis 26
Scripture:
Genesis 26:7-9
7 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.’
8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelek king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. 9 So Abimelek summoned Isaac and said, ‘She is really your wife! Why did you say, “She is my sister”?’
Isaac answered him, ‘Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.’
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Observation:
Isaac obeyed the LORD’s command to stay in Gerar, a foreign Philistine land, but he chose to lie about Rebekah, claiming she was his sister—just as his father Abraham had done with Sarah in Genesis 20. Fearing for his life because of Rebekah’s beauty, Isaac assumed the worst about the people around him. However, King Abimelek noticed Isaac’s affection for Rebekah and confronted him, later instructing his people to leave them unharmed.
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Application:
Our actions and decisions can have a ripple effect, influencing those who look up to us, including our children. It is important to pray for wisdom and be mindful of the choices we make, as they may unintentionally affect others. At the same time, we should not always assume the worst of people but trust in their ability to understand and act with integrity.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom to make godly choices and to be good role models and ambassadors of Christ to those around us. Convict us when we stray and help us to repent and turn back to You. Break any patterns of generational sin so that they no longer impact our loved ones. Thank You for Your protection and grace, even when we fall short. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.