Matthew Henry Commentary Genesis 26:1-5

"And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt. Dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee. For unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father. And I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." — Genesis 26:1-5 (ASV)

Isaac had been trained in a believing dependence on the Divine grant of the land of Canaan to him and his heirs; and now that there is a famine in the land, Isaac still holds fast to the covenant. The real worth of God's promises cannot be lessened for a believer by any adverse providences that may befall him.

If God engages to be with us, and we are where He wants us to be, nothing but our own unbelief and distrust can prevent our comfort.

The obedience of Abraham to the Divine command was evidence of that faith by which, as a sinner, he was justified before God, and the effect of that love by which true faith works. God testifies that He approved this obedience to encourage others, especially Isaac.