| Subject: Genesis 26 vss. 18-22 Post 135 |
Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 21:23:26 08/08/10 Sun
Genesis 26:18-22 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
As Abraham had sojourned in the land of Abimelech he had dug wells for his people and livestock. The wells also served the purpose of showing markers that the land was occupied. Abraham and Abimelech had reached an agreement back in chapter 21 on the well at Beersheba which Abraham's servants had dug. Abimelech agreed with Abraham the well was his and to seal the agreement Abraham gave him sheep and oxen. Thus the well and surrounding land in effect became a purchase. Now years later Isaac is having to strive again for the same wells his father had dug.
The old proverb that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9) is proved over and over with instances such as this. The Jews own the land by birthright because God gave it to them. Just as with Abraham and Isaac they are having to strive for the land again and again. The Palestinians (the equivalent of the old time Philistines) today are trying to "stop all the wells" that prove the land rightly belongs to the Israelis. Today it may not be wells of water but it is land that the Israelites own and are forbidden to build upon. Even in Jerusalem, "the City of God" we see strife when an Israeli tries to build on land that he has a legitimate deed to.
In the passage above, twice the herdsmen of Isaac find water. only to be driven from it because of the people of Gerar. Isaac named the first well "Esek" which means contention and the second he named "Sitnah" which means strife. Truly this was a land of contention and strife as it will remain so unto unto the coming of the Lord.
Isaac, rather than strive and fight over the water moves on farther from Gerar and his men dig a third well which no one comes and claims. Isaac names this one "Rehoboth" which means "wide places". Isaac had found room for his people and his flocks and herds.
As with most scripture there is a spiritual aspect of the verse which serves as "instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16) What may we glean from these verses that will be of help to us in our Christian walk and work. Wells of water, in scripture, represent spiritual blessings. That our work may be represented by the digging of the wells we may rightly say that the water is the just reward of spiritual blessings for that work. The water itself represents God's Spirit as we can see in John 6:5-15. Here in Genesis we are looking also at a labor that is involved because of the digging to receive the water.
Notice how each time a well is dug and the labor is expended the "adversary" (1 Peter 5:8) shows up to destroy the work. The herdsmen didn't try to stop the digging. They waited until the labor was completed and then came an re-filled the well with dirt. This is the way it is so many times with our work for God. How many times have we been a witness and seen a soul brought into the fold only to see them return to their old state. We thought we had led them out of darkness only to find them returning to that darkness. We get discouraged but we move on and work with another soul that needs help and guidance. We labor for the sake of the spiritual need in that person's life. We see results and then we finally see what we believe is victory over the devil in that person's life. Soon however we see the same thing happen to this one as we witnesses with the earlier. The "well" is filled back in until there is no sign of "water". Discouragement sets in again. Probably deeper than at the first and we feel like giving up.
The scriptures tell us explicitly "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) No matter how many times we face what seems to be defeat in our work for the Lord there is no place to quit. The need is as great as ever if not greater. When Isaac faced the result of his wells being re-filled he did not give up nor quit. He looked for another place to dig. As the next well was dug and then re-filled by his adversaries he again did not quit. I am sure he was much discouraged but he moved on and then started his third work. At this time he again struck water and this time he was not opposed by anyone.
Our instruction in this is to keep on keeping on. The work is too important and the victory at the end is worth a few setbacks along the way. God is faithful and will uphold us in our efforts to work for Him.
Our job is to keep digging the wells and God's job is to supply the water. Just as we are to cultivate the field and sow the seeds it is up to God to supply the rain and give the increase. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
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