Genesis 26:19-24
Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of
fresh water there. But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and
said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed
with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so
he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one
quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us
room and we will flourish in the land.”
From there he went up to Beersheba. That night the Lord
appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be
afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of
your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”
Comments
Water has always been a scarce commodity in the Mideast, and
particularly so in times of drought and famine. Isaac and his servants must
have felt blessed to have found fresh water in the first well they dug. They
would not have felt blessed, though, when others laid claim to their well.
It would not have been easy to leave the first well and go
dig another, but again they were blessed with success and cursed by conflict.
Only when they moved on and dug the third well did they discover not only
water, but peace.
Reflections
Rather than fighting
for the water God had already given him, Isaac trusted God to provide him with more.
If you were in Isaac’s place, do you think you would have been more likely to
fight or move on?
In different situations, how do you know when it is time to fight
for what you have and when it is time to move on and trust God to give you more?
Prayer
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who provides
for us abundantly even in times of scarcity.
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