Lessons To LIve and Think By:  Genesis 26

In Genesis 26, we read about the return of Isaac to the land given to his father, Abraham, by God Himself.  

There was a famine in the land and God told Isaac to go to the land that He told him to go.  Isaac obeyed God and followed his direction.  And just like his father, Abraham, Isaac was afraid that the people of that land (Gerar) would find his wife, Rebekah too attractive and so he lied and said she was his sister.  This didn't set well with the king of the area, Abimelech, who when he found out, called Isaac out on it and asked him why he had done such a thing?

Isaac replied that he had been afraid, so Abimelech chastised him and spread the word that Rebekah was spoken for.  But that is not the end of the story....just a reminder of the past (It would seem).

Now Isaac and his family flourished in Gerar and their property increased a hundred fold.  This did not sit well with the locals and the Philistine (who were the locals) envied him.  It seems that since Abraham had left this land, the locals had stopped up all of the wells he'd dug.  Abimelech told Isaac to leave because Isaac and his people had grown so strong.  Now Abimelch was afraid of Isaac (shoe was on the other foot, so to speak).

So, Isaac left the area.  Arriving in the valley of Gerar, he dug a well to water his flocks.  The herdmen of Gerar claimed the well Isaac had dug was THEIR well.  So, Isaac named the well Esek, which means "contention".

Apparently, Isaac didn't argue or fight with them about the ownership.  Instead, he just moved on and dug another well.  Again, the locals said it wasn't his well and so he named this one Sitnah, which means "hatred".

Once again, Isaac didn't stay around and argue about the ownership.  Instead he moved again and this time sunk another well.  This one was not disputed.  He named it Rehoboth, which means "There is room for me".

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I thought about this passage and many meanings came to me.

1.  Even though it didn't work in the past, are we afraid to speak up and tell the truth?  Do we truly trust in God's protection?

2.  America and the attack against our values and culture.  Has our land been given over to others and are we afraid to sink a few wells of our own?

3.  My life and facing problems.  Do I argue with others unnecessarily when I can just as easily move along and dig another well elsewhere?

4.  We have to fight for what God gave us to obtain and retain what God gave us.  Am I where God told me to go, doing what God told me to do?  Do I have His blessing in my life as a result of following His path for me?  Have I left famine behind?

If this story gave you some insights that helped you out today, then God has truly blessed you, just as He blessed Abraham and Isaac.  May you have a blessed day!

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. – Luke 21:36