Genesis 26:12-22

2008.Jul.12 21:04

Diggin’ the Wells

Read Genesis 26:12-22 | Full Chapter

Now Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, and the man became rich, and continued to grow richer until he became very wealthy; for he had possessions of flocks and herds and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him. Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped up by filling them with earth. Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are too powerful for us."
(Genesis 26:12-16, NASB)

Okay, one thing I want to note here is Yahweh providing such blessing as to cause problems for the person blessed. Isaac’s wealth grows to the extent that he and Rebekah become targets of jealousy. In addition, there’s probably some difficulties with Isaac’s livestock using up land that the native inhabitants wanted and possibly needed.

I often find myself annoyed with “name it, claim it” mentalities because they seem not to consider this aspect. If I taught, for example, a youth Bible study, one thing I would like to do is take the group somewhere from which we could all see a mountain, and read Mark 11:23. No, there’s probably half a dozen additional issues to address when talking about such passages, but the thing I’d want to have these young people do is to decide whether to ask for that mountain to be cast in the sea, understanding that “it will be done” (assuming they have faith, etc).

Because I really believe that an essential part of faith is wisdom, specifically discernment of what really is “a good thing”. Sending this theoretical mountain into the sea would have negative consequences, probably for no gain. Many situations though are not that clear, as here for Isaac. Yahweh is blessing him, I imagine largely to prepare for the future Israelite nation and also as a testament to Himself among those Isaac meets. But those blessings directly result in confrontation.

So, now, Isaac and Rebekah make the choice to leave as Abimelech has demanded. Or, faith does not exist in a vacuum.

And Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar, and settled there. Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them. But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah. He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, "At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land."
(Genesis 26:17-22, NASB)

With this, we see more of this difficulty playing out. Again, the blessings on our nomadic heroes lead to conflict with their neighbors. So, they move on, digging wells, until finally they land in a spot where they have room. Isaac could have done the “God blessed me and I’m not moving” thing that some people do (probably I do sometimes without even being aware of it), as though Yahweh’s blessing in our lives is permission to be selfish rather than opportunity to bless and help others. Instead, Isaac accepts that receipt of God’s blessings on this earth is inseparable from sacrifice.

Genesis 26:26-33

2008.Jul.26 02:45

Treaty

Read Genesis 26:26-33 | Full Chapter

Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with his adviser Ahuzzath and Phicol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?" They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we said, 'Let there now be an oath between us, even between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.'"
(Genesis 26:26-29, NASB)

Abimelech wants a treaty, more or less, with Isaac. He is aware that Isaac is becoming increasingly powerful, and is an economic force to be reckoned with, that he is “the blessed of the Lord”. This is a bit uncomfortable. After all, Abimelech, shortly before this, recommended that Isaac buzz off. Yes, it was probably for mutual good, but still, you can understand that Isaac is less than happy to see the king, especially accompanied by his adviser and military commander. Abimelech’s explanation seems to appease him, though. Or, maybe Isaac just sees this treaty as advantageous to himself as well.

Then he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. In the morning they arose early and exchanged oaths; then Isaac sent them away and they departed from him in peace. Now it came about on the same day, that Isaac's servants came in and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, "We have found water." So he called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
(Genesis 26:30-33, NASB)

So, it could have gone like this. Isaac’s sitting at the entrance of his tent, and sees the king coming with the army commander. He’s had all these troubles with the herdsmen of Gerar, on top of having to move from the land he and his family have been living in. My mind, in this situation, might have jumped to the possibility that Abimelech is about to offer a treaty, yes, but a very poor one on Isaac’s side, with the other option being Abimelech’s army against Isaac’s group. Because things have not been going well for Isaac.

Instead, the treaty is a positive one, and they finally have a well that’s not being contested. One of the biggest difficulties of having faith is those really dark moments, when it just seems like everything is going wrong and one more trouble is going to be too much. And, yet, as here, as with Job, you may be on the edge of a huge blessing. Or, at least, know that if you fall of the cliff, Yahweh is quite capable of catching you still.