Gen. 26:18-2518And 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. 19And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20And 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. 21And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22And 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. 23And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. 24And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. 25And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well. (Genesis 26:18‑25)
EVERY step away from Abimelech and nearer the place of separation to his God contributed to the restoration of blessing to Isaac. He had allowed prosperity, together with conflict with the Philistines, to interfere with that pathway that would have directed him aright and shown him how to detach himself from a deceitful people. Now God had intervened, in spite of his carelessness and provided circumstances that forced him to separate himself. As he moved across the valley of Gerar he dug again the wells of his father. In doing so his thoughts must have turned back to that faithful man who had left so much for an example to him. Yet, even here the Philistines continued to contend with him over the wells.
“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. And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.” vv. 22, 23. The Lord will ever provide room for His own, without intermingling with man’s religious activities. This principle is repeatedly brought before God’s people in both the Old and New Testament Scriptures. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lo Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6: 14, 17, 18.
How happy to see Isaac return Beer-sheba where his father enjoy such happy communion with the Lord. This place, too, had been the first real evidence of Abraham restoration after his experience with the Philistines. “And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham’s sake.” v. 24. What loving, condes tending grace this was to one who had been in failure! But the restoration was complete and there is no record that Isaac ever returned to Gerar again.
Beloved Christian reader, God ever welcome back to His grace al who are His. He may bring the wanderer through deep waters because of his waywardness, but when it truth and sincerity confession of the fault is made, He delights to bring refreshing to the soul and give strength to put away that which has been strange to His truth.
It was in “the same night” of Isaac’s return that the blessings were repeated to him. With heart lifter up he built an altar and offered his praise to God. Here too he dug new well. Not only would he enjoy the well left by his father, but wanted to find refreshment from a well of his own. It is good for the believer to search out spiritual wells from God’s precious Word.
ML-06/26/1966