Tag: Genesis 25-26
Isaac connects with God!
Scriptures for January 10th: Genesis 25-26
On our farm in Iowa, we had a dug well that was 110 feet deep. (Not a drilled well!) This well was about 4 feet across and my father and his dad and brothers had helped dig this well and brick it up. This ties with the story of Isaac nearly 4000 years ago!
Because of a famine, Isaac camped in the Valley of Gerar in the land of the Philistines and reopened the wells of his father Abraham. Wells were important for several reasons. They provided precious water in the desert that enabled crops, animals and humans to have refreshing and life. They provided a gathering place for communities to get this water daily for their use. (Jesus met the woman at the well in John chapter 4.) Wells also provided a means to increase a family’s wealth and provide for offspring.
Because of a famine, Isaac went to Gerar of the Philistines. God told him to stay there and gave him the promise of the land and descendants as the stars in the sky. (Genesis 26:2-6) Isaac obeyed and planted crops that year. God blessed him with a hundred fold return! Jealousy caused the Philistines to stop up the wells of Abraham that Isaac had been using. He moved on and dug new wells and God provided fresh water every time! God met him at Beersheba and blessed him! (Genesis 26:24-25) Isaac responded with an altar and another well.
The lesson for us is to dig for water wherever we are planted. We dig by going to Jesus and asking daily for His will and provision. May we, like Isaac, leave a legacy of wells of refreshing and blessing everywhere we go! May we re-dig the wells of our godly fathers!
“Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.” Genesis 26:19
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Isaac, farmer and well-digger!
Scripture reading for January 11th: Genesis 25-26
On our farm in Iowa, we had a dug well that was 110 feet deep. (Not a drilled well!) This well was about 4 feet across and my father and his dad and brothers had helped dig this well and brick it up. Occasionally, we would set up a tower with a rope and a basket and my dad would be lowered into the well to check the bricks and eliminate roots that were growing in through the wall. It always amazed me that Dad said he could see the stars from the bottom of that well in broad daylight.
Because of a famine, Isaac camped in the Valley of Gerar in the land of the Philistines and reopened the wells of his father Abraham. Wells were important for several reasons. The provided precious water in the desert that enabled crops, animals and humans to have refreshing and life. They provided a gathering place for communities to get this water daily for their use. (Jesus met the woman at the well in John chapter 4.) Wells also provided a means to increase a family’s wealth and provide for offspring.
The wells were also a source of quarreling in Isaac’s day. Rather than fight over the wells, Isaac went to another location and dug a new well. As Isaac obeyed, God opened new wells for him and gave him amazing promises. “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and increase the number of your descendants for the sake of your father Abraham.” Genesis 26:24-5)
The lesson for us is to dig for water wherever we are planted. We dig by going to Jesus and asking daily for His will and provision. When you dig a well and the hole is deep, look up and see the stars and remember God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac! May we, like Isaac, leave a legacy of wells of refreshing and blessing everywhere we go! May we re-dig the wells of our godly fathers!
“Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.” Genesis 26:19
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Digging Wells and Prayer
Scripture reading for January 11th: Genesis 25-26
Water is essential for human survival. Water is not always easy to find, especially in a desert location. But men are very resourceful and have developed techniques for locating water and then for making it available to use for life. Abraham and Isaac were both well-diggers. They found water in dry places and dug wells that became famous social gathering places in the dry desert of southern Israel. One of those places was Beersheba, which means ‘well of the oath’. (Genesis 22:30-33).
Isaac and Ishmael had buried Abraham, who died at 175 years of age after having lived a full life of faith. (Genesis 25:7-10) Scripture states that after Abraham’s passing, God blessed Isaac. Isaac was married to Rebekah, but they had no children. Isaac then prayed to the Lord for his wife and God answered the prayer with twins in her womb. The babies jostled in her womb and she went to inquire of the Lord about what was happening. “The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other; the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23) We note a pattern of prayer in the lives of these who followed Abraham. As they asked the Lord, He responded to them and let them in on His plans. Prayer is a communication in our relationship with God, who is Spirit.
Isaac encountered a famine in the desert land and went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines. God appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land where I tell you to live. . . . and I will be with you and will bless you.” (Genesis 26:2-3) Isaac obeyed and planted crops in that land and reaped a hundredfold because of the Lord’s blessing. When he became wealthy, the Philistines were threatened by him so they stopped up the wells that Abraham had dug, hoping to discourage him.
Isaac dug new wells, but the quarrels continued. He went back to Beersheba, the well of the oath. There God appeared to him again and reaffirmed the covenant. Digging wells brings refreshing water and a place of relationship. Prayer with the Lord brings life-giving water and relationship that guides us successfully to our eternal home!
Isaac the farmer and well-digger!
Scriptures for January 10th: Genesis 25-26
On our farm in Iowa, we had a dug well that was 110 feet deep. (Not a drilled well!) This well was about 4 feet across and my father and his dad and brothers had helped dig this well and brick it up. Occasionally, we would set up a tower with a rope and a basket and my dad would be lowered into the well to check the bricks and eliminate roots that were growing in through the wall. It always amazed me that Dad said he could see the stars from the bottom of that well in broad daylight.
Because of a famine, Isaac camped in the Valley of Gerar in the land of the Philistines and reopened the wells of his father Abraham. The well provided precious water in the desert that enabled crops, animals and humans to have refreshing and life. They provided a gathering place for communities to get this water daily for their use. (Jesus met the woman at the well in John chapter 4.) Wells also provided a means to increase a family’s wealth and provide for offspring. They were also a source of quarreling in Isaac’s day. Rather than fight over the wells, Isaac went to another location and dug a new well. God blessed him to find a fresh supply of water wherever he went.
Because of a famine, Isaac went to Gerar of the Philistines. It was there that God gave him the promise of the land and descendants as the stars in the sky as He did to Abraham. (Genesis 26:2-6) Isaac obeyed and planted crops that year. God blessed him with a hundred fold return! It wasn’t his farming skill but God’s blessings that made the difference! Jealousy caused the Philistines to stop up the wells of Abraham that Isaac had been using. He moved on and dug new wells and God provided fresh water every time! God met him at Beersheba and blessed him! (Genesis 26:24-25) Isaac responded with an altar and another well.
The lesson for us is to dig for water wherever we are planted. We dig by going to Jesus and asking daily for His will and provision. If we seek the Lord for direction, He will bless us, even in a famine! When you dig a well and the hole is deep, look up and see the stars and remember God’s promise to Abraham and Isaac! May the laughter (Isaac–Ha ha ha) of faith fill your life! May we, like Isaac, leave a legacy of wells of refreshing and blessing everywhere we go! May we re-dig the wells of our godly fathers!
“Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.” Genesis 26:19
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14