III. Isaac Disputes Over His Wells (Genesis 26:12-22)
A. Genesis 26:12 – Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
1. sowed – זרע zara, to sow, scatter seed
2. hundredfold – מאה me'ah, hundred
· Recall that there is still a famine going on at this time, yet God richly blesses Isaac.
· It had to be very clear to observers that Isaac was blessed of God.
· Psalm 37:18-19 - The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
3. We see here Isaac beginning to receive the promise of God to be blessed. He was obedient in that he remained in the land as God had instructed and is blessed through the promise God made to his Father Abraham and later transferred to Isaac.
B. Genesis 26:13 – And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
1. man – איש 'iysh, man, mortal man, person, mankind
2. waxed great – גדל gadal, to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things
3. Isaac continued to grow the wealth that he inherited from his father Abraham.
C. Genesis 26:14 – For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
1. People are inclined to be envious of those who are blessed by God rather than rejoice with them in their blessing.
· Proverbs 27:4 – Wrath [is] cruel, and anger [is] outrageous; but who [is] able to stand before envy?
· Ecclesiastes 4:4 – Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.
D. Genesis 26:15 – For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.
1. Actions derived from the envy of Isaac’s wealth. Sometimes when people act out of envy their actions don’t make sense. Why would anyone stop up a well that had water in it other than to instigate conflict.
2. Obviously the Philistines had no flocks and herds of their own to water so they spitefully filled in the wells that others could have used.
3. The Philistines were possibly hoping that Isaac would retaliate so they would have grounds to attack and take all of his possessions.
E. Genesis 26:16 – And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
1. Abimelech saw Isaac’s field and envied his crop and all of his possessions, he probably kicked him out so that he could take possession of Isaac’s crop.
2. mightier – עצם `atsam, to be vast, be numerous, be mighty
3. Abimelech is asking a difficult thing of Isaac, to leave behind all of the work he has done
F. Genesis 26:17 – And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar
1. Went from Gerar to the Valley of Gerar
· We should deny ourselves both in our rights and in our conveniences, rather than quarrel: a wise and a good man will rather retire into obscurity, like Isaac here into a valley, than sit high to be the butt of envy and ill-will. Matthew Henry’s Commentary
· Was this God’s Will? God had originally told Isaac to dwell in this land, did that include the valley?
2. Isaac was very mobile to be able to pack up and move
G. Genesis 26:18 – And 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.
1. He opened the wells that his father had digged (v. 18), and out of respect to his father called them by the same names that he had given them. Note, In our searches after truth, that fountain of living water, it is good to make use of the discoveries of former ages, which have been clouded by the corruptions of later times. Enquire for the old way, the wells which our fathers digged, which the adversaries of truth have stopped up: Ask thy elders, and they shall teach thee. Matthew Henry’s Commentary
2. This paints a picture that the adversaries of God will hide or rewrite truth in order to exasperate God’s people. Our forefathers have built ‘wells’ that we can build upon, rather than search for new ‘water’. Just as water is essential to our physical bodies, a well is a vehicle to obtain water. Our spiritual bodies require living water and the vehicle to obtain living water is truth. Sometimes we have to uncover the truth.
H. Genesis 26:19 – And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
1. living water
· Living – חי chay, living alive, flowing fresh
· Water - מים mayim, water, waters
· John 7:38 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
o Isaiah 12:3 – Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
i. Salvation - ישועה yĕshuw`ah, salvation, deliverance, derived from the same root as יהושוע Yĕhowshuwa`, "Jehovah is salvation"
o Isaiah 58:11 – And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
2. Notice that it is Isaac’s servants that dig the well, we as servants of Christ must obey the command to dig. By digging we are exposing truth, truth is what leads to living water.
I. Genesis 26:20 – And 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.
1. Esek - עשק `Eseq, "contention"
2. This paints a picture of what we should expect when truth is brought forth, contention.
· Just as the Philistines had dominion over Gerar, so too do our enemies (spiritual wickedness in high places) currently have dominion over this world and they strive with us when we do the Will of God.
· We know this region eventually belongs to the children of Israel
J. Genesis 26:21 – And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
1. Sitnah - שטנה Sitnah, “strife” or “hatred”
2. These Philistines didn’t strive with them while they were digging, they waited until the well was dug and then claimed ownership.
3. The Philistines let Isaac’s servants do all of the work before they pursued it, similar to how inventions or discoveries are made with an originally good intention, but later used for evil (ie. dynamite, internet, etc…).
K. Genesis 26:22 – 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.
1. Note that Isaac didn’t spend much time striving, the well was in dispute, he left it to them and dug another well.
· Psalm 120:6-7 - My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I [am for] peace: but when I speak, they [are] for war.
2. Isaac, like Christ was a man of contention, but did not seek to be contentios.
· Matthew 10:34 - Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
o Jesus does not mean a sword in the physical, but the sword is representative of debate and disagreement that may escalate into significant contention.
o This contention may escalate into persecution against the servants of Christ, but we should remain steadfast in the Word, seek peace where possible, but without compromise.
· Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
o Is this a contradiction? No, He has not yet assumed the role of Prince of Peace, under His rule there will be eternal peace.
3. Persistance pays off, eventually Isaac possessed a well without contention
4. Rehoboth - רחבות Rĕchobowth, "wide places or streets"
· A picture of heaven, there is room enough there for all to thrive in peace.
IV. The Lord Appears to Isaac in Beersheba
A. Genesis 26:23 – And he went up from thence to Beersheba
1. About a days journey
2. Why would he dig a well and leave? Probably due to the constant state of contention and uneasiness he withdrew himself to a place of familiarity
B. Genesis 26:24 – 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.
1. Appeared how? In a dream? In person?
2. This was likely God comforting Isaac when he felt unsettled from all of the contention
3. Since the text reads that the Lord’s appearance to Isaac took place at night, can we assume this was a dream?
4. Again, note the message, “fear not” which is a common theme throughout both Old and New Testements. Fear is a major hurdle for us to overcome in this life.
V. Isaac and Abimelech Make a Covenant (Genesis 26:26-33)
A. Genesis 26:25 – And 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.
1. Isaac built the altar, but his servants built the well. Shows his priority was honoring the Lord, he took it upon himself to build the altar.
· Isaac commemorates God’s visitation for something tangible to remember it by.
· No doubt this served as an example for his household to see that honoring the Lord was so important that the boss himself is building the altar.
2. Isaac’s servants dug yet another well.
· At this point they have become experts in the well digging business
B. Genesis 26:26 – Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
1. Abimelech came all the way to Beersheba
2. Ahuzzath – אחזת 'Achuzzath, "possession" interesting that this was a friend of Abimelech but his name means possession, was he a possession of Abimelech?
3. Phichol – פיכל Piykol, "strong", likely a title given to the chief captain of the army since it is unlikely this is the same Phichol that visited Abraham with Abimelech’s father
C. Genesis 26:27 – And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
1. Isaac has to be like “now what?”
2. This meeting will serve to put Isaac’s mind at ease knowing that he can now live in peace.
D. Genesis 26:28 – And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, [even] betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
1. States a clear observation that the Lord was with him
· When we are in the will of God it should be clear to others that He is with us
2. Beersheba
· Appropriately named by Abraham from the oath/covenant Abimelech made at that time
· Here we are again at Beersheba
3. Looks like Abimelech regrets his inhospitable actions toward Isaac, either that or he was also living in a state of contention wondering if this man Isaac would be back to seek vengeance upon him. Whatever the reason, it was important enough for the king of a nation to take a days journey to make this covenant.
E. Genesis 26:29 – That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou [art] now the blessed of the LORD.
1. God tells Isaac to “fear not” yet here Isaac finds out that Abimelech was the one who was living in fear of Isaac.
F. Genesis 26:30 – And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.
1. No hard feelings
2. Not now, but we know eventually the Philistines become one of the chief adversarial nations against Israel
G. Genesis 26:31 – And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
1. The actions of Abimelech here toward Isaac are almost exactly the same actions taken by his father toward Abraham
2. What is so significant that we have very similar circumstances occurring twice by two different sets of people? God is faithful and will be our refuge
· Psalm 9:9-10 - The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
H. Genesis 26:32 – And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.
1. Isaac did not insist on restitution of the other wells that were taken from him, God once again shows that He is bigger than any circumstance and provides relief to Isaac in the form of yet another well.
2. The well dug at Beersheba
3. This is supposedly where Abraham lived out his days, why is it surprising that the well had water?
4. Why did they need to dig a well?
I. Genesis 26:33 – And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city [is] Beersheba
1. Shebah – שבעה Shib`ah, "an oath"
2. Beersheba Sheba
3. The same name that Abraham gave to this well, Isaac honors his father by keeping this name, like the other wells.
VI. Esau Marries (Genesis 26:34-35)
A. Genesis 26:34 – And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
1. Esau back on the scene, where was he and Jacob up to this point?
· If he is marrying Hittite women, its likely he was dwelling in the land of the Hittites
· Jacob may have been on a pilgrimage in the south country (Negev ) with his Shem according to the book of Jasher.
2. Two Hittite wives at age 40, Isaac was 100 years old
· Each had two names:
o Judith à Aholibamah (36:5, 14, 25)
o Bashemath à Adah (36:2)
· Precise genealogy is given in Chapter 36
3. Taking two wives from the Hittites may be what led to him being called a fornicator
· Hebrews 12:16 - Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
B. Genesis 26:35 – Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.
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