Isaac, the son of promise, had the torch passing role between Abraham, the father of the faith and Jacob, the father of the twelves tribes of Israel. Unlike the two others he did not have his name changed but then there was no need of it, since God named him from birth. Squeezed between these two fathers, this son of promise has a lot to teach us.
We shall look at the wells in his life. To own a well and to possess the surrounding country were synonymous terms. On the other hand, so serious might be the disputes arising out of the use or claim of a well that the sword was appealed to as sole arbiter. If the approach of an enemy was feared, his progress might be seriously hampered, if not altogether frustrated, by stopping or destroying the wells along his route. The enemy, in his turn, might reduce a city to starvation and submission by cutting off its water supply. Wells are very important in Scripture. Wells have the water of life in them. The first well that we see Isaac in connection with is:
Beer Lahai Roi – the well of the Living One who sees me
– Genesis 24:62 – Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.
– He was living at Gerar. He went out to the field one evening to meditate. No doubt this was his usual place of meditation. He no doubt spent many years praying for a wife, as scripture tells us he was 40 when he married. Now that his father’s servant had gone to Canaan to fetch him a wife, Isaac had no doubt gone out to pray for her. It is wonderful to note that this servant found his wife at a well.
– Lesson 1: He was near a well when he was waiting for a wife. If we are near a well while waiting for our promise, we will have victory.
– Lesson 2: If we are not living at the well of the Living One, the vision of life, we shall perish. Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people perish.
Esek – the well of contention or strife
– Genesis 26:19-20 – But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Here we see, that even if the wells belonged to him and that the Philistines took them because of jealousy, he did not quarrel, he just moved on.
– Lesson 3: Don’t react to jeaously. If people are envious of you let it go. Proverbs 24:19 – Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
Sitnah – Hostility
– Genesis 21 – Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. The jealousy continued, although the Philistines had not dug the well. Here too, we see he did not react, he just moved on again.
– Lesson 4: Don’t give up because of opposition. 2 Timothy 2:3 – Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ & James 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him
Rehoboth – the well of enlargement or flourishing
– Genesis 26:22 – He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” It is here that the Lord appeared to him and reaffirmed the promise of a future. Isaac response was to build an altar and call on the name of the Lord. It was an altar of commitment.
– Lesson 5: Walk uprightly. Psalm 1:1-3 – Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Beershebah – (Sibah) – oath
– Genesis 26:23-25 – From there he went up to Beersheba. That night the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well. The blessing of the Lord on him made Abimelech fear him therefore he wanted an oath of peace between.
– Lesson 6: Seek the kingdom first. Matthew 6:33 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
– Lesson 7: Seek to please God at any cost. Proverbs 16:7 – When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him
I will end with a poem the Lord inspired me to write.
You have to be able to sacrifice your Isaac
No !
Sacrifice what ?
Sacrifice my Isaac
I can’t do that
I believed for so long
I’ve worked so hard for this
But you promised, I do not understand
I’ve tried so hard to keep my faith
If I do that, I’ll have wasted my time
Yes !
Sacrifice Isaac
Sacrifice your Isaac
You can do it
I will be with you
I am aware of your belief
I’ve seen all your labour of love
I have everything in control, just trust me
In sacrificing your Isaac, you give Me the glory
There is such total liberty in sacrificing your Isaac[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]