GENESIS 26: Planting and Digging Wells

ISAAC PLANTED

Ever since Abraham arrived to the Promised Land, he and his family lived wandering, moving from place to place, in search of pastures for their livestock. Therefore, it was difficult for them to settle in a particular place, since they were foreigners, and as such they were not allowed to purchase land. Nonetheless, even though Abraham came from the land of Ur, Isaac was born on the Land of Canaan, and that may be why he had a stronger connection with the land.

After God confirmed to him the promise of land and offspring (Genesis 26:2-5), Isaac began to plant and cultivate the land.

(Genesis 26:12)  And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him, 

As we read their story, Isaac was the first patriarch to sow and reap in the Promised Land, and God prospered him abundantly.

NEIGHBOR ENVY

Sadly, Isaac’s prosperity provoked the people living in neighboring towns to envy, and they began to attack him.

(Genesis 26:13-16)  and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.  (14)  He had possessions of flocks and herds and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.  (15)  (Now the Philistines had stopped and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father.)  (16)  And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we." 

Envy is a negative feeling that leads to destruction. He who envies, instead of following in the footsteps of the one who is doing well, seeks to destroy him, to lower him to the level where all others are.

What can we do when we are the object of the envy of others? What Isaac did was to get away from them…

(Genesis 26:17-18)  So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there.  (18)  And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them.

Isaac went back to consider what his father had done. How did Abraham manage to live peacefully with his neighbors? He dug his own wells. However, they had envied him too, and when he died the neighbors covered up those wells.

The same thing happened again in Israel’s recent history. When the Jewish people were forced to leave the Gaza Strip, they left behind houses, fields and buildings. Instead of taking them and using them for their own benefit, the Palestinians seized the place and destroyed everything. That is the result when your hate and your envy are grater than your love for your own self.

WELLS

Access to water is essential in the Promised Land, both for the crops and the livestock. Without a permanent source of water, it is impossible to sustain crops or livestock. Basically, it is impossible to survive. Given the fact that there are no rivers or lakes in the south of Israel, people depend completely on wells or reservoirs.

That is why it was very important for Isaac to find a source of water. God also blessed him in this area, since he led him to discover a well of fresh water: a wellspring, which was something coveted in the region.

(Genesis 26:19)  Isaac's servants also dug a well near the little river and found fresh water. 

This prompted even more envy among the neighbors.

(Genesis 26:20-22)  But the men who herded sheep in the Valley of Gerar argued with Isaac's servants. They said, "This water is ours." So Isaac named that well Esek. He gave it that name because it was the place where they had argued with him.  (21)  Then Isaac's servants dug another well. But there was an argument over this well too. So Isaac named that well Sitnah.  (22)  Isaac moved from there and dug another well. No one came to argue about this well. So Isaac named it Rehoboth. He said, "Now the LORD has found a place for us. We will grow and be successful in this place."

Gerar—lit. A lodging place

Esek—lit. Strife

Sitnah—lit. Contention

Rehoboth—lit. Wide places or streets

Something similar happened to David, and he wrote a psalm about it:

(Psalms 18:17-27)  He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.  (18)  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.  (19)  He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.  (20)  The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.  (21)  For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.  (22)  For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.  (23)  I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt.  (24)  So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.  (25)  With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;  (26)  with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.  (27)  For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

CONFIRMATION IN BEERSHEBA

Genesis chapter 26 begins and ends with a confirmation of the Covenant with Isaac, the same covenant the Lord had made with his father Abraham.

When Isaac went to Beersheba, God appeared to him again:

(Genesis 26:23-24)  From there he went up to Beersheba.  (24)  And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake." 

Just like his father had done, Isaac also built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord.

(Genesis 26:25)  So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well. 

God confirmed the Divine Promise to Isaac on that place.

PEACE AGREEMENT

Beersheba was the place where Abraham made a peace covenant with Abimelech (Genesis 21:31-33).

When everything seems to be moving along peacefully with Isaac, suddenly Abimelech appears with the commander of his army. At first glance it appeared to be a threatening visit, but they clarified that they had other intentions…

(Genesis 26:26-31)  When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army,  (27)  Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?"  (28)  They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,  (29)  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."  (30)  So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.  (31)  In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace. 

Abimelech wanted to reach a peace agreement with Isaac, just as they had done with his father Abraham.

Miraculously, God stopped the neighbors from envying Isaac, and led them to seek peace with him. God sent Isaac a sign as a confirmation.

(Genesis 26:32-33)  That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug and said to him, "We have found water."  (33)  He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

Even today there are still two wells in Beersheba.

“Beersheba” literally means “well of seven”. It may also mean “well of the covenant”, because an oath that is declared seven times was considered to be a covenant.