Keep Digging the Well

Introduction

Do you ever come across a section in your Bible, where you know you have read before but God reveals something new and fresh? I often experience this with small promises/truths in Scripture. Or have small moments where I see this passage is connected to another. Today I am sharing a story from Genesis that I never remember being taught or read.

I shared a small part of the story with the Students on Wednesday. Preparing for that message inspired this one, I want to share today from Genesis 26:26-33 | Keep Digging the Well.

Before we read Gen 26, lets understand where Isaac is coming from.

Isaac is with his family in his father’s land

A plague comes upon the land & Isaac packs up his family and head for Egypt (just like his father)

On the way, God stops him in Gerar (Philistine rule), and tells him to live in this land

Upon their arrival, Isaac tells his wife to pretend to be his sister so they can live - they get caught by king Abimelech!

They stay in the land and Isaac is thriving in this foreign land.

Before long the Philistine’s jealousy drive out Isaac and his family far from Gerar.

They make there way through different locations and finish at place Isaac calls Rehoboth, which means spacious. Isaac used this word to proclaim “the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful.”

Now we are in Genesis 26:26, where Isaac is about to interact with king of the Philistines again. (Read passage)

In the introduction we covered that the Philistines put dirt in Isaac’s wells. Then told him to leave Gerar. As they dug wells outside Gerar the Philistines continued to claim that he was still on their land. But he reached a point where they dug a well and God provided land for them.

The well was the vital part to inhabit a place

To throw dirt in someones well and mess with their water supply were fighting words. Situations like this were often settled in a fight or war.

Isaac responded in an unfamiliar way. He continued to show grace and kindness to them. His grace and kindness led to a powerful moment where the king later came to Isaac asking for a treaty between the two. (Because they saw the power of the LORD)

Tonight I want to share two promises about keep digging your well. There will be people who want to put dirt in your well. They are going to interrupt/distract/disturb your walk with Christ. We can be quick to judge and fight back. God shows us a moment right here to keep digging your well.

When there is water at the well, this shows us that the Lord extended His grace. God continued to provide wells for Isaac and his people. God continued to show grace to His people.

There Will Always be Interruptions - Keep Digging the Well

Isaac is permitted to stay in Gerar by the king, and Isaac thriving and living life (Gen 26:12-14) (Phil 4:19). While he is there the Philistines get jealous and put dirt in their well. This well was actually from Abraham, his father. After the people saw Isaac’s success, they told him that he and his family had to leave Gerar.

There will always be interruptions, even when life is going great - keep digging the well.

Interruptions can and most likely will come from the least expected places. Know that these interruptions are the work of demonic influences. We see here that Christ’s plan is for His people to dig a well and then build a life together for God’s glory.

There will be people you have been or are currently doing life with, they choose to push you out or try to ignore you - keep digging your well.

Those same people may come back and try to bandage the relationship like king Abimelech did (vs 28). What he came to secure was his safety because he feared Isaac and the LORD he served. There may be some moments where you mend relationships with these people because it is genuine. There will be other situations where they are trying to be in your life and not serve the same God you serve.

When someone is trying to be in your life and they do not serve Jesus, be kind and gracious to them, BUT keep digging your well! Do not get distracted by what the world has to offer. We see a clear example in this passage of Isaac following God by digging the well, and the Lord blessed him.

When dirt was thrown into the well. When the wells Isaac dug were taken from him. When the king who kicked him out, made a pact with him. ALL of these were just major inconvenient interruptions. They did not ruin the well or keep them from digging more wells. When interruptions come up in your christian walk, they do not ruin your life unless you allow it. There will be times when you have to dig out your well if you want fresh clean water.

There will always be Jesus - Keep Digging the Well

Jesus provided wells to show grace to those people. Jesus provides wells and water now to show grace to everyone around you so they don’t have to smell you.

After Isaac formed an oath with King Abimelech and sent them on their way, Isaac’s servants return sharing that they have dug another well. Remember what water in a well symbolize? It symbolizes the grace of God. God’s grace was upon Isaac because he was obedient to what the Lord called him

Amongst every distraction and interruption in your life, there will be always be Jesus - KEEP DIGGING YOUR WELL. We know from this same chapter that God provided one well already, Rehoboth. Now HE has provided another called Shibah.

There will always be Jesus - there will always be grace! Digging the well shows us more than God’s grace. It shows a deep relationship being formed with Jesus. There will always be Jesus and there will always be ways to grow in the relationship with Jesus. Keep Digging the Well! You stay faithful to digging the well - you stay faithful to the work God has called you, Jesus will take care of the interruptions.

Closing

Keep Digging the Well!

Just like Isaac’s home was found by digging a well, your life must start with salvation. You have to find the living water.

Before civilization would be founded, a water source had to be secured. Your salvation must be secured and it can be secured in Christ! Today you can know Jesus. Put all the interruptions and distractions aside, in the name of Jesus. Come to know Jesus.

I know there some in this room that are saved, but dirt has been put in your well. Your walk with Christ has been interrupted. Today you come to this alter and repent, ask God to remove the dirt from your well so that you can continue walking with Jesus. Don’t Let dirt build up in your well. Don’t let sin build in your life. Repent right now - keep digging the well.

Ask God to search your heart! Life may seem like your digging the well but the water isn’t there. You’re reaching out to God but there seems to be a disconnect

one time we lost water to house

fixed the pump

fixed the pipes

still no water

wasn’t until my dad slowed stopped and God showed him where a pipe was busted by the house