WELL, WELL, WELL

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 22:31–32 NLT

31 “But now, as to whether there will be a resurrection of the dead—haven’t you ever read about this in the Scriptures? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.”

It is not possible to understand what God is doing in the earth without considering His interactions with at least three generations.

Therefore, any believer, any church, or any ministry, that is not honoring the past, engaging the present, and investing in the future, is not cooperating with God in His kingdom and creation.

How we as the church of this generation handle the transition to the next generation will determine the survival of the United States of America and nations beyond.

ISAAC AND HIS THREE WELLS

Life of Isaac is rich with illustrations of the generational nature of God and a model of spiritual growth to maturity. It demonstrates the generational nature of God.

Genesis 26:12–15 NLT

12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.

Issac is serving the God of Abraham at this point in his life, not the God of Isaac. He is drinking from his father’s wells, and worshipping at his father’s altars.

Abraham has laid the foundation for his generational covenant blessing and mission:

Genesis 26:16 NLT

16 Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”

Abimelech is the leader of the Philistines. His name means, “My father is king”.

The name Philistines, means “

The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names Philistine(s)

Philistine(s) (fil-is’-tin) = Same as Palestine = The land of wanderers; land of strangers. Rolled in dust. Wallowing.

This is the eternal conflict of two kingdoms:

The kingdom of this earth, where Satan, the god of the earth falsely claims authority.

The Kingdom of God where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are preeminent.

God’s legitimate kingdom is in the process displacing the counterfeit kingdom of Satan. This is the epic struggle of creation from Genesis to Revelation.

Genesis 12:1–3 NLT

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Now it is left to Isaac to continue that covenant legacy.

Genesis 26:17–18 NLT

17 So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. 18 He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

Issac honors the past. But also, look at Isaac’s priorities. He pitched his tent, then restored his father’s wells and altars, building no of his own.

Genesis 26:19–20 NLT

19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. 20 But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”).

Don’t think everyone is going to celebrate your new life in God. Not right away, anyway.

Genesis 26:21 NLT

21 Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).

The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names Sitnah

Sitnah (sit’-nah) = Accusation; hated; contention; (root = to lie in wait; to be an adversary). Hostility.

Notice the resistance increased from argument to accusation, to outright hostility.

Genesis 26:22 NLT

22 Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”

At last, Isaac has come out of the world far enough to get some breathing room. He begins to prosper for his obedience, but he doesn’t stop there...

Genesis 26:23–25 NLT

23 From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, 24 where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” 25 Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.

Look at the maturing of Issac in his priorities, first, he built an altar and worshipped, then he pitched his tents, then he dug another well. Not relying only on the well dug by his father (Beersheba - Well of the oath).

Look at the multi-generational wisdom of God.

Genesis 21:22–34 NLT

22 About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. “God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do,” Abimelech said. 23 “Swear to me in God’s name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner.” 24 Abraham replied, “Yes, I swear to it!” 25 Then Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well that Abimelech’s servants had taken by force from Abraham’s servants. 26 “This is the first I’ve heard of it,” Abimelech answered. “I have no idea who is responsible. You have never complained about this before.” 27 Abraham then gave some of his sheep, goats, and cattle to Abimelech, and they made a treaty. 28 But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves. 29 Abimelech asked, “Why have you set these seven apart from the others?” 30 Abraham replied, “Please accept these seven lambs to show your agreement that I dug this well.” 31 Then he named the place Beersheba (which means “well of the oath”), because that was where they had sworn the oath. 32 After making their covenant at Beersheba, Abimelech left with Phicol, the commander of his army, and they returned home to the land of the Philistines. 33 Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he worshiped the Lord, the Eternal God. 34 And Abraham lived as a foreigner in Philistine country for a long time.

Proverbs 16:7 NLT

7 When people’s lives please the Lord, even their enemies are at peace with them.