Untitled Sermon

When there is strife between close relations

Genesis 26:18–35

Every once in a while we are going to have strife between people who we know and even in families, churches, and friends on the church. We are in a transition period between the stories of Isaac and Jacob. We learned that Esau had nothing to do in his birthright and his inheritance. He gave that to Jacob. We do not know what we had until we lose it. We are going to see hostility for a few sermons until Esau goes off the story. Nothing can work right or function properly when there is strife and hostility in that relationship. We have to remember that Isaac picked Esau as his favorite. Rebekah picked Jacob. If you remember that the firstborn gets everything and the younger serves the older. Esau and Jacob fought ever since they were conceived.

There was the people of Gerar

Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them. The sign that he had relocated sufficiently far enough was the absence of any challenge to the discovery of a new well. He named the well “Rehoboth, meaning “wide, broad, spacious. His explanation for the name involves the root term rāḥab, to make spacious. Traditionally, the site is identified with Ruheibe, on the northeast side of the Wadi Ruheibe, about eighteen miles southwest of Beersheba. The Nabatean site first century BC probably was named after the biblical name Rehoboth, believing it was the same location as Isaac’s well. It possesses the largest well in the Negev and the site second in size to Halusa (Elousa) in the Negev. Flourish is a standard term in the blessing formula, usually rendered to be fruitful. Afterward Isaac’s family ascended the hills of the northern Negev to the location Beersheba.

Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. I think that this should have been a reminder of what God did in the past. The gift is from God alone (Isa. 44:3; Zech. 12:10). His will to bless appears through the whole Bible—in the first formation of man, and in care for the salvation of sinners (Luke 19:10). But many, though thirsty, do not seek living water. They have not peace. Separation from God brings unrest (Isa. 57:20). But the cause is not believed, and the way of comfort not loved. Many try all ways to find peace except the right one. They will follow preachers, or take up systems, or join associations. But Christ’s word is “Come unto me. Again, many will not dig; content merely to wish. God who bestows the gift has appointed means (Matt. 11:12). These do not really desire a work of grace in their souls. Want to be made safe, not to be renewed; to be delivered from fear, but not disturbed just now. Hence do not search their Bibles (Ps. 119:130), or pray for the Holy Spirit (Ezek. 37:9), or care for the salvation of others (1 John 3:17). It is God’s will we should dig. He may send a blessing unsought. But usually he works through means. The Bible, prayer, the Lord’s table, Christian converse, Christian work (Prov. 11:25), all are as wells, means for getting the water of life; nothing in themselves, yet made effectual where the blessing is desired.

II. Hindrances. Let none expect to possess wells of salvation without. They form the trial of faith (1 Pet. 1:7). From those who love not God. A Christian member of a worldly family, or cast among careless associates, meets many hindrances. They may be open or veiled; in opposition or in mistaken kindness. And time for prayer is intruded on, and work for God is hindered, and a constant opposing influence is felt to chill the love of God. Or the hindrance may be from within. In prayer the mind overpowered by intrusive thoughts; besetting sins constantly gaining the victory; our spirits not in harmony with the still small voice. Remember it is God’s will through trial to give victory (1 Cor. 10:13). Amalek fought against Israel (Exod. 17.) as the herdsmen strove against Isaac, but the way of victory was the same in both instances—trust and perseverance.

But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. We will not accomplish anything by arguing with everybody over a minor deal. What colors should the carpet be? What colors should the walls be. I feel that little arguments can destroy a church or any kind of an organization. At first glance, I thought that the two groups have never met before.

Abraham moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he call

ed its name Rehoboth, because he said, For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. Isaac took another step toward establishing good relations with his neighbors by moving yet again (v. 22), abandoning the wells to the Philistines..

There was the promise of God

Then he went up from there to Beersheba. And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.

or the longest period of time, Isaac had faced nothing but contention and strife, opposition and hostility. The people surrounding him saw him as a serious threat to their prosperity and security. Isaac knew that they could launch an attack against him at any time. A desperate fear apparently gripped his heart, and he wondered if God’s promises would really be fulfilled in his life. Now, note what happened.

a. Isaac moved to Beersheba. Henry Morris points out that Beersheba held fond memories for Isaac. It was there that Abraham had made a treaty with the Philistines and had built an altar (Ge. 21:32–34). Abraham had also moved his family and ranching operation to Beersheba after offering Isaac as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah (Ge. 22:19).2. The memories of the good times—the joys of life and the close fellowship with God—drew Isaac back to Beersheba. He knew that he had been following God only half-heartedly, that he had been living on the border of the promised land, so to speak, one foot in and one foot out. He knew that he had been putting too much trust in the world and not enough in God. Isaac knew that he needed to have a fresh experience with God, needed to meet God face to face and repent of his half-hearted and lukewarm commitment. Isaac knew that God alone could erase his fear and protect him from his enemies, that God alone could fulfill the promises made to him. He desperately wanted a fresh experience with God; he wanted to rededicate his life anew to God. Thus he struck out to return to Beersheba, the place where he had experienced the most peace in life, the place where he had experienced his strongest walk and fellowship with God.

b. Note that God met Isaac and relieved his fear. And note when: on the very night that he arrived at Beersheba. Isaac had been away from God, living only a half-hearted, lukewarm life for God. But God loved Isaac, and as soon as Isaac turned back to God and returned to the heart of the promised land, God met Isaac. And God relieved Isaacs fear by flooding him with His presence and with His Word, saying, Do not fear, for I Yahweh, am with you. Yahweh is the name of God that stresses His redemption and deliverance. Isaac had no need to fear the Philistines nor anyone else, for Yahweh, the God of salvation and deliverance, would deliver him, and by assuring Isaac of His promises, that He would bless Isaac and multiply his offspring. Isaac would bear the promised seed.

In referring to Abraham, note that God calls Abraham my servant.

c. Isaac responded to God by doing exactly what he should have done: he built an altar and worshipped God. The idea is that he continued to worship God; the altar was the place where Isaac went day by day to worship God. Note also that Isaac settled in Beersheba and dug a well to provide water for his household.

Thought 1. Fear is a bitter experience to suffer, yet so many of us are gripped by fear far too often. God is the answer to fear, His presence and His promises. Therefore to conquer fear, we must turn to God and His Word. We must repent and turn away from any sin that is in our lives and seek God with our whole heart. We must seek God’s Word for His promises, the promises that assure us of His presence and power to deliver us from fear. God will then meet us, flood us with His presence and His promises

25So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

There were the Philistines

Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. Isaac said to them, Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you? Isaac was wondering what was going on by coming to him by coming to him, because we learned in a previous sermon that Abimelech hated him. We read further to find out why.

But they said, We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.

b. Isaac forgot the past: he welcomed and received Abimelech and celebrated the occasion with a ceremonial feast (vv. 30–31). Then the next morning, the two parties arose and swore an oath to honor the treaty. Abimelech and his counselors then left.

c. Note, on that very day God blessed Isaac in a special way. Isaac’s workmen, who had been digging a new well, struck water. The idea is that it was a gusher. To commemorate the treaty of peace just signed, Isaac named the well Shibah, the well of the oath. Note that this name is taken from the last part of Beer-sheba, the city where Isaac was then living. Abraham had given Beersheba its name because of the treaty he had signed there (Ge. 21:31).

Thought 1. Note again the meekness of Isaac. He wanted and sought peace with his neighbors. He was willing to forget the past in order to secure peace and build good relationships with his neighbors. This should always be the desire of the believer’s heart: to forget the past and build good relationships with those who oppose us and are at odds with us.

Matthew 5:9: 5:43-44

Romans 14:19

Hebrews 12:144

So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. They somehow worked it out. We need to do the same thing by talking it out, and coming to an agreement of what we are going to do.

It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, We have found water. As I have studied this story, I that they put away their differences and drilled a well. 3So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was a disappointment from the day that met him. This is why I believe that God told Rebekah that Jacob would be the chosen son to carry on the family heritage and the seed of the woman and the Jewish people. I do not know why God did not tell Isaac the same thing as he told Rebekah.

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