You Can Take My Well...But You Can't Take My Water

Introduction

Isaac was the son of a famous father (Abraham), and the father of a famous son (Jacob, who became Israel). THIRTEEN chapters in Genesis are devoted to telling the story of Abraham, and around TEN chapters to the story of Jacob. They are major characters in the plot. But Isaac’s story is told in just TWO — chapter 24 (the account of Abraham finding him a wife, Rebekah), and this 26th chapter.

Nevertheless, Isaac’s life was by no means insignificant. He was the child that Abraham waited 100 years for — the child of promise. He was a miracle baby; conceived after Sarah had given up on all possibility of it still happening. Isaac was the one who carried on the line in the purposes of God. And on his deathbed, it was Isaac who lay his hands upon Jacob, unwittingly though it was, and set apart the future of Israel.

Even down to the present day, the Jews speak of “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”. He is listed among the champions of faith in Hebrews 11, where is says: “By faith (he) blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future”.

Isaac was the child of promise that Abraham had endured in faith for, but being the son of Abraham was NOT the key to his spiritual success. He carried on the line of God’s plan, and was used by God to set apart the next generation, but being the father of Jacob was NOT the key to his spiritual success. Isaac himself lived a life of faith, and carved out for himself the place God had predestined for him in history.

Genesis 26:12–25 KJV 1900

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. 17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. 23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. 24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. 25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

I. Isaac Was Blessed

A. He was blessed for His Labor

Genesis 26:12 KJV 1900

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

1. Pride 2022 Labor

a. We had several 18 volunteers yesterday

b. Totaling over 90+ volunteer hours

c. Gave Away Over 1000k beaded necklaces with our name & website

d. Gave away Over 1200k invitations to our church

e. We had 110 Registrations for our raffle, which then sent an email which included our contact info, location, online info.

f. Of those 110, 85 expressed interest in attending and/or would like some time of personal follow-up!

2. God will bless! If in no other way, our selflessness and willingness to come together as a church and serve!

II. Isaac Was Envied for His Heritage - The Wells of His Father

Genesis 26:14–15 KJV 1900

14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. 15 For all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.

1. Wells meant water

2. Water meant life, family, crops, & herds of animals

3. Prosperity - Initially Given by His Father, but disrupted by those who were threatened by Isaac & His Prosperity

We have as a nation are experiencing the benefits of a long line of people who have advocated for us!

People of color can look back at the great titans of the Civil Rights Movement and see how far we’ve come

The immigrants in our nation can see the potential that exists to thrive with the advocacy of organizations like LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizans) which is the oldest Hispanic/Latino civil rights group.

Those part of the LGBTQ+ community owe our freedom to marry, to celebrate as we did yesterday, to serve openly in our armed forces, and to simply live our best life to...

People Like

Marsha P. Johnson is sometimes referred to as the “Rosa Parks of the LGBT movement,” She was a person of color, queer, and trans — and fearlessly advocated for her rights and the rights of the LGBTQ community at a time when doing so put her safety in jeopardy. She’s quoted as saying “As long as gay people don’t have their rights all across America, there’s no reason for celebration,”

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician to be elected in California. He served almost eleven months in office before being assassinated. During his time in office, he sponsored a bill banning discrimination in public accommodations, housing and employment on the basis of sexual orientation.

Audre Lorde, Lorde described herself as a “black lesbian feminist mother warrior poet.” She was proud of every layer of her identity and used her own experiences to discuss the overlap between these communities. Lorde was the daughter of immigrants, a socialist, a mother, a black woman and a lesbian. she worked to address the different ways in which a person’s social identity, entwined with their gender, affected their lives and how others treated them.

AND NOW AS A RESULT OF OUR HERITAGE WE ARE ENVIED...

Envied for our:

Joy, in our ability to smile in the face of adversity…like a 100 degree San Antonio Day!

Fortitude to keep going!

Community, which while we can be petty…lets be honost, ha, band together in times of need

So what we are seeing today is those who are seeing:

What our heritiage has given to us

The prosperity that we are rising in

They see our blessedness

And they are doing what they can to STOP UP OUR wells and telling us to move one!

But they fail to understand:

We have a strong heritage in God the Father

We are His children, He has called us blessed & Highly Favored

He is our refuge & high tower…and we will continue to labor together

III. Isaac Was Persistent

Genesis 26:17–22 KJV 1900

17 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

We must be persistent in our Community

We must be persistent in our Dedication

We must be persistent in our Commitment