"Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them. Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land."
In many places around the world, such as in some parts of Africa, wells are still the sources of water supply for households and communities. Water from the well sustains life. That was the case in the setting of our text today during Isaac's time. Wells were essential for living. It was from them that people and livestock drank from. They were also gathering spots. That's why so many significant events in the Bible took place around wells.
Although the wells in our text today were literal, we do no injustice to scriptures to draw a spiritual lesson from the events that took place in Isaac's life regarding the wells. In several other parts of scriptures, wells are are used metaphorically to represent spiritual refreshing and nourishment. They represent the life giving flow of the Holy Spirit. For example,
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (Isa 12:3)
"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)KJV
For the next few days we will be meditating on this verse.
The first thing we notice in the text is that Isaac was on a quest for wells. There was drought in the land as we saw so he needed to tap into water from deep under the ground for sustenance. Without flowing wells and the waters they provide, dehydration would set in and death will soon follow.
In the same way, spiritually, we have to be on a quest for the renewal of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Without a constant renewal, the freshness will disappear from our walk and soon death and decay will start to set in. Life loses its excitement and joy and everything becomes a drag.
Isaac was on a quest. He wanted water at any cost. He thought he had it a few times, but it got taken from him. He did not stop. He persisted. He dug and dug again until he came to a flowing well that was uncontested.
Your spiritual nourishment by the word and the Spirit of God is essential. It won't happen automatically. You will have to dig and even when you dig, Satan will contest with you. Things will happen that will try to stop your well from flowing. People will pour sand in your well. Are you desperate enough for the anointing of God upon your life to continue until you reach your goal.
The things of God require pursuit and strong desire. The Holy Spirit comes on thirsty people, those who crave Him desperately. Go for Him with passion. You will hit a gusher like Isaac did.
"The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. (Isa 41:17)
Decision of the Day
I am thirsty for God's Spirit in my life. I want my well full of water. I will seek and pursue Him with fervency and persistency. God will honor my pursuit and bring a new level of His Spirit in my life.
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