On Father's Day this year - we looked at Genesis 26. This is a story of Isaac as he "comes into his own" as a man, husband, father and business man. There is a famine (recession) in the land and early on in the chapter the Lord visits Isaac and tells him not to go to Egypt, but to stay in Gerar with the Philistines. Now, while in Gerar, Isaac falls into an old family habit of lying about his wife. As his father did with the Pharaoh, Isaac told Abimelech that Rebekah was his sister. As you read this chapter you'll see that once the truth about Rebekah is out in the open and Isaac begins to "walk in his inheritance" things really begin to change. He sowed in that land of famine and the Lord brought in a harvest 100 fold. That's one hundred tomatoes for every plant. That's 10 times his invest in one year IN A FAMINE. Are you beginning to see a little about what his inheritance means? He prospered, vs. 13, and he continued prospering - until he was VERY prosperous. (my emphasis)
As Isaac received this blessing he departed from the Philistines (at their urging) and moved into the Valley of Gerar. This is where the wells come into play. Read verses 15 through 18.
There are three things that stand out to me in this section about the wells:
1. Returns to His Beginnings: Before Isaac dug a new well - he returned to his "foundation". He needed a way to sustain what God had blessed him with. (In the desert, you better have water or you will be in trouble no matter how blessed you are.) Watch what happens here - Isaac goes back to his foundation, to what he knows. He goes back to the wells his father dug.
2. He Took Action & Reopened the Wells: The wells of his father had been filled in by the Philistines. When he returned to those wells he had two options - sit down and pine for the good ole days when the water flowed fresh and clean, or pick up a shovel and start digging. I think the same is true for us. We can go back to places in our lives where God moved - and remembering is good - but unless you "dig in" and seek to reopen that place of provision and revelation, you may find that the enemy has filled it in.
3. Continued to Move Ahead: After he reopened his father's wells he began to look for new "wells of provision". As you read on you'll see that he faced some opposition as he dug new wells - and yet, he didn't fight - he gave way.
Now, don't expect "new revelation" to flow - until you have "dug again" the wells of your foundation. But, once you have re dug those old wells - you have to move on to fresh revelation. Don't just camp by the old wells and remember the old days. Move forward to press on for new revelation in God.
So - what do you know about God's plan for you? Take some time and write down what you know to be true. Do some thinking and studying about God's promises for you. Do you know that you have the same inheritance as Isaac? Dig a little deeper and look for understanding in what it means to walk out this inheritance.
Keep reading. Start writing.
Pastor Tim
Further Reading: Jer. 29:11-14, Is. 29:15
