WELL DIGGING
Genesis 26:18-19
INTRODUCTION: Our text tells us that “Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father…” Can we learn some lessons from this Old Testament man’s service in “well digging”? Let us consider:
I. THE TRUTH IN THESE VERSES.
1. Every generation must discover God’s grace for themselves.
2. Isaac had to dig to discover, just as his father had to before him.
3. Our children will have to seek God, spend time in prayer, study the Word, and find for themselves the riches of God’s grace as we did.
4. What Isaac’s father did was a lasting, vital thing. God blessed the testimony of this ancient Patriarch, Abraham. His testimony was so rich that God recorded it;
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
I Peter 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
James 2:21-23 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
II. THE TRAGEDY IN THESE VERSES; Genesis 26:15.
1. The days of holy living, of hallowed Lord’s Days, of full prayer meetings, of well-read and well-worn Bibles, of strong crying with tears for the salvation of the lost, are stopped.
2. The days of spirit-filled consecration have been filled with unbelief, indifference, and worldliness.
3. These stopped wells suggest two things:
a. They suggest the presence of the enemy; Ephesians 6:11. The world, the flesh, and the Devil, the Christian’s three-fold adversary seeks to harm our spiritual lives.
b. They suggest the purpose of the enemy; I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
The Devil is against Bible study, prayer meetings, soul-winning, and the work of the Lord in general.
III. THE TASK IN THESE VERSES; Gen. 26:18.
1. To clear the wells meant difficult, hard work.
2. When Isaac’s servants dug they discovered there a well of springing water; Gen. 26:19. Christians should rest assured that they shall be rewarded for living a consistent dedicated life;
John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
3. May God give us refreshing again from that Fountain that has been opened for sin and uncleanness in the house of David.
