DIGGING AGAIN THE OLD WELLS
“Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. And Abimelech said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we."
Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. And 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.
Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there.” Genesis 26:15-19 (NKJV)
Just as Isaac dug again the wells his father Abraham had dug years before, so we would be wise to re-dig some spiritual wells in our lives that may have become stopped up.
Be reminded that digging is hard work whether it is in the physical or the spiritual area. If we are to be successful in this spiritual re-digging process we will have to give it a very high priority in our life.
I. THE WELL OF SPIRITUAL VISION MAY NEED RE-DIGGING.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he who keeps the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
The account of Elisha and his servant when surrounded by the Syrian army vividly describes the need for keen spiritual vision. When our spiritual vision is faulty, fear and discouragement are sure to plague us. Consider:
“Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:14-17 (NKJV)
II. THE WELL OF FAITH MAY NEED RE-DIGGING
When the cares of this world trouble our heart often our faith grows weak and doubts, fears and anxieties grip us. Our Lord addressed this problem in Matthew 6. He reassured the multitude as He delivered the Sermon on the Mount that our heavenly Father will provide for all the needs of His children.
Consider His words:
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’
"For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV).
The prayer His disciples uttered in a different situation might well serve us when the cares and distresses of life weigh upon us.
"And the apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith!" Luke 17:5.
And as we well know:
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
III. THE WELL OF OBEDIENCE MAY NEED RE-DIGGING
The unquestionable mark of true discipleship is obedience. Our Lord demands obedience. He makes this abundantly clear in Luke 17:5.
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say?” (NKJV).
Hebrews 5:8-9 begins with our Lord’s obedience to the will of the Father and concludes with the correlation of the believer’s obedience to the Lord and eternal salvation! Consider carefully:
“Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9 (NKJV)
IV. KEEP DIGGING: EVEN GREATER WELLS LIE AHEAD
Isaac’s servants kept on digging and their efforts were rewarded with the finding of a well of running water in the valley. If we are to experience the joy of greater service to our Lord, we must be relentless in our efforts to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peter cautions us in this regard. Consider:
“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17-18 (NKJV)
