We finished Romans and I have not been led to another book of the Bible however I am led to share a wonderful passage in Genesis with you, chapter 26 verses 12-25 "Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth. Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled. 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, or Dispute, because they disputed with him. Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah or Quarrel. He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth or Room for All, saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” From there he went up to Beersheba. That night the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.” Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well." Amen and amen! And Issac built an altar there and worshiped!
How many of us keep on trying and preservering even in the face of adversity? Look at Issac. God has blessed him 100 fold which just caused the King of the land to become jealeous necessitating Issac to move with his family and flocks of animals. He moves to a land that he knew because it was the land of his father, Abraham. Abraham had previously dug wells there so Issac knew there would be water for his family and his animals. So he had his servants dig the 1st well and the Philistines who had filled in the well in Abraham's time now claimed the well to be theirs. Issac then moved and directed another well to be dug that had been previously filled in and again the Philistines claimed the well to be theirs and again Issac moved on. Issac again directed his servants to dig another well and this time there was no dispute and he settled there, built a tent and worshipped God.
Do you ever notice that there are people in your life that love to challenge everything you say and do? They just appear, like these Philistines did to challenge you over something they weren't even thinking about. They had forgotten about these wells until Issac dug them up and then they wanted to challenge Issac over them. Issac didn't quarrel; he didn't get into a battle over the wells he just moved on. Remember these were wells that Abraham had dug and Issac being his son were "entitled" to them. Issac also knew where to send his servants to dig because he already knew where the wells were--his daddy had been there before him! But Issac didn't quarrel. He knew that God hadn't blessed him with all this livestock only to let his livestock die so he kept digging until he found "his well". This third well had not be one that his father had previously dug--this well was one that Issac could claim as his own and look what he named it --Rehoboth or Room for All--Issac was neither bitter or selfish. His well was dug for all and he was willing to share his water even with those who had previously opposed him. What a great testimony to the Power of God! Issac understood some very important lessons:
1. God had blessed him 100 fold and in so doing could do it again, and again and again. God never stops being God and needs no help from us to be God. When God blesses you, He does not need you to protect the blessing that He has given you.
2. It was his job to obey and find water for his animals and family. It was not his job to get discouraged when his first and second attempts at finding water were not fruitful. It was his job just to dig.
3. When faced with adversity, he didn't have to be frustrated and question the adversity, his job was just to dig. When one door closed, he just looked for another one. He knew there was a well and he lost no time in negative thinking. He just keep digging.
4. When he was blessed with a well "HE PITCHED A TENT, BUILT AN ALTER, AND WORSHIPPED GOD". Issac gave thanks! He gave thanks to the God that blessed him with the well and the water and blessed him with his own victory! Up to the point of the second well, Issac was just rehashing Abraham's success. With the new well, God taught him about his own power through his own faith.
I am a firm believer that you should never give up no matter what the adversity is. No one writes the end to your story but God. You are the child of the King and when you trust God, you will be victorious no matter what the evidence is to the contrary. I also believe you can give up and block the power of God in your life because you give in to your will and not the Will of the Father. God wants us to have a life of abundance so take the opportunity today to find your well.
Have a GREAT day and experience the love of God.
Stephanie
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