Spurling Silver: Prospering Well, Genesis 26

Now, just to be clear, we’ll start with this statement: It is God’s will, for all of His children to prosper. Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers, 3 John 2.

If given the choice between prosperity and poverty, most would choose prosperity.

When thinking of prosperity, most think of it materially, even though that has little to do with it.

Isaac shows by example how we can live properly in prosperity; even in the midst of famine, persecution and problems.

Genesis 26:12; Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants…

Isaac was blessed. Isaac was prosperous. Isaac had many possessions.

So, on the surface those verses may seem to indicate, the blessing of God results in prosperity, reflected by possessions.

However, we don’t have the shallow, lazy, luxury, of cherry-picking the surface of Scripture to feed our flesh.

We must consider the whole context of the Word of God.

You see, God never speaks in shallow fleshly terms, to hear Him, we must listen close, and dig deep.

A person’s possessions, are no measure of their prosperity, to see that we must listen close, and dig deep.

Isaac was very prosperous, and since it’s God’s will for His children to prosper, let’s listen close, dig deep, uncover his footsteps, and follow.

To do so we’ll step back to the start of chapter 26 and take seven steps with Isaac walking in the Lord’s Prosperity. We’ll end, sitting in the shade, by the Well of Seven.

Step 1: Obediently, Genesis 26:1-6

To walk in God’s prosperity, Isaac walked obediently. He went to Gerar, not Egypt as his dad had done.

He stayed there, dwelt there, just as God told him to.

Isaac obediently followed God’s when and where. And God repeated the same promise He’d made to his father, that He’d bless him exceedingly, and through his seed all nations of the earth would be blessed.

God’s Words to Isaac were Seeds of faith.

Jesus tells us in, Mark 4:14-15, that when God’s Word, like seed, is sown, the devil comes to steal it.

Which, is exactly what happens next; and brings us to our next step.

Step 2: Truthfully, Genesis 26:7-14

In the Lord’s prosperity, we must walk, obediently, and truthfully.

Isaac stumbled and stalled a little on this step.

Because Rebekah was pretty, he was scared for his life, so, he lied about his wife, and said, She’s, my sister. They’ll kill me, to get her.

Then, we see something interesting in Genesis 26:8, Now, it came to pass when he’d been there a long time…

God’s blessing had been pronounced, and was available, but everything came to a screeching halt, nothing happened for a long time, while Isaac and Rebekah were living a lie. Even a, “white lie.” Words said one thing, actions said another.

God walks and works with integrity.

Remember, everything came to a screeching halt with Abraham, after the birth of Ishmael, as if God said: Okay Abe, I know we just cut a covenant, we had plans; but you made alternate plans, now you’ve got other responsibilities, a boy to raise, I’ll talk to you later…

Then, just like that, silence. Not another word from God for thirteen years; until Ishmael was at the age of the beginning of manhood. Genesis 16-17.

God won’t bless hypocrisy, or dishonesty, or irresponsibility.

So, Isaac and Rebekah were on ice, for a long time, but then, by God’s grace, Isaac got caught caressing, his wife (showing endearment; sporting). Gen.12:8.

The king confronted Isaac.

Isaac came clean, and he and Rebekah probably breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, it’s out in the open, no more hiding, no more lying, we can simply live obediently and truthfully.

Immediately after the truth came out, we’re told Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold in that same land, same year, and was blessed, and began to prosper, and continued prospering, until he became very prosperous, with possessions coming out of his ears. (Gen. 26:12-14).

Genesis 26:14b, So the Philistines envied him.

Step 3: Integrity, Genesis 26:14b-17

To walk in the prosperity of the Lord, we must walk obediently, and truthfully, and choose integrity.

The Lord blessed him and prospered him and the philistines envied him.

When walking in the Lord’s prosperity, you’re in His Presence, and thus, on Holy Ground. There, you have everything.

When you have everything, the world has nothing, and they get envious.

They want what you’ve got.

Only, they don’t understand that what they really long for, what they really need, isn’t anything from you…but everything from Him.

15 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.

In that arid region, water and wells are essential, vital for survival, even to this day.

Some wells, dug back in that day, are still around and used today.

It’s utter evil foolishness to destroy something so beneficial. Something they could use for themselves, their livestock, for generations.

Yet, people blinded by hate, destroy their own land, neighborhood, nation, their very souls. Proof of the depravity and corruption of minds turned against God and His people. Romans 1:28.

They stopped up the wells, but what they were really trying to do was fill that hole in their heart.

16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

Here Abim is an example of what not to do.

If you see the Lord blessing someone, befriend them, make them an ally; not enemy, not competition.

We appreciate, pray for, support, what God is doing in other ministries, they are not competition, they are an extension of our family.

17 Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

He didn’t go far, but he went. And that’s the point.

Isaac showed integrity by choosing to honor the king’s request.

He could’ve said, no. He could’ve put up a fight. He could’ve won.

But just because you can, don’t mean you should.

He showed integrity, by respecting authority, and simply packing up and heading out.

Which takes us to our next step.

18 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.

Step 4: Respectfully, Genesis 26:18

In the Lord’s prosperity, we must walk, obediently, truthfully, with integrity, and respectfully.

Isaac respectfully remembered and restored (dug again) the wells of his dad.

He respectfully honored his father by calling them the same names his father called them.

To walk in prosperity we must walk respectfully, and honorably, toward those who’ve gone before, and for those who will follow.

Isaac did it by digging wells.

You can too.

Dig a well. Do something that refreshes, leaves a mark, and points to Jesus.

Dig a well. What can you do, today, that can make a difference for eternity?

Give it a name. Make it a habit. Don’t quit, no matter how many times the enemy tries to stop you up.

Dig a well. Respectfully, honorably, build a legacy, that leaves footprints from here to heaven.

Dig a well.

19 Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there.

Isaac and crew discovered a refreshing, fresh water spring.

20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him.

Esek means contention.

21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah.

The contention heated up a bit. Sitnah means hostility.

22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”

Step 5: Peacefully, Genesis 26:19-22

In the Lord’s prosperity, we must walk, obediently, truthfully, with integrity, respectfully, and peacefully.

Rehoboth means broad places.

Some folks show up, roll up their sleeves, make things better.

Others show up, stop things up, make things worse, and steal what isn’t theirs.

Isaac and crew showed up, dug in, and found a fresh water spring; they dug in again and made another well. They made things better.

However, the herdsman of Gerar showed up and made things worse, did no work, claimed what wasn’t theirs.

Isaac named the spring and the well. Showing that he knew he had the right, the authority, and the power to possess them.

A handful of shepherds were no match for the mighty Isaac that even king Gerar, said was mightier than he.

Yet, Isaac peacefully walked away.

Isaac was not a pacifist, but we must understand, as Isaac understood, the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof (Ps. 24:1). He willingly, peacefully, walked away from a spring and a well, knowing God could provide a hundredfold more.

The prosperity of God, isn’t revealed in what we’re able to take by contention and hostility, but how much we’re willing to trust God for and peacefully walk away from.

So, Isaac peacefully moved again, and dug again, and this time there was no contention, no hostility; there was peace.

So, he named the well Rehoboth, meaning broad places; and he gives credit to the Lord. Now the Lord has made room for us.

Which brings us to the next step.

23 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.

Step 6: Worshipfully, Genesis 26:23-25

In the Lord’s prosperity, we must walk, obediently, truthfully, with integrity, respectfully, peacefully, and worshipfully.

Isaac, has been busy digging wells, but here he pauses and builds an altar and calls on the name of the Lord.

Not just for the Sunday morning service, but he pitches his tent, and digs a well, and stays awhile.

The Lord must be the reason we dig wells, plant trees, sow seeds, or whatever we do, must be in honor, in reverence, in worship, of Him.

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Lord, I’m digging this well, (making this blanket, delivering this food, sowing this seed, pulling this weed, picking up this person…) I pray it respectfully honors the past, and refreshes the future, but most of all, I pray it pleases You.

26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. ²⁷ And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”

²⁸ But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, ²⁹ that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ ”

³⁰ So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. ³¹ Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

Step 7: Forgivingly, Genesis 26:26-31

In the Lord’s prosperity, we must walk, obediently, truthfully, with integrity, respectfully, peacefully, worshipfully and forgivingly.

Abim and friends show up at Beersheba.

Does this sound familiar? It should. It is. Several years and about five chapters earlier, in Genesis 21:22-33, Abim and Phichol, met with Abraham, in the same place for the same reason.

This time they might be sitting in the shade of the tamarisk tree planted by Abraham after that visit.

Isaac had been peacefully minding his own business, had sunk his tent pegs, built an altar, dug a well, and was worshipping the Lord.

But then from out of the blue comes a blast from the past.

What’re you doing here? Since you hate me and don’t want to have anything to do with me, and sent me, away.

Whoa Isaac. Do we detect an issue? Resentment? Unforgiveness?

A minute ago, Isaac was worshipping before the altar, calling on the name of the Lord.

And then just like that, Abim and friends are knocking on the door.

Now, it’ll be about 2,000 years later, but Jesus addresses issues like this.

Matt. 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there, remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift

Mark 11:25
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses

Well, that hadn’t been written yet, and sometimes you think it’s all in the past, but then, you see that person and something triggers; you open your mouth, and hurt falls out.

What do you want? Isaac says.

We’ve seen the Lord is with you.

What? Why now? Why not before? When Isaac prospered and continued prospering and became very prosperous, with possessions coming out of his ears.

Why didn’t they see God with him then? Instead, they became envious and pushed him away.

But now, after Isaac simply walked along, obediently, truthfully, with integrity, respectfully, peacefully, worshipfully… then, they show up. Then, they see God.

You see, material possessions, have little or nothing to do with walking in God’s prosperity.

Now, they see the Lord is with him.

Now, they want to make amends, be friends.

Now Isaac has a choice.

He could call them out, list their record of wrongs. You evicted me from my home. I’ll bet it was your herdsmen who harassed me, and hijacked a spring, and well, that I dug. Your men stupidly stopped up all the wells of my father. Get out of here! I don’t want anything to do with you! Cranks up Toby Keith’s song: “How do you like me now?”

He could've done that. Many would've done that.

But Isaac wasn’t seeking revenge, or possessions, or wells, or water, he was seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and walking in the prosperity of the Lord.

And there, when someone sticks out their hand—you shake it.

And even if they don’t—you forgive them.

And then, you have a BBQ 😊. They ate and drank and after a good night’s rest they departed in peace.

32 It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.

Beersheba today it’s about 45 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Be'er-Sheva, is the largest city in the desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev" with a population over 214,000.

Beersheba, means, well of the oath (shaba), or, well of seven (sheba). It’s the name Abraham gave when he used seven lambs to make an oath with Abimelech regarding ownership of the well.

The number seven in Hebrew represents, perfection, and completion.

We have found water. What a perfect way to complete the day.

Can you imagine Isaac and his men, sitting by the well, in the shade of the tree Abraham planted?

Isaac pours each of them a refreshing cup of water. They drink, they laugh, they smile.

Jesus, watching, smiles too; and thinks of the day He will say, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these other things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

Well, there you have it. Seven steps to the Lord’s prosperity, winding up at the Well of Seven.

Against such there is no law, in such, there is no lack.

Only one more thing to remember…

Don’t forget your shovel

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, You are so refreshingly awesome, we love You.

Please help us walk in Your prosperity, find our shovel, dig a well, make a mark, leave footprints leading straight to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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