Prayer Warrior

“Here they come again – those WILD raiders,” said one servant to his friend. Both stood, shovels in hand, as they watched the band of opportunistic herdsmen ride in once again to seize the newly dug well in southern Canaan near Gerar. Isaac didn’t really own the land, but his father Abraham had dug the series of wells. Some time after Abraham’s death, the Philistines filled in his wells with earth.

So, Isaac decided to dig again the wells his father used. Then, he dug three wells in the valley, wells that the herdsmen quarreled over. When the first well was seized, Isaac named it “Contention” (Esek). When they demanded the second also, he named it “Hatred” (Sitnah). The third well was uncontested, and he named it “Broadway” (Rehoboth).

Shortly afterwards, he moved less than 20 miles to Beersheba. He had an encounter with God, made an oath and received a blessing. He built an altar and sunk a new well. The day he struck water, He also struck a covenant with King Abimelech in Beersheba.

You can read the entire account in Genesis 26:18-33. As you read, consider the implications we could make if this historical story were written as an allegory (Rom. 15:4). Then, we’ll look at the history of Beersheba in Genesis and see if perhaps God has a word for us today.

I Wonder If…

God included this story for a reason, and I’m forced to ask a few questions as I read. Why did the Philistines stop up the wells? Why did Isaac re-dig the same wells? Why did the herdsmen want Isaac’s wells? What is significant about the wells of Gerar and Beersheba? What does it mean for us in this modern world? Let’s look first at observations about this fascinating story.
When reading, we notice first that Abraham used the wells. Abraham lived in Gerar before Isaac was conceived (Gen. 20:1) and later moved his clan to Beersheba after he sacrificed Isaac (Gen. 22:19). So, Isaac must have been familiar with the area and known his father’s wells. Because they were his father’s wells, Isaac had a stake in them. It must have been his right to use the wells. Isaac re-tapped the wells of his father, making them flow again.

When the famine was in the land, Isaac settled in Gerar, the land of his early childhood. He planted and harvested 100-fold during the famine (Gen. 26:1,12). This represents a diversification of the family business, for Abraham only kept herds of animals. In addition to herding, Isaac took a risk to venture into a new business (farming), and God blessed him, despite the economy of his host nation.

It appears that the Philistines (who possessed the land of Gerar) were envious of Isaac and even asked him to leave. Perhaps that’s why they had stopped up Abraham’s wells by filling them with dirt (Gen. 26:15-16, 27). Maybe they figured if they filled in Abraham’s wells at his death, then his kin would have to move on. Isaac, however, had enough manpower to dig the wells again, despite the aggressive saboteurs.

Isaac moved to the valley and dug a series of three wells, the last of which he was able to claim. He invested countless man hours, money and aggravation into developing an adequate water supply only to begin again. Eventually, he tapped a well into the underground aquifer that he could keep.

Finally, In Beersheba Isaac encountered God. Many others encountered God in Beersheba. Isaac built an altar to worship and sunk a well to survive. God made a covenant to bless him. Then, God changed the heart of the king to secured peace for Isaac, and Isaac exchanged oaths with the Philistine king.

History of the Region

This region of Palestine has some interesting history that’s worth noting here. Little is known of Gerar, and its exact location is questioned. However, it was probably located about 20 miles northwest of Beersheba.

On the other hand, Beersheba has been an important city at different times throughout its history. Today, it’s the sixth largest city in Israel. Its summers are hot (110°F), and on a cold winter evening, temperatures can drop to 30°F. It receives a little over 10” of rain a year, and it’s prone to sandstorms. A wadi (with water from the Hebron Mountains) flows through the region during the winter and is stored in huge underground caverns. Obviously, a well in this territory was a valuable commodity, and Isaac had a knack for finding water in the arid landscape.

The name Beersheba is translates as “oath” or “seven.” Abraham made an oath with the Philistine King Abimelech here. Likewise, Isaac made an oath with King Abimelech. (According to the Haggadah, Jewish tradition, these were two different kings, father and son.) Abraham gave Abimelech seven ewe lambs as a sign. And, today there are seven ancient wells in Beersheba.

Hagar (Gen. 21:17), Isaac (Gen. 26:24), Jacob (Gen 46:2) and Elijah (I Kin. 19:5) all met God in Beersheba. Jacob had a dream of the ladder to heaven just after he left Beersheba (Gen 28:10). God gave them specific words for their futures. God made promises to Hagar, Isaac and Jacob at Beersheba. In ancient times, Beersheba was a place of pain and sacrifice where God met His children and blessed them.

What About Me?

As our world grapples with issues of war in the Middle East, global terrorism, international economic collapse, lasting peace, nuclear weapons, religious tolerance and environmental changes, we have to wonder what we as 21st century Americans can glean from an ancient story of the Battle of the Wells. I would like to propose that perhaps God is giving us a spiritual picture of our own city.

In scripture, I believe, water represents the Holy Spirit. I believe Abraham tapped wells in a wilderness. Our parents also tapped spiritual wells. (These parents could be our biological parents or the settlers who founded our church.) An entire family and succeeding generations profit from the back-breaking work of her forefathers. Likewise, our children benefit from our victories.

Jealous onlookers (wanting to drive Abraham out) filled in his source of life (his wells). His son re-dug the familiar wells, because Isaac knew where the water source was located. While it was hard work, he knew he would find water. The enemy tried to steal his water, but God gave him new sources. In the same way, our enemy tries to fill in the wells our ancestors dug to remove our source of life. He wants to claim the territory and drive us on, too. We know where our parents found spiritual water, and we can easily locate those sources and dig the same wells again.

Through the process, Isaac learned how to find water and tap wells in new territory. Likewise, we must be able to move into new territories and still move in the power of the Spirit. Isaac diversified the business and prospered. Spiritually, we can also reap 100-fold (in a time of famine) when we take the risk to move into new territory or diversify the Family business. God gives us new ideas for new times, but we must be prepared to take the risk. The blessings await when we can tap into the Spirit (hear His voice) and take a risk in new ventures.

When Isaac followed the Spirit to Beersheba, he first offered sacrifices and worshiped God. Eventually, God blessed him with a new well and peace with his Philistine neighbors. Our heart, the single heart of our church, should also desire to follow the Spirit to the place of sacrifice where we meet God. We must be willing to move, spiritually or physically, to that place where God says, “I will make of you a great nation.” This worship and prayer time is vital as we look for new wells and reach out to our neighbors.

One hundred and twenty years ago (1889), a few brave souls gathered at the courthouse steps to hear T.J. Sparksman preach, and they decided to sink a well in Bradentown. They called it First Baptist. It is one of the oldest churches in the county. What revivals were born here? In what arenas did the church have influence? Did we hold sway at the courthouse? Did we pursue the arts? Was music and drama always part of our domain? Which of these wells have been filled in with worldly influence (earth) by enemies of God? Which of our Father’s wells must be re-tapped?

The wells our fathers dug are ours by right. We can retap them. By natural right, our church family can lay claim to the ancient wells of revival that once flowed in Bradenton. But, we must determine – are we up to the challenge and the work of digging? Is it possible that we could re-tap the old wells and dig new wells in Manatee County? in the USA? Could we find the Spirit in media? Could we tap a well of Life in the arts? Would God let us sink a well in local governance or the political realm? Could our wells be a source of blessing to neighbors once again? ♥