well, well, well

Genesis 26:¹⁷ So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down.¹⁸ He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham's death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.

When you live in the desert, water is your most precious commodity.   Water doesn't come from the sky very often so men must find it in the ground by digging wells.  And the hard work of digging for water doesn't always result in success.  It is understandable that a good well would be cause for celebration, and even names for the wells.  In Genesis, chapter 26, Isaac and his people dig four successful wells and they were named "Argument", "Hostility", "Open Space", and "Oath".  He named them for the circumstances that surrounded him after the wells were dug.  The first two wells were contested by local tribes and Isaac was forced to move on to dig new wells that he could access without challenge.  The final well ("Oath") was dug the very day a treaty was signed with a local king to preserve peace between Isaac and the local people.  In a sense, we also live in the desert.  We may not need to dig wells in the ground for our water, but we need to dig wells of relationship to tap the refreshing water of God's presence, His Word, His promises and His protection.   Perhaps the best name for these wells is "Jesus"!

John 4:¹³ Jesus replied, "Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life."

blessings,

Rob Smith