Digging The Wells
Over the past week, I have been struck by the passage of Scripture in Genesis 26: 12-25. I have sensed the Lord wanting to teach me a lesson through its message. As well, I also want to speak a related word from God’s heart over His beloved people and country of Zimbabwe.
Chapter 26 of Genesis gives the account of Isaac’s time and activities in Gerar. Despite its severe famine, the Lord told Isaac to remain in this land. As a result, God would be with Isaac and bless him. (v.3) Furthermore, God promised provision and covenant blessings, not only to Isaac, but also to the legacy of descendants and generations that would come through him. (v.3-6)
Isaac and his team of help began the work of planting in the land of Gerar. They plowed the hard ground, planted and cultivated the crop, and stewarded well all the scarce resources that God had entrusted to him. As Isaac did so, God blessed him with a hundred fold harvest that same year! (v. 12-13)
As the Philistines observed the Lord’s blessings and provision over Isaac, they became envious and malicious toward him. They forged an attack against him by stopping up the wells that were dug during the time of His father, Abraham. (v. 14-15)
As they filled these wells with the earth, the Philistines were committing a great crime. In essence, they were even declaring war. This was due to Gerar being located on the edge of a dessert. In the environment of a dessert, water and the wells from which they flowed were a precious resource. This was especially the case at that time in a desolate and famine struck land. Stopping the flow of someone’s fresh water was to commit a most serious crime.
In the face of this violent and offensive act, Isaac had every right to respond with fighting and violence. Yet, Isaac chose a different path… a path of peace.
Isaac went on to submit to the leadership of the land and resettle in the valley. He then embarked on a mission of reopening and restoring the ancient wells of his forefather, once again allowing fresh water to flow from their depths. (v. 17-18).
Over and above this mission, Isaac began the work of digging new wells of fresh water in the land. As he did this, he once again faced opposition. This time, instead of raging jealousy, he faced arguments and divisive, territorial spirits residing in the people.
Once again, in response to these arguments, Isaac remained a peacekeeper. He moved on and even left the wells for the people that set themselves against him. Through his path of peace, Isaac actually ended up blessing those who set themselves up as his enemy. He blessed them with the fresh water that was so desperately sought. (v.19-21)
God blessed Isaac in response to his faithful and peaceful actions. God blessed him with future wells of fresh water. Moreover, God blessed him with a mighty visitation and promise. God spoke, “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 descendents for the sake of my servant Abraham.” (v. 24) In response to these blessings and visitation, Isaac built an altar to the Lord. Here, he honored and worshiped the Lord God of faithfulness and covenant blessings. (v. 22-25)
This account in God’s Word was a personally encouraging one. The Holy Spirit revealed to me the precious obedience and peace that was in the heart of God’s servant, Isaac. Furthermore, He gave me a snapshot of God taking pleasure in Isaac’s heart. He honored the persevering obedience and peaceful interactions of an individual He had called to the work of His kingdom.
This passage also sparked a holy desire in me! A desire to be as Isaac in situations of attack. It can be a natural reaction to respond to inciting situations with anger, fear, or retaliation. Yet, with the help and power of the Holy Spirit I know that I can respond each time, even to “declarations of war,” with peace, integrity, blessing, and humble determination.
Two Sundays ago our church, Bethel Assembly of God, gathered together and brought Zimbabwe forward to the Lord in prayer for our monthly mission’s Sunday. We prayed and stood in the gap for the pain of the nation and prayed for restoration to come. I was so thankful for this opportunity and give God the glory. When united as one, the prayers of the saints become a thunderous noise in the ears of the enemy. They become so loud that the ground shakes and the enemy flees. He knows that when God’s people pray, and really pray, then the Great Lord begins to move heaven and earth for the sake of His children.
While leading this time of prayer, Keith saw a picture of wells that had been stopped up in Zim. Keith began to pray this through with the congregation and call forth the restoration of these wells and even the creation of new wells in the country. We felt these wells referred both to the natural resource of water and other commodities, as well as spiritual wells of living water that the Lord desired to be released to the people.
A couple at our church who are about to be launched to Zimbabwe as full-time missionaries also came to mind. Keith was intrigued to later be reminded that their first job on the field will be to dig a well. His mind then jumped to the work of Christopher Alam’s ministry of digging wells in this nation, bringing forth life and health to entire communities.
Our hearts have been grieved and burdened in prayer with the current cholera situation and the many deaths occurring due to the lack of fresh water. We are reminded how desperately we do need wells in the country! We need wells, both of clean water and of the Lord’s hope and healing. We thank God for those who are working to bring this fresh water into the land and ask God to bless and multiply their work.
In addition, we also pray that the work of digging spiritual wells - providing the living water and presence of God - will be blessed, multiply, and arise even in the most desolate of places. May these be wells of God’s hope, healing, and salvation unto Him. Will you join us in prayer and personal response toward the work of restoring and digging these wells?
May God encourage and strengthen His people to be as Isaac in the above passage. May the Holy Spirit help us to work diligently and with great peace in the face of offense and opposition. When we stop our work in the Holy Spirit to engage in the jealousy, strife, arguments, and divisive spirits around us, the work of God is thwarted and is taken off track.
Rather, let’s seek peace and remain in it. May we be peacemakers and people who seek to restore God’s peace and reign to every situation. Not ones that withdraw and cower, but a people that move forward with great faith and humble obedience in God - to complete the work and promise He has called us to.
May our spirits be as Isaac’s in and toward the land of Zimbabwe - obedient, humble, and faithful to God in the ministries and work of restoration and reconciliation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Lord bless and encourage you and enable you to persevere in the Holy Spirit through prayer and ministry during this time…through the mighty Name of Jesus Christ.
Keith and Stacey Lemmer