June 22, 2025: Isaac Calls on the Name of the Lord | Genesis 26:24-33

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

(John 4:13-14).

Discovering one’s lineage and ancestry can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. Wouldn’t it be nice to know where your family came from and what traits you’ve inherited? Though we didn’t get to choose who our forefathers were or how they behaved, we do have a choice in the legacy we leave for our future descendants. What will your next generation hear about you?  How important will your witness for God or your indifference to God be in their lives? In our lesson today, we see Isaac, the son of promise, given to Abraham and Sarah miraculously in their old age, following in his father’s footsteps. Abraham built altars; Isaac will also build an altar - a sanctified place to reach out to God in praise and thanksgiving.  Abraham dug wells; Isaac will dig wells.  In this overarching picture, we learn that the God of Abraham keeps His word to his descendants! 

And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

Many things have happened prior to this verse. Isaac, the only begotten son of Abraham, has married Rebekah.There had been a famine, similar to the famine that occurred in Abraham’s day. Isaac has been directed by God on where to go and where not to go. He’s told not to leave the land promised to his father. He is not told to go to Egypt. This is the same Isaac that Abraham took to Mount Moriah to sacrifice in obedience to God. Isaac was now old enough to remember the promise that God had made to his father there, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou (Abraham) hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. (Genesis 22: 16-18).

Isaac was protected and blessed in this land by God’s blessing, his father’s blessing, and his obedience. Despite the famine, Isaac receives a 100-fold return on his crops. His wealth and prosperity grew until he became very great. It is obvious to even the pagan nations around him that God is blessing Isaac. 

And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

Isaac remembered. Here we see Isaac, thankful, humbled, and calling on God. Building his own altar and driving in the stakes of his tent. His foundation is in place. The decision to follow God is always an individual one. It is a privilege to walk in the footsteps of family members who love and serve the Lord, but our salvation is based on our decision to move toward God. What will you do with Christ?  Are you setting your stakes to leave an example that draws your descendants in toward God? Or, will the foundation you lay push them out and away from God?  

The battles are never too far away, are they? We are introduced to the men of Gerar (the ancestors of the Philistines). They will show up repeatedly throughout scripture as an enemy to the family of Abraham and the nation of Israel.The name Gerar (Gee’-ra) means a lodging place, a halting place. It is located within,what will later be the borders of the Promised Land, and some speculate that it is near Gaza (still a place of contention today). Because Abraham was prospered by God, the men of Gerar filled up the wells of water that he had dug as soon as he died.  They are envious of Isaac and insist that he leave their country. 

And the man(Isaac) waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. (Genesis 26:13-16). 

So Isaac leaves. He digs new wells. One is called Esek (meaning contention or quarrel) and one named Sitnah (meaning opposition or hatred).

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. (Genesis 26: 20-21). The fight is over a most precious resource - water. 

Isaac left and dug a third well, naming it a “place of rest, abundance."  And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. (Genesis 26:22). Then he left for Beersheba. And he went up from thence to Beersheba. (Genesis 26:23).

Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army. And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you? And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord. And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

The tactic used here had worked before in Genesis Chapter 21. When in the same situation, the leadership of Gerar approached Abraham, they did so in this same manner. As Isaac enters Beersheba, he is followed by Abimelech, Ahuzzath, and Phicol. Most commentators think that Abimelech is a title, not necessarily the name of a person. Similar to being called Pharaoh or Caesar. Abimelech is thought to represent the leader/King of the Philistines. Ahuzzath and Phicol are chief captains and advisors to this king. Rightfully, Isaac asks why this conclave has followed him when the whole of Gerar did not want him around. Interestingly, the answer is that they recognize that God has blessed Isaac and they want to make peace, so that God will not harm the people of Gerar. Isaac had every right to say no, but instead he agreed, made a covenant with them, made a feast, and sent them home in peace - the same as his father Abraham had done. 

And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.

This well has a different meaning. The first two wells were about contention and hatred. A third well, Rehoboth, was named as being big enough for them to share and prosper.  And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. (Genesis 26:22).

But this well has a name that indicates an agreement - “the well of seven or the well of the Oath.” The seven represent the lambs that Abraham had given to Abimelech at the first agreement, and the oath, the covenant that Isaac had also agreed to honor. This is an extremely significant place as Beersheba will be home to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Hagar, Joseph, and Elijah will pass through Beersheba in their biblical accounts. It is listed as the southernmost point in the Promised Land/Kingdom, and today it is known as Be’er Sheva the capital of the Negev desert in southern Israel.  

There is  a picture here. Isaac can represent Jesus - humble, lowly, and the only son of the Father. The town of Gerar knew Abraham, who can represent God the Father. Abraham had been there years earlier, and he, too, made a covenant. However, after his absence, the people of Gerar destroy his wells in dishonor. But when Abraham’s son shows up, they do not like him either. They envy. They can see God’s favor and his prosperity. He is asked to leave. The people of Gerar act in spite, anger, and jealousy. Isaac simply continues on his way and digs new wells, finding more and more water. Though God the Father intended blessing for everyone, it is not until we accept the beloved son that we find living water, favor, and forgiveness. There will come a day when those who have rejected Christ will see that He alone has the water of life. He alone is the favor of God and the payment for our sin. The “well of promise” is the water that will quench all thirst, and for the believer, the springing up of everlasting life. 

Isaac is reminded that God is faithful.  God keeps His promises. Obedience is honored, and the foundations of an altar of faith are required. Do you believe God? The question is not do you believe in God - Do you believe God?  Do you trust His word? Will those who follow you  know about the water of life given freely from surrendering to the authority of God’s Son?

 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:16-17).

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!