TEXT:GEN. 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Laha-I-roi.THE WORD Lahairoi MEANS WELL OF LIVING WATER. Further text is GEN 26:11-18 IN GEN 26
INTRODUCTION: IT is the story of Abraham’s wells and the story of Isaac’s wells. It is the story of one generation digging wells and the necessity of the next generation digging wells. Water is the most common substance on the earth. 70% of the earth’s surface is water. 97% of all water is in the oceans. The availability of water has given rise to some of the great civilizations of history. Civilizations have fallen when water supplies failed. The reason being that water is one of the great needs of life and essential to sustain life. People have killed over a muddy water hole. Man can live an average of 2 months without food, but only 1 week without water. In the semiarid climate of Palestine, the availability of water was priceless. In a land where water was scarce, wells were extremely important. It is not surprising that wells were a source of strife and fighting.
1.WELLS WERE FOR COOKING….
2.WELLS WERE FOR CLEANSING….
3.WELLS WERE FOR THE COMMUNITY….
4.WELLS BROUGHT CONTENTION….
1. CLEARING WELLS OF THE PAST GENERATION! In verse 15, we read of “all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father.” Abraham had dug wells in his days. Abraham had needed water and had dug wells of life sustaining water. Abraham had enjoyed the refreshing water of the wells he had dug.
A. We See Isaac Remembering The Wells Of His Father. Whenever wells were dug, it was proper to give them names. Although we do not know what the names were, Abraham had given names to the wells he dug. In verse 18 we read that Isaac “called their names after the names by which his father had called them.” Isaac recalls and remembers the names of the wells his father had dug. There have been wells dug and enjoyed by our spiritual fathers that we need to remember. I think of a well dug in the mid-1700’s in the New England states. That well has been called the “Great Awakening.” In 1734 Jonathan Edward’s of Northampton, Mass., begin a series of sermons on “Justification by Faith Alone.” What He experienced in Northampton was to the degree that in the next 6 months over 300 were saved The water from that well began to be enjoyed by others, until when it was all said and done, the whole Atlantic seaboard had drank of the well and between 25,000 and 50,000 souls were saved. I think of another well dug in 1800’s in Logan County, KY. This was a section known as Rogue’s Harbor, because of the fugitives of justice that hid out there. A pastor, James McGready began a meeting at the Red River Meeting House. Two preachers, William Hodges and John Bankin helped him. Two brothers, John and William McGee from Tennessee were also at the meeting as observers. The meeting began on Friday and was scheduled to continue through Monday. Several times during the first 2 days the congregation melted into tears. On Sunday Hodges preached and one woman screamed loudly and others dropped to the floor crying, “What shall I do to be saved.” When the official meeting was over, the 3 ministers left the church. But no one in the congregation moved. They sat in rapt silence. Feeling and witnessing the work of God, by the time it was over thousand’s were saved and revival broke out into several states.
A. We See Isaac Remembering The Wells Of His Father.
B. We See Isaac Reopening The Wells Of His Father. We read concerning these wells in Vs.15 that “the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham.” Many of these wells were shafts that had been bored under the rocky surface. Sometime after the death of Abraham the Philistines had closed up the wells; that is, they had stopped them up. The well of water that Abraham’s generation had drank of was no longer being enjoyed by Isaac’s generation. The sad honest truth is, that many in our generation have never drank of the wells of which our spiritual fathers drank. Thank God for a few springs we have drank of, but for the most part, this is a well-less generation. We read in Vs.15, that “Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father.” Isaac reopened those wells and drank of the same wells his father had drank. The wells of our spiritual fathers need to be reopened by this generation. We need to drink of the same wells. We need to experience for ourselves the same blessed work of the Holy Spirit. R. A. Torrey gave a prescription for revival that he guaranteed would bring revival to any place or person. He said it had never failed. Torrey said, “I can give a prescription that will bring a revival to any church or community or any city on earth.” He named 3 things. “First, let a few Christians (they need not be many) get thoroughly right with God themselves. This is the prime essential. If this is not done, the rest that I am to say will come to nothing. “Second, let them bind themselves together in a prayer group to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down. “Third, let them put themselves at the disposal of God for Him to use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. That is all! The first thing Torrey said was required was unstopping the wells. Whatever is keeping the water from flowing needs to be repented of and cleaned out. We can drink of the wells of our father if we un-stop the wells.
1. CLEARING WELLS OF THE PAST GENERATION!
2. CLAIMING WELLS IN THE PRESENT GENERATION! Whereas we need to drink of the wells our fathers drank from, it is also true that each generation must dig it’s own wells. We can’t live in the past. We must dig new wells in our own generation. The digging of wells were a claim on property. When Abraham had dug his wells he in doing so had claimed the land as his own. Each new generation must make their own claims and possess as their own that which they can enjoy.
A. We See The Opening Of New Wells. We not only read of Isaac reopening the wells his father had dug, but we also see him digging his own wells. Notice: Genesis 26:19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. Genesis 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. Genesis 26:22 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 26:25 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. Nobody loves the past anymore than me. I am constantly learning about the past and visiting the past. The wells of our fathers stir me and have great interest to me. But I am interested in digging wells today. I want to drink of a work of the Spirit of God in this day and in this place. As I said, water is essential to sustaining life. I see this generation that is dying of thirst. There are some of this generation that TEXT:GEN. 25:11 And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Laha-I-roi.THE WORD Lahairoi MEANS WELL OF LIVING WATER. Further text is GEN 26:11-18 IN GEN 26
INTRODUCTION: IT is the story of Abraham’s wells and the story of Isaac’s wells. It is the story of one generation digging wells and the necessity of the next generation digging wells. Water is the most common substance on the earth. 70% of the earth’s surface is water. 97% of all water is in the oceans. The availability of water has given rise to some of the great civilizations of history. Civilizations have fallen when water supplies failed. The reason being that water is one of the great needs of life and essential to sustain life. People have killed over a muddy water hole. Man can live an average of 2 months without food, but only 1 week without water. In the semiarid climate of Palestine, the availability of water was priceless. In a land where water was scarce, wells were extremely important. It is not surprising that wells were a source of strife and fighting.
1.WELLS WERE FOR COOKING….
2.WELLS WERE FOR CLEANSING….
3.WELLS WERE FOR THE COMMUNITY….
4.WELLS BROUGHT CONTENTION….
1. CLEARING WELLS OF THE PAST GENERATION! In verse 15, we read of “all the wells which his father’s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father.” Abraham had dug wells in his days. Abraham had needed water and had dug wells of life sustaining water. Abraham had enjoyed the refreshing water of the wells he had dug.
A. We See Isaac Remembering The Wells Of His Father. Whenever wells were dug, it was proper to give them names. Although we do not know what the names were, Abraham had given names to the wells he dug. In verse 18 we read that Isaac “called their names after the names by which his father had called them.” Isaac recalls and remembers the names of the wells his father had dug. There have been wells dug and enjoyed by our spiritual fathers that we need to remember. I think of a well dug in the mid-1700’s in the New England states. That well has been called the “Great Awakening.” In 1734 Jonathan Edward’s of Northampton, Mass., begin a series of sermons on “Justification by Faith Alone.” What He experienced in Northampton was to the degree that in the next 6 months over 300 were saved The water from that well began to be enjoyed by others, until when it was all said and done, the whole Atlantic seaboard had drank of the well and between 25,000 and 50,000 souls were saved. I think of another well dug in 1800’s in Logan County, KY. This was a section known as Rogue’s Harbor, because of the fugitives of justice that hid out there. A pastor, James McGready began a meeting at the Red River Meeting House. Two preachers, William Hodges and John Bankin helped him. Two brothers, John and William McGee from Tennessee were also at the meeting as observers. The meeting began on Friday and was scheduled to continue through Monday. Several times during the first 2 days the congregation melted into tears. On Sunday Hodges preached and one woman screamed loudly and others dropped to the floor crying, “What shall I do to be saved.” When the official meeting was over, the 3 ministers left the church. But no one in the congregation moved. They sat in rapt silence. Feeling and witnessing the work of God, by the time it was over thousand’s were saved and revival broke out into several states.
A. We See Isaac Remembering The Wells Of His Father.
B. We See Isaac Reopening The Wells Of His Father. We read concerning these wells in Vs.15 that “the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham.” Many of these wells were shafts that had been bored under the rocky surface. Sometime after the death of Abraham the Philistines had closed up the wells; that is, they had stopped them up. The well of water that Abraham’s generation had drank of was no longer being enjoyed by Isaac’s generation. The sad honest truth is, that many in our generation have never drank of the wells of which our spiritual fathers drank. Thank God for a few springs we have drank of, but for the most part, this is a well-less generation. We read in Vs.15, that “Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father.” Isaac reopened those wells and drank of the same wells his father had drank. The wells of our spiritual fathers need to be reopened by this generation. We need to drink of the same wells. We need to experience for ourselves the same blessed work of the Holy Spirit. R. A. Torrey gave a prescription for revival that he guaranteed would bring revival to any place or person. He said it had never failed. Torrey said, “I can give a prescription that will bring a revival to any church or community or any city on earth.” He named 3 things. “First, let a few Christians (they need not be many) get thoroughly right with God themselves. This is the prime essential. If this is not done, the rest that I am to say will come to nothing. “Second, let them bind themselves together in a prayer group to pray for a revival until God opens the heavens and comes down. “Third, let them put themselves at the disposal of God for Him to use as He sees fit in winning others to Christ. That is all! The first thing Torrey said was required was unstopping the wells. Whatever is keeping the water from flowing needs to be repented of and cleaned out. We can drink of the wells of our father if we un-stop the wells.
1. CLEARING WELLS OF THE PAST GENERATION!
2. CLAIMING WELLS IN THE PRESENT GENERATION! Whereas we need to drink of the wells our fathers drank from, it is also true that each generation must dig it’s own wells. We can’t live in the past. We must dig new wells in our own generation. The digging of wells were a claim on property. When Abraham had dug his wells he in doing so had claimed the land as his own. Each new generation must make their own claims and possess as their own that which they can enjoy.
A. We See The Opening Of New Wells. We not only read of Isaac reopening the wells his father had dug, but we also see him digging his own wells. Notice: Genesis 26:19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. Genesis 26:21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. Genesis 26:22 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 26:25 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. Nobody loves the past anymore than me. I am constantly learning about the past and visiting the past. The wells of our fathers stir me and have great interest to me. But I am interested in digging wells today. I want to drink of a work of the Spirit of God in this day and in this place. As I said, water is essential to sustaining life. I see this generation that is dying of thirst. There are some of this generation that has had a sip here and a sip there, but we are dying of thirst. We need a well. We need to experience a work of God in our day and in this place.
B. We See The Opposing Of New Wells. The devil never likes for wells to be dug in his territory. He fights each effort to dig a well and disputes each claim that is made. If you are a generational well digger then you can expect opposition. Isaac dug wells but he was fought each step of the way. The first well that Isaac dug was named Esek which means “contention.” Why? We read in Genesis 26:20, “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.” The word “strive” means to “wrangle, grapple.” The Philistines fought with Isaac’s men over the well. They made the claim that the well was theirs. Well digging is always opposed. the second well Isaac dug was named Sitnah which mean “hatred.” We read in Genesis 26:21, “And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.” It was only after he dug his third well he found any relief. We read in Genesis 26:22, “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.” Rehoboth means “spaces, roominess.” He is able now to enjoy his claims but it has been a fight every inch of the way.
C. We See The Outcome Of New Wells. It is when the Spirit of God is at work that we meet God and experience God in a new and fresh way. It is then that we see God manifested and His blessing experienced in our life. Notice Genesis 26:24-25, “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. [25] 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.” God appeared unto Him and promised him protection, presence, prosperity. God had appeared to his father, but now God was appearing to him. He was meeting the same God his father had met. He was hearing the same God his father had heard. He was encountering the same God his father had encountered.
1. CLEARING WELLS OF THE PAST GENERATION!
2. CLAIMING WELLS IN THE PRESENT GENERATION!
3. CREATING WELLS FOR THE PROSPECTIVE GENERATION! The wells Abraham had dug Isaac in the next generation drank. The wells Isaac dug, the next generation drank. Notice Genesis 26:32-33, “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. [33] And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.” Isaac named the well he dug when he met God Beersheba which mean “well of the oath.” That well would always testify to what God had done and said to Isaac. It would be a reminder to the generations to come of Isaac’s experience with God. I think of the marker in front of Moriah Church in Lougher, Wales. On one side are the words, “God hath visited His people.”
A. His Wells Would Be Available To The Next Generation. Years after Isaac was gone, his well would be available to his children, grandchildren, and succeeding generations.
B. His Wells Would Be Appropriated By The Next Generation. Just as he had drank from his fathers wells, his children would drink from his wells. They would one day be thirsty and from the wells he digged they would drink. I want to dig some wells for the next generation. Amen! has had a sip here and a sip there, but we are dying of thirst. We need a well. We need to experience a work of God in our day and in this place.
B. We See The Opposing Of New Wells. The devil never likes for wells to be dug in his territory. He fights each effort to dig a well and disputes each claim that is made. If you are a generational well digger then you can expect opposition. Isaac dug wells but he was fought each step of the way. The first well that Isaac dug was named Esek which means “contention.” Why? We read in Genesis 26:20, “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.” The word “strive” means to “wrangle, grapple.” The Philistines fought with Isaac’s men over the well. They made the claim that the well was theirs. Well digging is always opposed. the second well Isaac dug was named Sitnah which mean “hatred.” We read in Genesis 26:21, “And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.” It was only after he dug his third well he found any relief. We read in Genesis 26:22, “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.” Rehoboth means “spaces, roominess.” He is able now to enjoy his claims but it has been a fight every inch of the way.
C. We See The Outcome Of New Wells. It is when the Spirit of God is at work that we meet God and experience God in a new and fresh way. It is then that we see God manifested and His blessing experienced in our life. Notice Genesis 26:24-25, “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. [25] 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.” God appeared unto Him and promised him protection, presence, prosperity. God had appeared to his father, but now God was appearing to him. He was meeting the same God his father had met. He was hearing the same God his father had heard. He was encountering the same God his father had encountered.
1. CLEARING WELLS OF THE PAST GENERATION!
2. CLAIMING WELLS IN THE PRESENT GENERATION!
3. CREATING WELLS FOR THE PROSPECTIVE GENERATION! The wells Abraham had dug Isaac in the next generation drank. The wells Isaac dug, the next generation drank. Notice Genesis 26:32-33, “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. [33] And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.” Isaac named the well he dug when he met God Beersheba which mean “well of the oath.” That well would always testify to what God had done and said to Isaac. It would be a reminder to the generations to come of Isaac’s experience with God. I think of the marker in front of Moriah Church in Lougher, Wales. On one side are the words, “God hath visited His people.”
A. His Wells Would Be Available To The Next Generation. Years after Isaac was gone, his well would be available to his children, grandchildren, and succeeding generations.
B. His Wells Would Be Appropriated By The Next Generation. Just as he had drank from his fathers wells, his children would drink from his wells. They would one day be thirsty and from the wells he digged they would drink. I want to dig some wells for the next generation. Amen!
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