After Isaac had digged out all his father’s wells, then his servants dug another one — a well of springing water. There is progress here. We cannot stand still in the things of God, for if we are not growing in our souls, we are sure to go backward. The new well is a special cause of contention. How the enemy hates to see the children of God making progress! Notice they say, “The water is ours,” not “The well is ours.” Unsaved people do not want Christ, the Source from which all blessings flow, but they like to get the blessings. No doubt there could have been more energy displayed on the part of Isaac, in contending for these wells, for God had said, “Sojourn in this land, and I will ... bless thee.” However the Lord graciously undertook for him, allowing him to have other wells until he finally got back to Beersheba. There a covenant was made, as Abimelech had made with Abraham previously, to have peaceful possession of that part of the land. May the Lord give us the energy of faith to go on possessing more of what is ours in Christ, even though there are “many adversaries.”
It is a good thing indeed when others see in us as Abimelech observed about Isaac, that the Lord was with him even though they hated him. If we walk honorably and blamelessly, but do not confess Christ, we escape His reproach; or if we talk well but walk badly, we bring reproach on His Name. God would have us to talk of Christ, and walk to please Him too; then we will bear His reproach, and bring honor to His worthy Name.
Companionship
When Esau was forty years old, he took a wife of the daughters of the land. We often read of periods of forty days, and forty years in the Bible. The children of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness; Moses spent forty years in Pharaoh’s court, forty years on the backside of the desert, and forty days on the mount. Other cases could be given too. It is always looked upon as a period of testing, and so here we can see the true state of Esau’s heart. Dear young Christian, weigh this statement well, and even the younger folks can remember it when they grow older: “The partner you choose for life will show your state of soul more than anything else.” If you walk with God, He will lead you to the right one, for be assured it will mold your whole life for good or bad to a tremendous degree. No wonder Esau’s choice to marry wives from among the idolatrous people of the land was a grief of mind to his father and mother.
If you belong to the Lord, dear reader, be careful of the company you keep. There is a good verse in Psalm 119:6363I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. (Psalm 119:63) for us all to remember, “I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.” Our intentions may be ever so good, but we are only safe as we “cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart” and learn to walk in the path of obedience day by day. Then when the time of decision comes, we will be able to say like Abraham’s servant, “I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren” (Genesis 24:2727And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. (Genesis 24:27)).
Further Meditation
1. How did the Lord graciously undertake for Isaac?
2. A companion for life can have a huge impact on our spiritual lives. How did a bad companion affect Ahab? How did a good wife encourage Aquila?
3. The pamphlet Companionship in Courtship and Marriage: Part 2 by B. Anstey gives a wonderful encouragement to allowing the Lord to make the choice of our life’s companion.