From Conflict to Confirmation
Genesis 26:23-24
From there he went up to Beer-sheba, and the LORD appeared to him that night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your offspring because of My servant Abraham.”
During a time of famine, God sent Isaac to Abimilech, king of the Philistines, in a place called Gerar. He told him to settle there, and He would bless him. Isaac did as God told him to do, and while God did bless him, the blessing created conflict. The Philistines became very jealous of Isaac’s success and started filling his wells with dirt in order to stop his water supply and, thereby, his prosperity. Isaac simply moved forward and dug new wells and reopened wells dug by his father. This only created more conflict when Philistine herdsmen thought they were entitled to his wells and quarreled with him over them. Finally, Isaac dug a well that did not create a quarrel, and he called it “Open Spaces” because he finally found a place where God made room for him.
After this, Isaac went to a place called Beer-sheba, where God spoke to him and gave him a confirming word of His promise to bless him and multiply his offspring. No doubt, after experiencing such conflict, Isaac must have questioned whether he ever heard from God in the first place. After all, isn’t obedience supposed to bring blessing? God confirmed His word to Isaac, and Isaac built an altar to worship Him. Worship is always the correct response to God’s confirmation to us.
Gerar means “rolling country” and has the implication of a cow chewing cud. Here, the cud keeps coming back up until the cow has completely processed it. In Gerar, Isaac kept experiencing conflict. To the Philistines, however, God kept blessing Isaac, which prompted them to jealousy. Their jealousy created conflict with Isaac. God was using His blessing toward Isaac to reveal something of Himself to the Philistines. Understand that God’s blessing on you will cause conflict with anyone or anything that is not in line with the will of God. God may use your blessing as a way of dealing with those forces He wishes to align with Himself. While it may be frustrating for you for a while, the process of God’s plan will bring you through the conflict to a peaceful victory.
Beer-sheba means “well of an oath.” A well is a source of water – a life-giving necessity and means of refreshment. An oath is a promise. When we are confused and wondering if we ever really heard from God, He will bring us to a place where we experience the necessary word of His promise, along with the confirmation and affirmation we need to continue. When we receive His confirmation, we will naturally be moved to worship!
If you have experienced a time of conflict in your efforts to follow Christ, know for certain that God will bring a Beer-sheba! He will confirm His word to you and bless you, just as He promised. No one can stop His blessing upon you, regardless of how much dirt they throw in your well! When God is your source, you have an ever-flowing supply of His grace, favor, and life-giving water! Just move forward, worship Him, and rejoice because He is with you!
Have a blessed day!