Wells, Wells, and More Wells
by Linda Sue Pochodzay Edwards
Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian
“MINE! It's MINE!” two-year-old Benji screamed, as he grabbed the baby doll away from his older sister.
“Mom, he's doing it again!” Terri cried. “He took my doll and won't give it back.”
“Why don't you and I go to the kitchen and have a cookie,” Mother suggested, trying to calm her daughter. “By the time we are finished, Benji will have grown tired of the doll and will be playing with something else. I'll go get it for you when we are done.”
Sure enough, by the time Terri had finished her last crumb, her doll was lying on the floor and Benji was busily playing with another toy.
Her mother picked up the doll and quietly placed it in Terri's hands, as a big smile crept across her face.
Isaac and Rebekah were living happily in the land of Gerar with their twin boys, Esau and Jacob. The Lord blessed them and their fields were producing abundantly because of the water from the wells Isaac's father Abraham had dug many years before. Isaac had many flocks and herds as well as many maids and servants.
At first the other men living around Isaac liked him and were friendly, but as the famine in the land grew worse and Isaac was prospering but they weren't, they became jealous of him and his prosperity.
Instead of working hard and digging their own wells, they threw stuff in Isaac's wells to stop them up and prevent the water from flowing. There was much tension in the land. So much so that King Abimelech called for Isaac to come see him.
“Isaac, you must leave our city,” the King said to him. “You have grown very prosperous. Since you and your family are so mighty, the people are afraid you will take over their land and make them your slaves. Please leave so the people will feel at ease.”
Isaac couldn't imagine how the people of the city could think such things about him. He had no desire for their land or to make them slaves. He wanted to live peaceably among them. In order to avoid confrontation, Isaac went home and told Rebekah and all his household that they had to move.
Moving was not an easy task. They had grown very wealthy and had a lot to pack, but since it was necessary and they had no choice, everyone pitched in and helped. Soon the camels and donkeys were loaded with all their belongings, and they were on their way. Isaac had carefully chosen land in the valley of Gerar, which wasn't too far away from the city.
When they arrived at just the right spot, they unloaded their goods, and pitched their tents, and made themselves a new home in a place where there was an old well which his father Abraham had dug. To his dismay, Isaac found that the Philistine men had stopped up that well also.
Isaac and his servants set to work busily digging out the junk and debris that had been thrown into the well. It took several men several days of laboring in the hot sun, to dig the well with picks and shovels. Finally, to their great joy, they found fresh water.
Things went well for Isaac in his new home, until the herdsmen of Gerar were in the area with their herds. They saw Isaac's new well and decided it would be a good place to draw water for their animals. They fought with Isaac's herdsmen. “This is OUR well!” they shouted. “We have lived here much longer than you, and the water is OURS!”
Isaac didn't want to fight, and he didn't want any of his servants or herdsmen fighting either. He gathered them around for a discussion. “The Lord has greatly blessed us here and has promised to continue blessing us,” he said. “Those men aren't as fortunate as we are. They don't have any water for their livestock. They need water as much as we do, and apparently they don't know how to dig their own wells. We can give them this well, and we can dig out another of my father's wells for us to use.”
They worked and worked and finally had another well ready for use, but it wasn't long before the men of Gerar came to that well and starting fighting for it. Isaac and his family still didn't want to fight, so they peacefully gave another well to the herdsmen of Gerar.
Isaac had another meeting with his family and servants. “It seems that we have to move again,” he told them. “The men of Gerar needed this well also, so we have to move further away.” His family and servants knew there was no use in trying to argue with Isaac because Isaac just wouldn't argue! They all packed up again, loaded their belongings onto the camels and donkeys, and moved to another place.
By this time they had quite an efficient digging crew! They got out their picks and shovels and started working hard. In several days had yet another well ready for use. They had water for all their flocks and herds, and enough to water their crops. This time the herdsmen from Gerar left them alone and didn't fight for their water. There was finally enough for everyone to live peaceably. Isaac called the name of that well Rehoboth, which means “end of fighting” or “peace.”
One day Isaac decided that he needed to take a little vacation away from all the worries of his large farm. He took a small tent and decided to have a campout all by himself. In the quietness of the night, the Lord appeared to him, repeating the same message he had previously been given: “I am the God of Abraham, your father. Fear not, for I am with you, and will bless you, and give you many descendants, for Abraham's sake.”
Isaac was happy to hear from the Lord. It helped him to know he was being obedient to God and doing the right thing. Isaac built an altar there and prayed to the Lord. He went home the next morning, gathered his family and servants, and had an announcement to make. “We are moving again,” he told them. By this time, they were all experienced packers. They gathered their belongings, loaded the camels and donkeys, and were ready in no time.
Isaac led his family to his camping spot. They unpacked and pitched their tents near the altar he had built. The digging crew didn't even need to be told; they were ready in no time flat to start digging another well.
Isaac heard strange voices outside his tent. He curiously went to see who had come to visit him. Standing right in front of him was King Abimelech and some of the men from the city of Gerar. Isaac was quite surprised to see them and wondered skeptically why they had come.
“Why have you come here?” he asked. “All of you hated me and kicked me out of your city. You forced me to move away from you. Then when I dug my wells, you took them away from me and I had to move my family again. What do you want now?”
Abimelech and his men had become fearful of Isaac. “We have seen that the Lord is with you. We see how the Lord has prospered you and made you great. We want to be friends with you again. We want to make an agreement with you that if you won't hurt any of us, we won't hurt any of your family.”
Isaac was rather amused at them. They were fearful of him for no real reason. He had no desire to harm any of them and had gone to great lengths to avoid conflict.
To show his goodwill, Isaac called his servants and told them they were having company for dinner. They prepared a big feast, and he invited the men of Gerar to eat and drink with his family. After the festivities, it was getting rather late, so he invited them all to spend the night with him. The next morning, Isaac, King Abimelech, and the men of Gerar promised again that they would be friends. The King and his men went peacefully back to the city, no longer afraid of Isaac.
That very same day, the digging crew came running excitedly with good news for Isaac. “We have found water! WE HAVE FOUND WATER!” they shouted. They all rejoiced at their good fortune and the blessing of the Lord. Isaac called that well “Sheba,” and the city that grew up around the well was called “Beersheba,” which means “well of the oath.” An oath is another word for promise, so the name “Beersheba” reminded everyone that King Abimelech and Isaac had made a promise to live in peace with each other.
THINK!
1. How many wells did Isaac and his servants dig?
2. Why did King Abimelech tell Isaac he had to move?
3. Did Isaac “fight for his rights?”
4. Why did the king and the men come see Isaac?
REMEMBER!
Sometimes it may be easier to fight,
but living peaceably is the better way.
A VERSE TO LEARN:
“If it be possible…live peaceably
with all men” (Romans 12:18)
ALTERNATIVE VERSES TO LEARN:
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew
7:12).
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
What will you do if you get into a fight with
someone about something, such as a toy you both
want? How would God want you to handle it?
[After discussion:] Maybe you can learn to take
turns to play with a toy and share what you have
with others. God wants you to live in peace with
others as far as possible. He wants you to do to
them as you would want to be done to you, while
you trust Him to make a way for you, as He did for
Isaac.
LET'S PRAY:
****************************************************
Dear God, thank You for your many blessings.
Help us to be kind to others even when they
mistreat us. Help us to remember that You
have everything under control and help us to
trust You to “even the score.”
In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
****************************************************
CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Genesis 26:13-33
God Spoke to Isaac (online)
Isaac Digging Wells (online)
Isaac Was Blessed (online)
Isaac Digs a Well (online)
Bible Color and Learn: Abraham Book 4
Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids
God Loves You Coloring Book:
A Read-aloud Coloring Book About God's Plan for Salvation
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books
Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Romans 12:18 Scramble (online)
Word Search (online)
Cross Word Puzzle (online)
Isaac Was Blessed Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Dads and Sons Matching Game (online)
Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo (online)
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles
Well Coloring Page With Craft Idea (online)
Camel Crafts (online)
Clay Water Jars (online)
Egg Carton Camel (online)
Isaac and Rebekah Craft (online)
Isaac Does Not Fight (online)
Isaac Keeps the Peace (online)
Bible Crafts
Bible Craft Videos (online)
Crafting the Word of God (online)
Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]
Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts
More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes
(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)
Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)
The Big Picture Bible Crafts:
101 Simple and Amazing Crafts to Help Teach Children the Bible
A Ram for Isaac
A Wife For Isaac (online)
God Will Provide the Lamb (online)
Abraham (online Bible Encyclopedia)
Abraham—A Man Who Heard And Obeyed God's Call (online)
Abraham and the Three Strangers (online)
Abraham Gets Strange Visitors (online)
Abraham—God's Brave Explorer
(Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids)
Abraham, Sarah, & Isaac (Arch Books)
Abraham's Big Test
Abraham Trusts God (Faith That Sticks)
Extreme Adventures with God: Isaac, Esau, and Jacob
(Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids)
God Knows My Name
Good and Evil: The Bible As Graphic Novel
Hagar, Ishmael, And God's Promise To Abraham (read online)
HOBC Bible Big Book: Abraham
How Abraham Found A Wife For Isaac (online)
Isaac and His Wells (online lesson)
Isaac and Rebekah (online)
Lot's Choice, And How It Brought Trouble (online)
One Starry Night (read online)
Prayers for Kids (online)
Sarah and Abraham: The Wonderful Promise
The Birth of a Nation - Abraham to Joseph (listen and read online)
The Child Of Promise (read online)
The Rain Of Fire That Fell On A City (online)
The Story of Abraham (online)
The Story of a Journey After a Wife (online)
The Story of Abraham and Sarah (online)
The Story of Sodom and Gomorrah (online)
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Goodbye Grumpy Feelings - MIDI/Sheet music/Lyrics (online)
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (online)
Father Abraham [Music Download]
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Faith Is Just Believing (online)
F-F-F-Faith (online)
God's Promise To Abraham (online lyrics/MIDI)
Isaac the Peacemaker (scroll down online)
I Give Myself Away (online)
Lord of Everything (online)
Take a Step of Faith (online)
When We Pray For Each Other (online)
Why Worry When You Can Pray? (online)
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
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150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids
Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
The Bible in a Minute (online)
25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music
Abraham Sends Eliezer (watch online)
Isaac Meets Rebekah (watch online)
Eliezer Asks for Rebekah (watch online)
Rebekah Will Go with Eliezer (watch online)
Bible Comes Alive 1 (12 Audio CDs) (Your Story Hour)
Bible on the Go Vol. 03: The Story of Abraham and Isaac
(Genesis 12, 15, 18-19, 21-22) - Unabridged Audiobook [Download]
Larry Learns to Listen, DVD
Superbook: Here Comes the Bride (watch online)
The Test! Abraham and Isaac (SuperBook DVD)
The VeggieTales Show: Abraham and Lot (listen online)
All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (online)
Read and Share Toddler Bible with DVD
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS
Abimelech (online)
Genesis 26 (online)
Isaac and Abimelec—Wells (watch online)
The Birth of a Nation (Abraham to Joseph) pg. 2 (online)
The Story of Abraham's Well and the Confrontation with Abimelech(watch online)
The Young Peacemaker: Teaching Students to Respond to Conflict in God's Way
Words Do Hurt - Puppets or Skit (online)
Free Bible story images (online)
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
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Children's Ministry
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Big Book of Bible Games
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Closing Prayer (online)
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churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide (online)
52 Games That Teach The Bible
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God's Servants Teach Me
God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs
Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
How to Make Bible Characters from Milk Cartons (online)
KidMin ToolBox: Boxed Book Set
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles
Leading Little Ones to God:
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Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Activities (online)
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer (online)
Parenting Resources
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons (online)
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry
Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know
Children's resources (online)
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