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Dispute - Opposition - Room

Words of Faith Final

Dispute - Opposition - Room
Words of Faith 5-11-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL    
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 26
    [12] Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. [13] The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. [14] He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. [15] So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
    [16] Then Abimelech said to Isaac, "Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us."
    [17] So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. [18] Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.
    [19] Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there. [20] But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him. [21] Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah. [22] He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land."

           The hand of God was clearly upon Isaac as he traveled in the land to which God had brought his father, Abraham. His crops flourished because of the hand of God, and Isaac became very wealthy. It seemed that Isaac could not fail. Everywhere Isaac dug, he found water. In the ancient world, water was like oil is today! Water was the most valuable commodity, an absolute necessity for life and agriculture.  
          The Philistines were jealous of Isaac's tremendous success and wealth. Because of this, they drove Isaac and his people away, but they found success in every new place. There was again jealously and disputes over water so Isaac moved to a new area. Isaac finally dug a well that was not quarreled over, and he named it Rehoboth, which means "room."
           The names Isaac gave to the three wells reflect his struggle and his triumph. The name Esek means "dispute."  Sitnah means "opposition."  These names reflect the conflict over the wells. Rehoboth means "room" and represents the room provided by the LORD-- "Now the Lord has given us room, and we will flourish in the land."   
           Interestingly, Isaac refused to fight back. He continued to relinquish one well after another until the frustrated Philistines let him alone. Isaac was learning several things. He realized that his provision was from the Lord, not from his efforts or struggle. He also learned that to struggle in the flesh was not beneficial. But more critically, Isaac learned that no matter how much the world tries to clog up wells with dirt, God could marvelously provide in his life. The Lord is the God of all water and life.
          It is interesting how these verses characterize and describe the Jewish experience across the ages. The Jewish people have wandered and found prosperity. People have grown envious and driven them out. Yet God has continued to provide. There has been dispute, opposition and, finally, room.
          Our journey of faith is described here as well. God's provision is with those He calls. He will provide the water needed. There will be dispute and opposition. There will also be room and provision for those who follow Him.
          Are you trusting in the Lord to provide? Are you trusting in the Lord to nourish you? Are you trusting the Lord to open up old wells and lead you to new ones? There will be dispute and opposition along the way, but there will also be room. Are you able to trust that the Lord is with you and will provide all your needs? He will give you room.

        Lord, I am trusting You. I have tried to labor in my own way. Teach me to labor in Your way. Lead me through the times of dispute and opposition. Lead me into the place where there is water and room to grow. In Jesus’ name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.