Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Spotify | TuneIn | RSS | More
Isaac is a good type of a Christian going through valleys in this life. Isaac moves into the valley of Gerar and begins looking for the wells his father, Abraham, dug. Those wells had been stopped up by the Philistines.
Valley is a temporary dwelling place (vs 17)
- Isaac isn’t building a permanent residence there, he is passing through.
- Valleys, for God’s people, saved people, are temporary.
- Ministry of tears as Dewitt Talmage called it; it’s meant to keep this world from becoming too comfortable for you.
God’s provision in the valley isn’t new (vs 18)
-
- Grief is a private, individual, lonely thing. But you find that God’s provision in that time isn’t a brand new grace. It’s been used before.
- Jesus Christ a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.
- 2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
What’s valuable is buried (vs 19)
- True treasure is found buried.
- God’s grace is found in the valley. Paul said, when I am weak, then I am strong. Thy strength is made perfect in weakness.
Valley dwellers (vss 20-21)
- These are the herdman of Gerar. They live in the valley. They are the perpetual victims claiming every part of the valley for themselves.
- Notice they don’t know how to get their needs met in the valley, so they just try to steal from the hard work of others. These valley dwellers don’t dig wells, they wait for wells to be dug, then steal the provision.
- Everything is about them.
Be not weary of well-digging (vs 22)
- First of all, what is the alternative? If you don’t find water, the only other thing to do is die.
- Because Isaac is a sojourner in the land, every life giving fountain comes with a fight.
Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD (vss 23-25)
- Eventually Isaac finds a place for his flocks and herds.
- Isaac leaves in the valley a trail of blessings for the heathen after his hard work.
- An altar built to remember God’s blessing.
