He moved on from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, "At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land." He moved on from thereThis phrase indicates Isaac's perseverance and faith. In the Hebrew context, the act of moving on signifies a journey both physical and spiritual. Isaac's decision to move reflects a trust in God's provision, reminiscent of Abraham's journey of faith. It is a reminder that sometimes God calls us to leave behind conflict and seek peace elsewhere. and dug another well
Wells in the ancient Near East were vital for survival, symbolizing life and sustenance. The act of digging another well shows Isaac's determination and reliance on God's promise. In Hebrew, the word for "well" (בְּאֵר, be'er) is often associated with divine encounters and blessings, as seen in the accounts of Hagar and Jacob. Isaac's action is a testament to his faith in God's continued provision. and they did not quarrel over it
This phrase highlights a moment of divine intervention and peace. Previously, Isaac faced disputes over wells, but here, God grants him peace. The absence of quarrel signifies God's favor and the fulfillment of His promise to Isaac. It serves as a reminder that God can bring peace to our endeavors when we act in faith and obedience. He named it Rehoboth
The naming of the well "Rehoboth" (רְחֹבוֹת) is significant. In Hebrew, Rehoboth means "broad places" or "room." This name reflects Isaac's recognition of God's provision of space and opportunity. It is a declaration of faith that God has made room for him and his descendants, a promise of future prosperity and growth. saying, 'At last the LORD has made room for us
This statement is a profound acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and grace. The phrase "the LORD has made room" emphasizes God's active role in providing for His people. It is a moment of gratitude and recognition that all blessings come from God. The Hebrew word for "room" (רָחַב, rachab) conveys a sense of expansion and freedom, symbolizing the removal of obstacles and the opening of new opportunities. and we will be fruitful in the land
This final phrase is a declaration of hope and expectation. The promise of fruitfulness is deeply rooted in the Abrahamic covenant, where God promised to make Abraham's descendants numerous. In Hebrew, "fruitful" (פָּרָה, parah) implies not only physical abundance but also spiritual prosperity. Isaac's faith in God's promise is a testament to his trust in God's faithfulness to fulfill His covenant. This assurance of fruitfulness serves as an inspiration for believers to trust in God's promises and to expect His blessings in their lives. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaacThe son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is a patriarch of Israel. In this passage, he is continuing the legacy of his father by digging wells, which are vital for survival and prosperity in the arid region. 2. RehobothThe name of the well Isaac dug, meaning "broad places" or "room" in Hebrew. It signifies a place of peace and prosperity where there is no conflict over resources. 3. PhilistinesThe people who inhabited the region and had previously quarreled with Isaac over the wells. Their lack of contention over Rehoboth marks a turning point in Isaac's journey. 4. GerarThe region where Isaac settled and experienced conflict over the wells. It is a place of both challenge and eventual blessing. 5. The LORDThe covenant God of Isaac, who provides and makes room for His people, ensuring their prosperity and peace. Teaching Points God's Provision and TimingTrust in God's timing and provision, even when faced with repeated challenges. Isaac's perseverance in digging wells reflects faith in God's promise to provide. Peaceful ResolutionSeek peaceful resolutions in conflicts. Isaac's decision to move and dig another well rather than fight over the existing ones demonstrates a commitment to peace. Divine Space and FruitfulnessRecognize that God creates space for His people to thrive. Rehoboth symbolizes the spiritual truth that God makes room for us to be fruitful in His timing. Perseverance in FaithContinue in faith and obedience despite opposition. Isaac's persistence in digging wells shows the importance of steadfastness in pursuing God's promises. Acknowledging God's HandAcknowledge and give thanks for God's blessings. Isaac's naming of Rehoboth is an act of gratitude and recognition of God's provision. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Isaac's experience with the wells reflect the broader theme of God's provision in your life? 2. In what ways can you seek peaceful resolutions in conflicts, following Isaac's example? 3. How does the concept of "Rehoboth" apply to your current circumstances, and where do you see God making room for you? 4. What are some areas in your life where you need to persevere in faith, trusting in God's promises? 5. How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude, acknowledging God's hand in the "spacious places" He provides for you? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 13The account of Abraham and Lot separating due to strife over resources, similar to Isaac's experience with the Philistines. Both accounts emphasize God's provision and the importance of peace. Psalm 18:19This verse speaks of God bringing His people into a spacious place, echoing the theme of Rehoboth as a place of divine provision and peace. Isaiah 54:2-3The call to enlarge the place of one's tent and the promise of spreading out, reflecting the idea of God making room for His people to flourish. People Abimelech, Ahuzzath, Bashemath, Basmath, Beeri, Elon, Esau, Isaac, Judith, Phichol, RebekahPlaces Beersheba, Egypt, Esek, Gerar, Rehoboth, Shibah, Sitnah, Valley of GerarTopics Argue, Calleth, Contend, Didn't, Digged, Diggeth, Dug, Enlargement, Enlargements, Fighting, Flourish, Fruit, Fruitful, Moved, Named, Quarrel, Quarreled, Rehoboth, Reho'both, Removed, Removeth, Room, Saying, Strive, Striven, Strove, Thence, Water-holeDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 26:22 4035 abundance Genesis 26:12-22 4296 wells Genesis 26:15-22 8716 dishonesty, examples Genesis 26:19-22 5783 agreement Genesis 26:20-22 5924 quarrelsomeness Library The First Apostle of Peace at any Price
'Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture"Thou Art Now the Blessed of the Lord. "
"Thou art now the blessed of the Lord."--Genesis 26:29. THESE words truly describe the position of many whom I address at this time. There are hundreds here upon whom my eye can rest, and to any one of whom I might point with this finger, or rather, to whom I might extend this hand, to give a hearty shake, and say, "Thou art now the blessed of the Lord." I need not say it in the same spirit, nor for the same reason, that the Philistines did. They had behaved basely towards Isaac, and now that he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892 Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing Whether Every Lie is a Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that not every lie is a sin. For it is evident that the evangelists did not sin in the writing of the Gospel. Yet they seem to have told something false: since their accounts of the words of Christ and of others often differ from one another: wherefore seemingly one of them must have given an untrue account. Therefore not every lie is a sin. Objection 2: Further, no one is rewarded by God for sin. But the midwives of Egypt were rewarded by God for a lie, for it is stated that …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Elucidation.
The conduct of Father Abraham, although not approved of by Inspiration, but simply recorded (Gen. xxvi. 7), gave early Christians an opinion that the wicked may be justly foiled, by equivocation and deception, for the preservation of innocence or the life of the innocent. In such case the person deceived, they might argue, is not injured, but benefited (Gen. xxvi. 10), being saved from committing violence and murder. The Corinthian maiden was accustomed to be veiled (as Tertullian intimates), and …
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob, …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus And to Holy David Indeed it Might More Justly be Said...
22. And to holy David indeed it might more justly be said, that he ought not to have been angry; no, not with one however ungrateful and rendering evil for good; yet if, as man, anger did steal over him, he ought not to have let it so prevail, that he should swear to do a thing which either by giving way to his rage he should do, or by breaking his oath leave undone. But to the other, set as he was amid the libidinous frenzy of the Sodomites, who would dare to say, "Although thy guests in thine own …
St. Augustine—Against Lying Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 26:22 NIVGenesis 26:22 NLTGenesis 26:22 ESVGenesis 26:22 NASBGenesis 26:22 KJV
Genesis 26:22 Commentaries
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