The Wells of Promise

The story of Isaac mirrors that of his father Abraham—of mistakes repeated but also of faith that endures. When a famine, similar to the one during Abraham’s time, ravaged the land, Isaac, like his father before him, moved toward Gerar in search of refuge. Yet here, God gave a direct command:

The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. – Genesis 26:2 (NIV)

Egypt, though fertile, had always represented a place of compromise for God’s people. Abraham had gone there and faltered in faith, and later Jacob’s descendants would find themselves enslaved there. God was setting Isaac apart, teaching him to rely on His promise rather than the abundance of Egypt. Each patriarch’s journey was different — Abraham endured wandering, Isaac was called to stay, and Jacob later suffered affliction in Egypt. In each case, God’s dealings fit the person and the moment. For Isaac, obedience meant remaining in the land of promise despite famine.

The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree

When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.” – Genesis 26:7 (NIV)

The age-old saying that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree proves true in Isaac’s case, as he introduces Rebekah as his sister, just as Abraham had done (twice) with Sarah. Driven by fear, he, like his father, he lied about his wife to a king in order to protect his own life. From our vantage point, it is easy to say Isaac should have known better, especially after witnessing his father fall into the same trap. Perhaps he recalled Abraham’s stories but misapplied them, leaning on his father’s tactics rather than his father’s God. However, in hindsight, it seems he misjudged Abimelek, assuming danger where none truly existed. In reality, the king of Gerar did him no harm, even after uncovering the deception. Isaac’s fear clouded his faith, yet God’s providence remained steadfast.

Then Abimelek said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” – Genesis 26:10 (NIV)

Abimelek’s response was unexpected, for instead of punishing Isaac, he issued a decree that both Isaac and Rebekah were to be protected under penalty of death. Such kindness on the king’s part, despite being deceived by a stranger in his land, revealed that he recognised the seriousness of adultery and respected the sanctity of marriage. He acted with greater moral clarity than Isaac had anticipated. Once again, God preserved His covenant people through unexpected means, showing that His protection did not rest on their flawless obedience.

Isaac Prospers in Gerar

As Isaac remained in Gerar, God’s blessing became undeniable. He planted crops and reaped a hundredfold; his flocks and servants multiplied until he became very wealthy. Yet prosperity stirred jealousy. The Philistines, rather than celebrating abundance, chose sabotage: they filled the wells Abraham had dug, cutting off the very lifeline of the land.

Wells were central to survival as they provided water for crops, herds, and families. They were symbols of permanence and prosperity, anchors for settlement in a dry land. To fill them with earth was both a practical attack and a statement of rejection. Isaac’s prosperity had made him too powerful and Abimelek eventually asked him to move away, saying,

“Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.” – Genesis 26:16 (NIV)

Each time a quarrel arose over a well, Isaac yielded and moved on. He dug new wells, and when those too were seized, he left again. Finally, he dug a well at Rehoboth and declared: “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land” (v. 22).

Isaac trusted God to provide new wells rather than fighting for old ones. He had no problem “turning the other cheek” and moving away from quarrels, confident that God would bless him wherever he went.

“If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also” – Matthew 5:39 (NIV)

Isaac lived this principle long before Jesus spoke it. We admire Jesus’ words on the Sermon on the Mount, but too often they remain quotable verses rather than guiding principles in our lives. Isaac shows us what it looks like in practice: refusing to be consumed by quarrels and instead trusting God’s provision.

Sometimes we too get embroiled in quarrels, fighting for what we believe is our right, only to lose sight of God’s greater will. That is exactly what the deceiver hopes for — that our time and energy be spent proving our case rather than obeying God. Isaac’s quiet strength teaches another way: step back, trust God, and move forward.

Eventually even Abimelek, who once asked Isaac to leave, returned to make peace. He recognised that God was with Isaac and sought a treaty. What began in fear and deception ended in testimony. Isaac’s life was proof that the hand of God cannot be hidden, even from outsiders.

We see how God continually blessed Isaac wherever he went. Each new place became fruitful simply because God was with him. Isaac’s confidence rested not in his possessions but in the Provider. Like Isaac, we are called to trust that God will provide new beginnings when we let go of our past battles. Just as God provided the ram in place of Isaac on Mount Moriah, He will surely provide for us if we walk in faith.

Discussion Questions

1. Why did God command Isaac not to go down to Egypt during the famine? What does this teach about obedience when circumstances look bleak?
2. Why did Isaac lie about Rebekah, just like his father? How does fear distort faith and lead to repeated mistakes?
3. Why were wells so important in Isaac’s time? What did they symbolise beyond survival?
4. What can we learn from Isaac’s attitude of always moving on when others seized his wells?
5. How does Isaac’s response reflect the principle of “turning the other cheek” from the Sermon on the Mount?
6. Why is it so easy to get caught up in quarrels and lose sight of God’s will? How can Isaac’s example help us today?