Sermon: Keep Digging – Gen 26.12–22 (1/25/26)

Introduction

• Turn to Genesis 26.

  • With the inclement weather this weekend, I have decided to press pause on our three weeks of prayer messages in our study of the Sermon on the Mount.

  • Today we turn to an often overlooked historical event recorded in Genesis 26.

• I recently read some interesting statistics about why people buy books and what they actually do with them.

  • Statistics...

    • Only half of the books purchased in the US ever get opened.

    • Of the half that get opened, only half of are ever finished.

    • E-reader statistics tell us that for some of the so-called "Best Sellers" in the last decade, as few as two percent of readers ever reach the end!

  • Now, no judgment in this.

    • I own a plenty of books I've never opened...

    • And I've started many books I did not finish. 

  • I just bring this up to illustrate a very human pattern...

    • In almost every area of life...

    • Many good intentions never become first steps...

    • Many first steps never see the finish line.

  • Now, the consequences of not finishing the latest John Grisham or Nicholas Sparks book are pretty small.

    • But the consequences of not persevering in our spiritual growth and maturity are anything but small.

• The Genesis 26 Story

  • In Genesis 26, we find the account of Isaac's search for a good water source for his people. 

    • This is an actual historical account.

      • Around 1900 B.C.

    • But it is also a strong biblical encouragement and instruction for persevering in our spiritual journey.

Scripture

• Genesis 26.12 | Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in that year he reaped a hundred times what was sown. The Lord blessed him, (CSB)

• Genesis 26.13 | and the man became rich and kept getting richer until he was very wealthy. (CSB)

• Genesis 26.14 | He had flocks of sheep, herds of cattle, and many slaves, and the Philistines were envious of him. (CSB)

• Genesis 26.15 | Philistines stopped up all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham, filling them with dirt. (CSB)

  • How do wells get stopped up?

    • A. Neglect

      • Two ways to destroy a car...

        • Same true with...

          • Spiritual life...

          • Marriage...

          • Family...

          • Witness...

    • B. Sin

    • C. These wells were stopped up after Abraham (Isaac’s father) died.

      • Change can be a factor…

      • A change of jobs…

      • A change of schedules…

    • D. Conflict

      • There was conflict between Isaac’s family and the Philistines.

      • Perhaps the wells were stopped up as a direct result of that conflict.

      • When we are in conflict, are relationship with God is tested and strained.

    • At the end of the day, it doesn’t so much matter why as it matters what we are going to do about it.

• Genesis 26.16 | And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us, for you are much too powerful for us.” (CSB)

• Genesis 26.17 | So Isaac left there, camped in the Gerar Valley, and lived there. (CSB)

• Genesis 26.18 | Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them.(CSB)

• Genesis 26.19 | Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of spring water there. (CSB)

• Genesis 26.20 | But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek because they argued with him. (CSB)

• Genesis 26.21 | Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also, so he named it Sitnah. (CSB)

• Genesis 26.22 | He moved from there and dug another, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, “For now the Lord has made space for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.” (CSB)

• Genesis 26.23 | From there he went up to Beer-sheba, (CSB)

How to Persevere

I. Re-dig some old wells.

• First thing Isaac did was to re-dig the old wells.

  • Genesis 26.18 | Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham and that the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died. He gave them the same names his father had given them. (CSB)

• They brought water before, they will bring water again.

  • Sometimes we just need to go back and do the things we once did…

• Illustration:

  • The key to renewing the old feelings of love in a marriage is to go back and do again the old things you used to do for and with your spouse…

• Look at this counsel from Jesus to a people whose relationship with the Lord has grown dry and dusty…

  • Revelation 2.4 | But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. (CSB)

  • Revelation 2.5 | Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. (CSB)

• Old Wells...

  • A. Bible Reading...

    • Billy Stickland's story about people going 48 hours without cable...

  • B. Faithful Attendance

  • C. Generous giving

• Four Discipleship Pillars

II. Dig some new wells.

• After he re-dug some old wells, he began to dig some new wells.

  • Genesis 26.19 | Then Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found a well of spring water there. (CSB)

  • Genesis 26.20 | But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek because they argued with him. (CSB)

  • Genesis 26.21 | Then they dug another well and quarreled over that one also, so he named it Sitnah.(CSB)

  • Genesis 26.22 | He moved from there and dug another, and they did not quarrel over it. He named it Rehoboth and said, “For now the Lord has made space for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”(CSB)

• New Wells...

  • Bible memorization...

  • New places of service...

    • Through the church...

    • Missions...

    • Community...

III. Keep digging.

• One of the things that stand out to me when I read this story, is Isaac’s tenacity.

  • Isaac didn’t just did one well.

  • Isaac didn’t give up when things were hard.

  • Isaac didn’t give up when things were frustrating.

• By my count, Isaac dug six wells.

  • The first two or three were old wells the Philistines had stopped up.

    • Isaac didn’t just wallow in self-pity.

    • Isaac didn’t just sit in a corner and pout because of the actions of the enemy.

    • Isaac didn’t fight.

    • Isaac took his shovel and dug.

  • Then he dug two new wells, but the first one brought trouble and the second brought dispute.

    • Esek - Trouble

    • Sitnah - Dispute

  • He still didn’t quit.

  • Finally, he dug a well that he named…

    • Rehobath – Plenty of room

• This is not just a one-time commitment.

  • This is a persevering commitment!

• Galatians 6.9 | Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.(CSB)

• Spurgeon said: By perseverance the snail reached the ark.