Genesis 26:17 So Isaac moved away from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar, where he settled.
Verses 14 & 15 tell us that the Philistines envied Isaac because he was so richly blessed by the Lord. As a result of that envy, the Philistines stopped up Isaac’s wells, wells that had been dug by his father Abraham, wells that were expensive and laborious to dig, wells that were absolutely necessary to the life of both humans and animals. Envy is an ugly beast.
Genesis 26:18 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.
Revenge is also an ugly beast, but Isaac didn’t choose that path. He decided to “move away from there” (v17), to trust that God would provide, to trust that God would defend, to put in the hard work of redigging the sabotaged wells of his father, to put in the work and to trust and to live instead of investing his time in getting even with those who had wronged him.
Genesis 26:19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and discovered a well of fresh water there.
Precious Savior, Forgive us that often our first thoughts after being wronged are about seeking revenge. Help us, instead, to seek You, to glorify You, to trust You, to obey You, to put in the work and to trust and to live instead of investing our time in revenge on those who have wronged us. Help us, Jesus. Amen.
Genesis 26:20 But the herders of Gerar quarreled with those of Isaac and said, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they disputed with him.
Have a blessed day.