Genesis 26:17-25 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 26:17-25 on biblegateway.com
Verse 17So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there. Verse 18Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them. Verse 19But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, Verse 20the herders of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herders, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the well Esek, because they contended with him. Verse 21Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also; so he called it Sitnah. Verse 22He moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the Lord has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." Verse 23From there he went up to Beer-sheba. Verse 24And that very night the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham's sake." Verse 25So he built an altar there, called on the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.
Devotion
What do we inherit from our fathers and mothers? Only one thing of lasting value: the blessing and promise of God. Isaac inherited his father Abraham’s well, but found that it could be taken away. But then God appeared to Isaac and gave Isaac the same promises that had been granted to Abraham—blessing, descendants and the presence of God. No thief could steal that from Isaac. No thief can steal it from you.
Prayer
Giving God, you give us so much and we confuse the gifts for the giver—should we ask for less that we might see you more clearly? Fill our eyes and ears with the sights and sounds of your presence. Amen.