Day 5: Re-digging the Wells

Famines represent loss.

In the famine-stricken land, there was a looming possibility of starvation and death. Both they and their livestock faced the threat of starvation, malnourishment, and disease. Resources were limited. Food was allotted. Routines were interrupted. Choices were few and demand exceeded supply.

A famine was not a short-lived discomfort, but rather a prolonged ordeal that persisted for several years at a time. The individuals who were affected had to deal with the difficult emotions associated with displacement, disruption, and desperation. The effects of these events were felt by large populations and entire regions, showing just how widespread they were.

As previously stated, famines were not rare occurrences and were, in fact, quite common. In Genesis 41, God revealed to Pharaoh through a series of dreams that a seven-year famine would follow seven years of prosperity. Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams suggested that the years of famine would be so great that the people of Egypt would forget all the prosperity they had previously enjoyed. The famine would bring ruin to the land. It would be so severe that people would forget what it was like to have good years.

The question arises of what happens when the things you have relied on run out. What do you do when the tough seasons cause the good memories to fade away? When the good days no longer outweigh the bad, how do you survive?

Famines were frequently caused by droughts, among other natural causes, and economic crises. Knowing this, it is intriguing that the famine Isaac faced, despite its severity, did not have any impact on the flow of water. Although Isaac and his servants had to endure a famine, they had no trouble finding water. But the water was discovered in particular locations, not just anywhere.

One of the places where Isaac and his servants found water was Gerar. Gerar is the place where Abraham dug wells during his lifetime. With famine comes suffering, and with suffering, opportunity. The opportunity to unearth what is already present. The opportunity to revisit an age-old provision and leverage what is left. The opportunity to grasp the generational provision ordained by God.

So, how do succeeding generations endure famine?

By re-digging the wells.

The foresight and hard work of Abraham in digging wells proved to be a significant factor in ensuring Isaac’s survival during a period of famine. The wells symbolized generational provision, as God knew ahead of time that the famines would occur. However, while the wells gave him a starting point, they were not the end. He re-dug them, but his survival would necessitate more than what was handed down to him by his father. Isaac not only restored his father’s wells but expanded his work by digging more wells on his journey. For him, this was more than just a physical journey—it was a symbolic representation of his spiritual path.

Isaac finds himself sandwiched between Abraham, the father of many nations, and Jacob, the father whose sons became leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. It might be easy to look over or to underestimate the significance of his story. However, Isaac’s part in the fulfillment of God’s generational plan and promise was no less significant than Abraham’s and Jacob’s.

Reflection Questions:

1. Have spiritual famines in your life ever been so severe that you forgot what it was like to have good years?

2. What generational provision might you be overlooking?

3. Have you stopped at the wells that have been passed down to you or have you gone on to dig wells of your own?