Isaac the son of Abraham is overshadowed in Scripture. Even though he is considered a Patriarch, he is often overlooked due to the large shadow cast by Abraham and Jacob. Of the three Patriarchs Isaac lived the longest, for he died at the age of 180 years. Abraham died at 175, and Jacob died at 147. Though Isaac lived the longest only one chapter is solely given to Isaac (Gen. 26).
Isaac had come to the land of Gerar of the Philistines. The reason Isaac had come to this place was due to a famine in the land. Isaac had great possessions of flocks and servants. Consequently those flocks and servants were thirsty due to the famine.
In order to quench the thirst of his flock and his servants, Isaac didn’t dig new wells but instead chose to re-dig the wells that Abraham had dug in that same region. Somewhere along the way the Philistines had filled Abraham’s wells with dirt and mud. They did their best to keep those wells from being used. When Isaac had arrived at the wells, he had a choice to dig new wells or to get a shovel and begin to unclog the filled wells.
We are living in a day of spiritual famine. It is necessary that we decide not to dig new wells. Rather, we should re-dig the old wells of our spiritual forefathers. Since it quenched their thirst, it will also quench our thirst.
We must re-dig the wells of Scriptural truth. Truth never gets stale or molds. But there is the possibility that truth can be forgotten. We must re-dig the old wells of prayer and fasting. We must re-dig the wells of holiness and sanctification. We must re-dig the wells of commitment and dedication. These wells may not look attractive to modern eyes, but they will provide the spiritual nourishment that they yearn for.
Dear reader, the old wells that quenched the thirst of bygone generations, will be the same wells that quench the thirst of this modern generation. It is up to us to re-dig those wells that have been neglected, and filled with worldliness and carnality.