Genesis 26: 18 – 22: And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
Abraham and Isaac were very explorative in their search for springs of life-giving water to sustain themselves and their cattle in lands that were sometimes dry and barren. These wells became vital points for the local population, but they also became hotspots of hostility over who had the rights to them, for the Bible records that the Philistines had purposefully blocked the wells dug by Abraham, and that Isaac had to dig them a second time in order to access their water.
These essential sources of refreshing water would come to represent wells of revelation in the Bible that had been searched for and dug out by special men of God throughout the ages. As Isaac’s father Abraham had dug wells that had since been stopped by the Philistines, so the original truths that the apostolic fathers taught had been covered up by the false teaching of Catholicism during the seven church ages. And as Isaac had to dig those wells a second time and called them by their original names, so the prophet in these last days uncovered for us the original truths that the apostolic fathers taught, and called these revelations by their original names. Great wells of revelation such as water baptism in Jesus’ name, the Godhead, Serpent seed, and so much more were made accessible to us as the prophet dug deep in the Word, so that we can draw of the life-giving Spirit that lays in the scriptures.
Isaac’s servants then went forth and dug more wells, and of these other herdmen did strive, claiming the water as their own. These wells were called Esek and Sitnah, meaning “contention” and “strife” because of the friction that the discovery of these wells brought. But Isaac did not allow himself to become occupied in fighting tribal wars over the rights to water. Instead he moved on, looking and digging, discovering more sources of water, and making them accessible to all whilst others were trying to claim and control them.
The contentions and strife of the herdmen so perfectly describes the many battles that are fought in the circles of the message, as ministries fight amongst themselves over the great wells of revelation in the Word. As the decades have rolled by, hireling shepherds with personal agendas and their own flocks have risen up to promote themselves as special men of the hour or great men of God, to assert their own authority and rights over the interpretation of the message and the scriptures, so as to control the people, to build their own kingdoms, and to expand their influence.
But whilst all of that is taking place, the faithful servants of Isaac, who represent the God-ordained fivefold ministry (Ephesians 4: 11), are going forth, searching the scriptures and digging deep to uncover many more precious truths of God. These mature servants of God do not entangle themselves in frivolous, senseless skirmishes over quotes and scriptures, nor do they become involved in character assassination or name smearing, but are entirely committed to following Christ and digging in the places that His Holy Spirit has led them to. And as they follow Christ and dig deep in the Word upon His bidding, they will continue to strike many more wonderful truths of God that will sustain and bless the Bride of Jesus Christ around the world.