It seems every house David and I have ever lived in we've had a contentious relationship with at least one of our neighbors. In Arizona, bigotry prompted the relationship with a neighbor to turn sour. Objecting to our adoption of a 10 year old Hispanic boy, they began complaining about everything we did after he moved in. Currently, the people behind us complained vehemently when we fenced off what he and others used as an ATV and snowmobile trail that runs through our front yard. You've probably had your share of disputes with your neighbors too.
Jealousy seemed to plague Isaac as he tried to find a place to settle. It's not as easy to pick up and move somewhere else like it was for Isaac. Although, moving with all his possessions was no small task I'm sure, today we have property deeds, mortgages and a financial investment in our homes. So what do you do in those instances where you just can't get along? Pray. And maybe try again to calm the waters.
Please pray for our neighbor Bud. I believe he is just not a happy man. And pray this Christmas season I will have the courage to try to calm the waters with him once again.
Genesis 26:12-25 NLT
Conflict over Water Rights
12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the LORD blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.
16 Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.”
17 So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. 18 He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.
19 Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. 20 But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). 21 Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). 22 Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the LORD has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
23 From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, 24 where the LORD appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant. " 25 Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.
Blessings, Cecilia
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