Today’s Reading: Genesis 25; Genesis 26; Psalm 6; Luke 10
Scripture: Genesis 26:12-15
12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.
Observation: Isaac is blessed of God and it is reflected in his income. The Philistines see Isaac's wealth grow and grow and they become envious and resentful. They decide to exert their energies into filling the wells up with dirt, to stop the flow of water.
Application: Envy, hate, resentment -- these are destructive attitudes. The Philistines could have admired Isaac and used his success as an inspiration to succeed themselves. But they saw themselves as victims and Isaac as someone to focus their negativity toward. So the outflow of all that venom was to exert themselves in destructive activity. What is so sad is that they stopped up all the wells that Abraham had dug, which includes many which belonged to the Philistines themselves! They stopped the flow of water not only to Isaac but to themselves too! And this illustrates an important truth: negative attitudes toward others are more damaging to the person who holds them than to anyone else. Make no mistake, they are hurtful to others. But the primary victim of hate, spite, resentment and unforgiveness is the one who holds these destructive attitudes in his heart.
Bottom line: Stay sweet. Let go of offenses and walk in forgiveness and grace. Ask God to help you. Stay sweet and live will be sweeter.
Prayer: Lord, keep me far away from destructive attitudes. I want to keep the flow of grace and love and forgiveness going in my life.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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