Genesis 26:18-23 gives the account of Isaac, the son of Abraham, re-digging the wells of his father, that the Philistines (of Gerar) had stopped. When Isaac’s servant dug in the valley of Gerar, there was a well of springing water, which the herdsmen of Gerar came and strove for, claiming that the water was there. Isaac called that well Esek, meaning “strife.” Then Isaac’s servant dug another well, for which was even more strife, combined with hostility by the herdsmen of Gerar. So Isaac called that well Sitnah, meaning hatred or hostility. Isaac moved from this hostile territory and dug another well, but the third time, the Philistines did not strive for the water, and Isaac, called it Rehoboth meaning that the Lord had made room for them and that they will be fruitful in the land.

Points to ponder:
When we are faced with strife and hostility, we must not give up for the Lord can make room for us (if it is in his permissive will) and so that we can be fruitful. The Holy Spirit is the spring of living waters in us and when he abides in us and we in him, we shall be fruitful (John 15:1-7) and the Lord will make room for us (to be fruitful). The Lord makes room for you to be fruitful with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) – the question that remains is – Do you make room for the Lord?

Genesis 26:18-23 (KJV)
18 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.
19 And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20 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.
21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.
22 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.
23 And he went up from thence to Beersheba.