And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful (2 Timothy 2:24).

In Genesis 26 four wells are named: Esek (strife); Sitnah (hatred); Rehoboth (room for all); and Shebah (oath). Isaac, the Lord's servant, meekly journeyed farther back into the valley rather than quarrel with the herdsmen. He would not pay evil with evil or insult with insult (1 Peter 3:9). This may be one of the most difficult lessons we have to learn in life.

Since we are human, we probably have drunk from all these wells. Few of us would brag that we have never argued over something or some person in our life. And we have either hated or been hated at some time. Human nature afflicts us all. Finally, as we grow into grace, we come to recognize that there is room for us all, if we have not died at Esek or Sitnah. God has made a very large well, with enough water for a thirsty world in need of the Water of Life. Unfortunately, it takes years to find our Rehoboth, our well of love and mercy, and Shebah, our well of redemption.

As we travel through life we have and will yet come across all these wells. It requires constant patience and perseverance to get beyond the wells of competition and hostility and on to the wells of growth and gratitude. We drink deeply of the Lord's provisions and promises as we search and find His refreshing waters of confidence and rest. We dare not drown at the Eseks and Sitnahs of our lives.

Isaac gave and forgave in this splendid passage; he practiced "in spite of" instead of "in spite." May we too learn to strive not but to allow God to take care of any evil that enters our life. "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation"(2 Corinthians 5:18).