Genesis 26:22

A Study In Meekness

And he removed from thence, and digged another well. Genesis 26:22.

A Sunday school teacher had a class of boys who understood that in their answers they were always to speak the truth. While giving a lesson on the “meek and quiet spirit,” she put the question “What would be gained by forgiving your brother until seventy times seven?” There came immediately the answer “Nothing.” She tried again “If a boy followed any of you on the street and kept calling names at you all the way, what would you do?” After a pause the representative boy of the class answered with great deliberation, “I would ask him to stop once twice maybe three times, and if he still persisted, I would fight him.”

Is there anything really gained by meekness? Though you may not think so, that is a question that some big people hesitate to face. They feel as the boy did while they know all the time that that feeling is wrong.

If you were asked who was the meekest man in the Old Testament, I suppose most of you would answer Moses, and you would probably be right. But there is another man who comes very close a man who comes in between two great characters and is so overshadowed by them that we are apt to overlook him. That man is Isaac.

I want to give you just two pictures out of Isaac's life.

1. The first is very well known to you. It is the picture of a youth climbing a mountain in the company of his father and carrying on his shoulders the wood for the burnt offering.

Perhaps you may have thought that Isaac was just a boy when he climbed that mountain, that he did not understand what was going to happen to him, and that it was mere idle curiosity that made him put the question “Behold the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” But Isaac was no mere boy: he was a young man of twenty, or perhaps even twenty-five. He understood perfectly the meaning of sacrifice, he understood perfectly what was happening. And yet he made no fuss. Meekly and willingly he allowed himself to be bound to the altar knowing that thus he was in some mysterious way serving his family and fulfilling God's will.

In this respect Isaac, more than any other man in the Old Testament, resembles the meek and gentle Jesus who laid down His life, a willing sacrifice, for the sake of others.

2. The second picture is that of a man digging wells. You know wells are very important and necessary things in a dry, hot country, and Isaac was a great digger of wells.

Isaac had been driven by famine to seek food in the land of the Philistines and he encamped with his family and his belongings in the valley of Gerar. There he prospered and grew rich, and there he dug again the wells which Abraham his father had dug and which the Philistines had filled up with stones and trash.

Later the Philistines grew jealous of Isaac and they asked him to move on. So he removed his camp to some distance.

Now the first necessity in the new camp was water water for the people and the flocks so Isaac directed his men where they might find a new spring, and there they dug a well. But what do you think? No sooner had they finished digging than along came the herdsmen of Gerar and announced “This water is ours!” It was cool, wasn't it? not the water, of course, but the behavior of the men. Isaac might have made a fuss, but he saw it would do no good; so he just gave up the well and ordered his servants to dig another.

Would you believe it? No sooner was that one completed than the herdsmen of Gerar came and claimed it too. Had ever man more cause for feeling provoked? But Isaac still kept his temper. He moved on and dug a third well, and this one he was allowed to keep.

Now I hope you won't run away with the idea that Isaac was a “softy” to give up so easily. I think he showed his greatness by his magnanimity. It may have cost him a good deal of self-control to surrender these wells, but he wasn't going to waste time standing on his rights about small things. His servants were only too ready to fight and he wasn't going to risk involving them in a quarrel that might end in bloodshed. After all, what did it matter? He could dig another well. I think if you look closely at the picture of the well- diggers you will see that Isaac looks very grand and noble, and the herdsmen of Gerar look very small and shabby.

Boys and girls, it takes a great man to give up a little thing.

One of the great men of the American Civil War was General O. O. Howard. Not only was he a great man, but he was a good man and beloved by all.

During General Sherman's last campaign in the South General Howard was put in command of a special division. When the war ended, a grand parade of the conquering troops was planned to be held in Washington. Now the man whose place Howard had taken insisted on riding at the head of his former division, and this man's friends were so influential that General Sherman did not see how he could refuse his request.

Before the final arrangements were made, General Sherman sent for General Howard and explained the situation to him. He asked him if he would object to this other general riding at the head of his (Howard's) command, and Howard replied that the division was now his and that he had every right to ride at its head.

“That is true,” answered Sherman, “but you know you are a Christian, and you don't mind so much.” “Oh,” replied General Howard, “if that's what you mean, let him ride there, and let him have the honor.” “Yes,” said the Commander, “let him have the honor; but you will report to me at nine o'clock and ride by my side at the head of the army!”

Boys and girls, when you feel inclined to snap at each other, when you feel inclined to squabble and stand on your rights, remember General Howard, remember Isaac and the herdsmen of Gerar.