Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The Stress Response” – Wednesday, 23 July 2014 - Scripture: Genesis 26:17-33

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “The Stress Response” – Wednesday, 23 July 2014 - Scripture: Genesis 26:17-18 So Isaac left. He camped in the valley of Gerar and settled down there. Isaac dug again the wells which were dug in the days of his father Abraham but had been clogged up by the Philistines after Abraham’s death. And he renamed them, using the original names his father had given them.
19-24 One day, as Isaac’s servants were digging in the valley, they came on a well of spring water. The shepherds of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s shepherds, claiming, “This water is ours.” So Isaac named the well Esek (Quarrel) because they quarreled over it. They dug another well and there was a difference over that one also, so he named it Sitnah (Accusation). He went on from there and dug yet another well. But there was no fighting over this one so he named it Rehoboth (Wide-Open Spaces), saying, “Now God has given us plenty of space to spread out in the land.” From there he went up to Beersheba. That very night God appeared to him and said,
I am the God of Abraham your father;
    don’t fear a thing because I’m with you.
I’ll bless you and make your children flourish
    because of Abraham my servant.
25 Isaac built an altar there and prayed, calling on God by name. He pitched his tent and his servants started digging another well.
26-27 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his advisor and Phicol the head of his troops. Isaac asked them, “Why did you come to me? You hate me; you threw me out of your country.”
28-29 They said, “We’ve realized that God is on your side. We’d like to make a deal between us—a covenant that we maintain friendly relations. We haven’t bothered you in the past; we treated you kindly and let you leave us in peace. So—God’s blessing be with you!”
30-31 Isaac laid out a feast and they ate and drank together. Early in the morning they exchanged oaths. Then Isaac said good-bye and they parted as friends.
32-33 Later that same day, Isaac’s servants came to him with news about the well they had been digging, “We’ve struck water!” Isaac named the well Sheba (Oath), and that’s the name of the city, Beersheba (Oath-Well), to this day. 
“The Stress Response” by Lisa Mueller
One of the most difficult disciplines is to guard our reactions. Quick responses to perceived threats often reveal deep character traits we otherwise keep under wraps. Even when God shows His faithfulness in the big picture, we sometimes tend to meddle in the working out of His plan. In Genesis 25 Isaac repeated his father’s mistake by identifying Rebekah as his sister. His stress response, like Abraham’s, was a betrayal of God’s provision. One can only assume Isaac learned a lesson in humility.
Back on track with God’s will, Isaac’s water well dilemma provided a powerful opportunity to trust God completely. Water from these wells was essential. If there was anything worth defending this would be it. God had directed Isaac to this place; surely He expected him to fight for these wells! Not necessarily.

When we are walking in obedience to God, peaceful resolutions are nearly always appropriate. Humble responses rather than quick, stress responses testify to God’s power in our lives. Which would be easier-to stay and fight, or to move on and dig another well" When our reactions become peaceful responses, we have obtained a level of communion with God that proves how trustworthy we consider him to be.
Hymn for Today:
“’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Louisa M. R. Stead
1. 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, 
and to take him at his word; 
just to rest upon his promise, 
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord." 
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more! 
2. O how sweet to trust in Jesus, 
just to trust his cleansing blood; 
and in simple faith to plunge me 
neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more! 
3. Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus, 
just from sin and self to cease; 
just from Jesus simply taking 
life and rest, and joy and peace.
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! 
How I've proved him o'er and o'er! 
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! 
O for grace to trust him more! 
Thought for Today:
“We can continue to rely on God even in the midst of conflict and setbacks”(Session Truth)
Prayer Needs:
Many people in Reunion will come to know Jesus the Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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