Single lesson
Isaac's Wells and His Treaty with Abimelech
Genesis 26:12–33
In this lesson, children trace how Isaac moved from blessing, to conflict over wells, to peace with Abimelech. They will notice repeated digging, naming, and God’s words to Isaac, then consider what changed in the story.
Before you teach
This passage follows Isaac’s growing success in the land. As his flocks, herds, and household increase, envy leads to blocked wells and Isaac being told to leave. The account then follows several wells, God’s appearance to Isaac, and a covenant of peace at Beersheba.
Students will be able to put the events in order and explain how the passage shows God with Isaac through blessing, conflict, and peace.
Welcome: Blessing, water, and peace
4 minShow a cup or picture of water and ask why wells mattered in this story. Introduce three words children will hear: blessing, quarrel, and peace. Explain that the passage begins with Isaac doing well, then facing arguments, and ends with an oath of peace and another well being named.
Genesis 26:12, Genesis 26:20, Genesis 26:31, Genesis 26:33
Read and explain: From success to blocked wells
7 minRead Genesis 26:12-18 aloud. Point out that Yahweh blessed Isaac, so his crops and possessions increased. The Philistines envied him and stopped up the wells. Abimelech told Isaac to go away, and Isaac moved to the valley of Gerar, where he dug again the wells from Abraham’s days.
Genesis 26:12, Genesis 26:13, Genesis 26:14, Genesis 26:15, Genesis 26:16, Genesis 26:17, Genesis 26:18
Discuss the wells: Esek, Sitnah, and Rehoboth
7 minRead Genesis 26:19-25. Help children sequence the three wells. At the first two, people argued, so Isaac named them Esek and Sitnah. At the third, there was no quarrel, and Isaac said Yahweh had made room for them. Then at Beersheba, Yahweh told Isaac not to be afraid and promised to be with him.
Genesis 26:19, Genesis 26:20, Genesis 26:21, Genesis 26:22, Genesis 26:23, Genesis 26:24, Genesis 26:25
Make and respond: Arrange the story cards
8 minChildren make simple sequence cards for key moments: blessing, blocked wells, moving away, Esek, Sitnah, Rehoboth, God’s words, the covenant meal, the oath, and finding water. As they place the cards in order, ask what choices people made and what happened next in the passage.
Genesis 26:12, Genesis 26:15, Genesis 26:17, Genesis 26:20, Genesis 26:21, Genesis 26:22, Genesis 26:24, Genesis 26:30, Genesis 26:31, Genesis 26:32
Closing: Treaty and final well
4 minRead Genesis 26:26-33. Explain that Abimelech came with others and asked for an oath because they had seen that Yahweh was with Isaac. Isaac made a feast, they swore an oath, and they parted in peace. That same day Isaac’s servants found water, and the well was named Shibah.
Genesis 26:26, Genesis 26:27, Genesis 26:28, Genesis 26:30, Genesis 26:31, Genesis 26:32, Genesis 26:33
Questions to explore
What changed between the wells named Esek and Sitnah and the well named Rehoboth?
Look for the repeated arguing at the first two wells and the words Isaac says when no one argues over Rehoboth.
Genesis 26:20, Genesis 26:21, Genesis 26:22
What did Yahweh say to Isaac at Beersheba, and how did Isaac respond?
Find the words about fear, being with Isaac, blessing, and offspring, then notice Isaac’s actions straight after that.
Genesis 26:24, Genesis 26:25
Why did Abimelech want an oath with Isaac?
Use Abimelech’s own explanation and notice what he says they had seen about Yahweh and Isaac.
Genesis 26:28, Genesis 26:29
Make, think or respond
Isaac’s Wells Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or markers
- Scissors
- Bible text
Try it together
- Write or draw one key event on each card: Isaac blessed, wells blocked, Isaac moves, Esek, Sitnah, Rehoboth, God speaks, feast, oath, found water.
- Mix the cards and have children work alone or in pairs to place them in story order.
- Ask children to retell the account using the ordered cards and the names of the wells.
- Finish by circling the cards that show peace and God’s help in the passage.
This activity helps children follow the order of Genesis 26:12-33 and notice the choices, repeated well-digging, and peaceful ending.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare the event cards in advance with simple drawings and let them place the cards in order while saying the well names together.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to add short captions from the passage to each card, such as 'The water is ours', 'Don’t be afraid', or 'We have found water'.
An optional closing prayer
Dear God, thank you that you were with Isaac. Please help us notice your care in this passage and help us choose peace where we can.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Genesis 26
12 Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him.
13 The man grew great, and grew more and more until he became very great.
14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him.
15 Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.
16 Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
17 Isaac departed from there, encamped in the valley of Gerar, and lived there.
18 Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. He called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19 Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
20 The herdsmen of Gerar argued with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.
21 They dug another well, and they argued over that, also. So he called its name Sitnah.
22 He left that place, and dug another well. They didn’t argue over that one. So he called it Rehoboth. He said, “For now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
23 He went up from there to Beersheba.
24 Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you, and will bless you, and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.”
25 He built an altar there, and called on Yahweh’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well.
26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army.
27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?”
28 They said, “We saw plainly that Yahweh was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, even between us and you, and let’s make a covenant with you,
29 that you will do us no harm, as we have not touched you, and as we have done to you nothing but good, and have sent you away in peace.’ You are now the blessed of Yahweh.”
30 He made them a feast, and they ate and drank.
31 They rose up some time in the morning, and swore an oath to one another. Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
32 The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.”
33 He called it “Shibah”. Therefore the name of the city is “Beersheba” to this day.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.