Love Your Difficult Neighbor

¹² Isaac planted grain and had a good harvest that same year. The blessed him, ¹³ and Isaac was so successful that he became very rich. ¹⁴ In fact, the Philistines were jealous of the large number of sheep, goats, and slaves that Isaac owned, ¹⁵ and they stopped up the wells that Abraham's servants had dug before his death. ¹⁶ Finally, Abimelech said, “Isaac, I want you to leave our country. You have become too powerful to stay here.” ¹⁷ Isaac left and settled in Gerar Valley, ¹⁸ where he cleaned out those wells that the Philistines had stopped up. Isaac also gave each of the wells the same name that Abraham had given to them. ¹⁹ While his servants were digging in the valley, they found a spring-fed well. ²⁰ But the shepherds of Gerar Valley quarreled with Isaac's shepherds and claimed the water belonged to them. So this well was named “Quarrel,” because they had quarreled with Isaac. ²¹ Isaac's servants dug another well, and the shepherds also quarreled about it. So that well was named “Jealous.” ²² Finally, they dug one more well. There was no quarreling this time, and the well was named “Lots of Room,” because the had given them room and would make them very successful. ²³ Isaac went on to Beersheba, ²⁴ where the appeared to him that night and told him, “Don't be afraid! I am the God who was worshiped by your father Abraham, my servant. I will be with you and bless you, and because of Abraham I will give you many descendants.” ²⁵ Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the . Then he set up camp, and his servants started digging a well. ²⁶ Meanwhile, Abimelech had left Gerar and was taking his advisor Ahuzzath and his army commander Phicol to see Isaac. ²⁷ When they arrived, Isaac asked, “Why are you here? Didn't you send me away because you hated me?” ²⁸ They answered, “We now know for certain that the is with you, and we have decided there needs to be a peace treaty between you and us. So let's make a solemn agreement ²⁹ not to harm each other. Remember, we have never hurt you, and when we sent you away, we let you go in peace. The has truly blessed you.” ³⁰ Isaac gave a big feast for them, and everyone ate and drank. ³¹ Early the next morning Isaac and the others made a solemn agreement, then he let them go in peace. ³² Later that same day Isaac's servants came and said, “We've struck water!” ³³ So Isaac named the well Shibah, and the town is still called Beersheba.

Genesis 26:12-33

¹⁴ Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. ¹⁵ When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. ¹⁶ Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you know more than others. Make friends with ordinary people. ¹⁷ Don't mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, ¹⁸ and do your best to live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:14-18