The Confidence of Peace

Peace:
eirḗnē from eirō, "to join, tie together into a whole") – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness). 1
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     Isaac stood, watching in awe as they--his once hostile enemies—walked home across the dusty valley.  Just yesterday, they had been divided.  Strife and turmoil had dogged his steps. 
    After the death of his father Abraham, Isaac had begun to travel in the nomadic life with their extensive flocks and herds, migrating through the land of Canaan.  Directing his servants to reopen the wells dug by his father, they had found water.
     But there they had been--the neighboring Philistines--watching their progress just until the water had been pulled up, cool, and clear, from deep in the ground.  They had immediately insisted the newly found water to be their own. 
      Hot, dry, dusty, and thirsty—feelings of anger and frustration battling within him--Isaac had turned away from the fight.  Naming the well, Esek, or “Dispute,” he redirected his team to the next well site his father had dug. 
     But this the Philistines too, had watched and then disputed.  With mounting frustration, as well as an increased need for water and irrigation for the land, Isaac turned once again from the fight over his rights and poured out his need before the God who alone could provide for his needs.  He had called that well, Sitnah:  “Opposition.” 
     It wasn’t until the third well that the Philistines had left him alone.  Rehoboth.  “Room. There would be room enough in the land to dwell side by side without fighting. 
     But God wasn’t done. 
     The Promise that God had given his father had yet to be walked out.  He was the child of the Promise.  And then again, God had promised him His help when Isaac had started out on this journey.  Where was that help now?  Isaac wrestled with a Promise that didn’t seem to have its basis in his circumstances.    
     That night the Lord God had appeared to him: “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham (v. 24).”
     The next morning, Isaac had gotten up, built an altar, and worshipped. 
      And dug a well. 
    As the water dripped from the ladle, Isaac's attention was drawn by a movement in the distance.
      And then he saw them. Just when he thought he had moved on.  Just when he thought that he could be done with dealing with their strife and theft—there they were again, armed, intimidating, and dauntless.  King Abimelek.  His personal adviser.  And Phicol—the military commander. 
     Summoning his courage, Isaac had drawn on the Promise.  The Promise of peace with God.   Of wholeness.  Of relationship.  Of a Divine Plan that no one could steal from him. 
     Stepping forward, Isaac had confronted his enemies with the truth: “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” 
     They had answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you that you will do us no harm, just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. And now you are blessed by the Lord (v. 27-29).”
      Isaac’s heart roiled at their words.  Hadn’t harmed him?  Treated him well?  Sent him away peacefully!  Keeping his face controlled, he had sorted through their words and his own emotions.  There were, perhaps, things of which Abimalek hadn’t been aware.  In his mind, the words of God to him had kept speaking: “Do not be afraid.  I am with you.  I will bless you….”
  In that moment Isaac had made a decision.  He didn’t need their agreement about their actions.  He didn’t need to depend on their choices to be at peace.  He could choose peace because of the gift God had given him—because peace is a gift.  And it’s meant to be given away. 
     Turning, Isaac followed his decision with swift action.  Directing his stunned servants, Isaac had ordered them to prepare a feast for their enemies. 
     Now, as he gazed off into the distance, the dust of their retreat lifting lazily in the slight breeze, Isaac wondered at the ways of God.  A God who could take enemies, and prepare a feast for them.  A God who could turn strife into peace.  A God who could create a covenant bond between those who once were at war, and make them united. 
     The next moment, Isaac’s meditations were cut off—his servants were coming back with a message:  “We’ve found water!”
     And he named it Sheba—the well of the "seven”.  The covenant was completed, the work was done. 
      It was finished.  
~Fictionalized account of Gen. 26:17-33

     Eirene.  Peace.  It is the binding together of that which was once fractured.  Divided.  At war. 
 
     Jesus is the one who came to bring “peace on earth to those on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14).  In Matthew 10:34-36, Jesus explains that this peace with God and others is not for the world—those who refuse to come to Him to find peace will continue in strife: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth…..A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” 
     In contrast, though, those who come to God to be made whole by Him through Jesus Christ, will have no more strife and enmity between them and God---or between them and others.  Regardless of the choices of others, we can be at peace with them because the gift of peace with God is enough both overflow our cup to bless others:
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​Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM; IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:17-21

     
     What was once divided and fractured can and will be made whole and healed in Him.  He will give us friendship for enmity, healing for brokenness, relationship for those estranged.
     It all hinges on Jesus.  He is our peace.  
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"Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 
by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.

His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."
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​Ephesians 2:12-18

     While our enemies will not always come to peace with us, and loving others certainly comes at a high cost of sacrifice, there is a reward for those who “seek peace and pursue it” (1 Pet. 3:11). 

       Its effect in us is a quietness and confidence forever. 

     A quietness(2) that is restful and undisturbed by the chaos and frustration of people who are constantly trying to grab for their rights, scrambling over the rights of others to lay claim to a prosperity that can never buy their freedom from anxiety, fear, anger, and hatred. A quiet rest that allows us to not strive after what we need, but simple to serve Jesus with a trust that He will in His turn and perfect timing provide all that we need.    
     A confidence(3) that is a based in the security of the absolute place of refuge that is Jesus Christ.  In this place of confidence, we know that, though people can take from us physically, they can never take from us the hope of eternal reward in Christ Jesus.  This physical life is not the end. 

     The Resurrection will last forever.

     So what are your wells? 

     What are the rights that you have worked for, even deserve, that you may place in God’s hands and from which you may walk away? 
     Who are those people who have tangled with you over what you know should have been yours, and how can you bless them with the free gifts of peace and fellowship?