Genesis 21 / 2 Kings 20 - For the Good of the Next Generation
Settling the Frontier
Welcome to The Well Community Church! I am so glad you’re hanging out with us here today. Happy New Year to everyone! If we haven’t met yet, my name is Brad. I get the privilege of handling God’s Word with you and launching a new four-week journey as we lay out some of the backstory behind what the Lord is doing here and the “why” behind the next steps we are looking to take.
I want to say welcome to those here at our Clovis campus, to those over in our family venue, and to those joining us online or over at our Fig Garden campus. We’ve got a lot going on at The Well, and I am just so grateful to be a part of what God is doing in our city.
To begin our journey together, let’s rewind the tapes a bit. I want to take you all the way back to 1862. Our country had just fought the bloodiest war in our history—the Civil War. As the war came to an end, there was a renewed focus on conquering the West. What did Western expansion look like? In 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act incentivized settlers who had the courage, persistence, and tenacity to head west into unsettled land, follow the path Lewis and Clark had laid, and establish themselves.
Under that agreement, anyone who was a U.S. citizen, intended to become one, was an immigrant, or was a freed slave had the opportunity to claim 160 acres. The requirement was simple: you had to cultivate the land and build a home on it—no rentals allowed. You had to cultivate either crops or livestock, and you paid $1.25 per acre. For $200, you could secure 160 acres in the American West. It wasn’t easy; it required tremendous risk, courage, and personal investment. But ultimately, the West was settled.
The Call of Abram
Now, let’s take that concept and travel back even further—all the way to 2000 BC. How did someone like Abraham establish himself in the land?
There was no Western expansion in Abraham’s day. There was no Homestead Act. There were no defined borders or established countries like we have today. Instead, there were scattered, regional city-states throughout the ancient world. That is the backdrop of Genesis 11 and 12.
In Genesis 11:31, we are introduced to Abram, whose name means “exalted father.” Later, God adds ruach to his name, changing it to Abraham—“exalted father of multitudes.” Abram is with his father when they leave their homeland, Ur of the Chaldeans, to travel toward Canaan, eventually settling temporarily in Haran.
Ur of the Chaldeans was in modern-day Iraq, ancient Mesopotamia, home to the Sumerian civilization (not to be confused with the New Testament Samaritans). The Sumerians were a brilliant people. We often suffer from “chronological arrogance”—the assumption that modern civilizations are inherently smarter than ancient ones. But the Sumerians invented or perfected cuneiform script, advanced horticulture, botany, hydrology, and irrigation. They knew how to flourish in the desert.
Against that backdrop, God speaks to Abram.
Genesis 12:1-4 (NASB)
Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
This passage contains the Abrahamic Covenant, one of the most significant covenants in the Old Testament. It is an unconditional covenant where God swears by Himself. It is later ratified in Genesis 15 and signified by circumcision in Genesis 17. God promises Abram three specific things: land, descendants, and a blessing. Tucked inside that promise is the declaration that through Abram’s line, all the families of the earth will be blessed. It is impossible to read the Abrahamic Covenant without seeing the shadow of Jesus Christ, the ultimate blessing from Abraham’s lineage for the entire world.
Joshua 24:2 (NASB)
Joshua said to all the people, ’Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ’From ancient times your fathers lived beyond the River, [namely], Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, and they served other gods.
According to Joshua 24:2, Abram’s family originally worshiped other gods. They had no Bible and no prior context for Yahweh. Yet when God called, Abram went.
Genesis 12:5-6 (NASB)
Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite [was] then in the land.
Five Steps to Establish Sovereignty
How did an ancient leader establish sovereignty over a land without a government office or a city planning commission? Historically and biblically, there were five strategic steps.
1. Build an Altar
Genesis 12:7-8 (NASB)
The LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.
Genesis 13:18 (NASB)
Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Why build an altar first? It established the priority of God in your life. By building an altar, Abram declared his distinct identity among pagan nations worshiping Chemosh, Molech, or Asherah. He worshiped the one true God. The altar was an act of worship, surrender, and thanksgiving for the land God had promised.
2. Walk the Land
Genesis 13:17 (NASB)
‘Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.’
In modern community development, there is an approach called Asset-Based Community Development. It means looking around to identify the resources God has already placed in an area. Abram practiced this by walking the length and breadth of the land. He evaluated the real estate: Is the soil fertile? Is this defensible high ground against rival city-states? Is it near trade routes? Most importantly, where is the water? Without water, survival is impossible.
3. Dig a Well
Genesis 21:25-31 (NASB)
But Abraham complained to Abimelech because of the well of water which the servants of Abimelech had seized. And Abimelech said, ‘I do not know who has done this thing; you did not tell me, nor did I hear of it until today.’ Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two of them made a covenant. Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Abimelech said to Abraham, ‘What do these seven ewe lambs mean, which you have set by themselves?’ He said, ‘You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand so that it may be a witness to me, that I dug this well.’ Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because there the two of them took an oath.
In Genesis 21, Abram digs a well, but King Abimelech’s men seize it. In verse 27, Abram makes a treaty with Abimelech and actually pays for the well he had already dug. Why pay for your own well? To get the receipt! By securing the legal transaction, Abram established undisputed ownership.
He called the place Beersheba, meaning “well of the oath.” Digging a well represented permanence; you don’t dig a deep well if you plan to leave tomorrow. Furthermore, wells were hubs of commerce and social life. Everyone needed water, so everyone gathered there. (In Genesis 24, Abraham’s servant finds a wife for Isaac at a well; in Genesis 29, Jacob meets Rachel at a well. Good things happen at the well!)
4. Bury Your Dead
Genesis 23:17-20 (NASB)
So Ephron’s field, which was in Machpelah, which faced Mamre, the field and cave which was in it, and all the trees which were in the field, that were within all the confines of its border, were deeded over to Abraham for a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.
When Sarah died, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah in Hebron as a burial site. Even though the local Hittites offered it for free, Abraham insisted on paying full price so it would be deeded permanently to his family. Today, you can visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah are buried.
Burying your dead honors the past. It acknowledges history, heritage, and the sacrifices of those who came before. It is a humble admission that none of us arrived where we are on our own.
5. Plant a Tree
Genesis 21:32-33 (NASB)
So they made a covenant at Beersheba; and Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, arose and returned to the land of the Philistines. [Abraham] planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. As an expert in desert survival, Abraham knew what he was doing. Tamarisk trees (also known as salt cedars) are exceptionally durable, sending roots 20 to 30 feet deep. Their feathery leaves secrete salt that inhibits competing weeds and absorbs moisture overnight. During the heat of the day, that moisture evaporates, creating a cooling microclimate—an ancient form of air conditioning. In 1 Samuel 22:6, King Saul is found sitting under a tamarisk tree to escape the heat.
1 Samuel 22:6 (NASB)
Then Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.
Consider this: Abram was 75 years old when God called him, and 100 years old when Isaac was born. He planted this tamarisk tree well past the age of 100. A tamarisk grows slowly. Abraham would never sit in its mature shade, hang a tire swing from its branches, or build a treehouse in it.
Why would a centenarian plant a slow-growing shade tree? He didn’t plant it for himself. He planted it for the next generation. He made a long-term investment in a future he would not live to see.
The Selfishness of Hezekiah
Contrast Abraham’s mindset with that of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20.
2 Kings 20:1 (NASB)
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, ’Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’’
God sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah to put his house in order because his death was near. None of us are guaranteed another breath, so in one sense, receiving advanced notice is a gracious gift. But Hezekiah wept and pleaded for more time. God graciously answered and added 15 years to his life.
Shortly after, the king of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a gift, hearing Hezekiah had been ill.
2 Kings 20:12-13 (NASB)
At that time Berodach-baladan a son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and the house of his armor and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
Hezekiah showed the Babylonian delegation everything: his silver, gold, spices, armory, and entire treasury. Why? Pride. He showed off God’s blessings as if they were his own personal achievements.
2 Kings 20:14-18 (NASB)
Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, ‘What did these men say, and from where have they come to you?’ And Hezekiah said, ‘They have come from a far country, from Babylon.’ He said, ‘What have they seen in your house?’ So Hezekiah answered, ‘They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them.’ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ’Hear the word of the LORD. ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD. ‘Some of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away; and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’’
Isaiah delivered a devastating prophecy: everything in Hezekiah’s palace would be carried off to Babylon, and his own descendants would be taken away into captivity.
Look at Hezekiah’s response.
2 Kings 20:19 (NASB)
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.’ For he thought, ‘Is it not so, if there will be peace and truth in my days?’
Hezekiah thought, “The word of the Lord is good… because there will be peace and security in my lifetime.” What a tragic perspective! He didn’t care that his children and grandchildren would suffer in exile, so long as he enjoyed personal comfort during his remaining years.
A Crossroads for Our Church
We stand at a similar crossroads today. You can see it in our crowded parking lots, our three morning gatherings across campuses, our evening and midweek services, and our newly launched family venue in the student center.
We have a decision to make: Will we plant a tree, or will we merely seek peace in our own time? Will we sacrifice for the next generation, or will we settle for our own personal comfort?
This decision is critical because of the unprecedented cultural moment facing younger generations. Every generation faces trials—my grandfather hopped a freight train with a third-grade education during tough times—but today’s youth face unique challenges.
Previous generations consumed news through rabbit-ear televisions and printed newspapers with slow, methodical news cycles. Today, the ubiquity of smartphones and social media bombards young people with instant, unvetted information 24/7.
Over the past several years, this generation has witnessed a global pandemic, school shutdowns, mask and vaccine mandates, social isolation, and pervasive racial and political division. They have seen rising institutional distrust, the normalization of antisemitism, the breakdown of the nuclear family, gender confusion, and the proliferation of violence captured on video feeds.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Gen X averages 3 to 4 hours of screen time per day, Millennials average 6 to 7 hours, and Gen Z averages up to 9 hours a day. Half of their waking hours are spent staring into digital screens.
It is no surprise that 56% of Gen Z reports frequent anxiety, leading Jonathan Haidt to coin the term The Anxious Generation. One in three reports persistent loneliness, and 38% claim no religious affiliation. They are hyper-connected yet deeply isolated, searching for hope.
Planting for the Future
In this cultural moment, what will we do?
Investing in the next generation is neither easy nor cheap. It requires personal sacrifice. It does not mean forgetting the past—we honor those who built the foundation we stand on today—but we cannot live in the past. We must create spaces where young people, coming to the end of themselves, can encounter the living hope found only in Jesus Christ.
Psalms 71:17-18 (NASB)
O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when [I am] old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to [this] generation, Your power to all who are to come.
We have a sacred responsibility before God to steward what He is doing in our midst. When you arrived today, you received a brochure outlining our next steps. Over the coming weeks, we will explain the details of where we believe God is leading us.
Before we talk about the what, we must be anchored in the why. We must plant a tree. Many of us may not live to see the full shade of what God will grow, but we plant anyway—not for ourselves, but for them.
Closing Prayer
Father in heaven, we are grateful to be part of a gospel movement following the everlasting God who called Abram out of Ur and still calls us today. Thank You for Jesus, the fulfillment of all Your promises and the living hope for the hopeless.
As we seek to steward this moment for the next generation, deliver us from the spirit of Hezekiah that seeks only comfort in our day. Give us the faith of Abraham to plant trees whose shade we may never sit under, trusting that future generations will find shelter and salvation under Your grace. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.