Genesis 26:18
And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
Famine carried Isaac into the land of the Philistines, where he received abundant blessing in that land, had differences with the Philistines, willingly yielded more than justice required, and received God's blessing in consequence. He dug again the wells that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father and had been stopped by the Philistines after Abraham's death, and he called them after the names by which his father had called them. In this he followed in the way of his father Abraham. The wells were his both by inheritance from his father and by his own labor in digging them open again.
The Philistines' jealousy of Abraham and Isaac explains why they had filled the wells, and Isaac's reopening them and restoring his father's names could further aggravate them. Though powerful and acknowledged by the king to be strong, Isaac chose peace over holding his position and refused to contend for his rights when the wells were disputed. Rather than fighting for the water, he withdrew at material cost and yielded, even at great inconvenience and apparent loss and beyond what justice required. His response to the claim on their water — letting them have it rather than fighting — illustrates a disposition of yielding rather than striving.
By yielding for peace and committing his cause to God instead of striving, Isaac found room and prospered away from his tormentors. His meekness let the Lord guide his judgment, and God worked for him because of it. God rewarded that self-sacrifice for peace with encouragement, blessing, and peace with his enemies. His life and work in Philistia exemplify living out God's instruction through practical work and faithful conduct that made God's presence evident to neighbors and rulers. His course reflects the disposition of Christ and a believer's trust in God's promises.