A Purpose for Conflict - Genesis 24-27

The theme of this section of Genesis, with Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Essau, is the story of conflict and deception. But, we also have a story of God using conflict and deception to accomplish His greater glory. There is, in the middle of the section, a short interlude with Isaac and the King, Abimelech. God uses this conflict between Isaac and Abimelech for a great purpose in Isaac life - to direct him and put him in the exact location God wanted him to be in. In 25:12-33 we see the story unfold. First, Isaac has too much land and possessions and God uses the envy and fear of Abimelech to send Isaac away to a location closer to where God wanted him to live. However, Isaac didn't land exactly where God wanted him. As a result, God stirs up the inhabitants of the land to move Isaac to a new location. Isaac and the people of that place argue over a well. The people who lived there claimed the well so Isaac moves on and names the well, "contention." Isaac now lands in a new location and the same thing happens. God stirs up the people of the land to fight over a new well and Isaac leaves. But, not before naming the well, "enmity." Each one of these "conflicts" moved Isaac. They moved him right to the location God wanted him to be in. To a place he named, "broad" place. A place Isaac could dwell in safety and comfort. A place that Isaac could dwell and a place where he could worship God. I suppose there are other ways that God could have used to move Isaac. But, as we see later in these chapters God often uses the contentions of men and the deceitfulness of men to accomplish His purposes. God uses conflicts in our lives to move us where He wants us to be. We don't always like the conflict but ought to recognize the greater purposes a conflict can produce. I don't believe our sin nature allows us to naturally embrace a conflict. But, the Spirit, active in our lives, can give us the power and perspective to see the conflict as a tool God is using to move us to a location that we can call "broad." Is God using a conflict in my life or yours to move us from where we are to where He wants us to be?