Level 1
Lesson 3: Avoiding Quarrels

There once lived a hard-working farmer whose name was Isaac. Isaac was a quiet, peaceable man. He did his work and let other people do theirs. He minded his own business and hoped that other people would mind theirs. He did not want to get into trouble with anyone.

Isaac had many men working for him. They helped to take care of his cattle. They planted his wheat and barley. They worked hard, even as their master Isaac did.

And because Isaac and his helpers worked hard, Isaac soon had the biggest crops of anybody around. He had more wheat and barley than any other farmer had.

The people living around Isaac did not like this. They were jealous. They went to the king. The king said to Isaac, "You'd better move on. You are stronger than we are and our people do not like it."

Now Isaac might have said: "I have done nothing but worked hard. Your people could do the same and have as fine wheat and barley as I have. Why should I have to move?" But Isaac did not want to quarrel. So he moved on as the king had told him.

He and his men came to that part of the land where Isaac's father had once lived. Isaac needed water in that land for himself and his cattle. He remembered that his father had dug a well there, and he hunted for the well.

But when he came to the place where the well had been, he found it filled with dirt and stones. The people of the land had filled it. Isaac and his men got to work and dug out the dirt and stones. Then the water flowed up once more, and there was enough for him and his servants and his cattle to drink.

But the people of that part of the land came to Isaac and said,"This is our well. You must move on and leave the well for us and our cattle."

Now Isaac might have said, "This is a well which my father dug. It rightly belongs to me. Besides, you threw dirt and stones into it. If you had worked hard and dug out the dirt and stones, you could have had water for your cattle even as I have. Why should I move?"

But Isaac did not want to quarrel. So he took his servants and moved on to another place.

There he found another well that his father had dug. For Isaac's father had dug many wells. But the people had filled this well with stones and dirt just as they had the other. And when Isaac and his servants had to dig out the stones and dirt, the people came to him again and said, "This is our well. It does not belong to you."

Now Isaac might have said, "This well also is one which my father dug. I have every right to it. Besides, my servants and I dug out the stones and dirt. What right do you have to it, anyway?"

But Isaac did not want to quarrel. So he took his servants and moved on to another place. Once more Isaac and his men dug a well, that they might have water. And the people of that part of the land did not come and try to take it away from him. They saw that there was no use trying to quarrel with a man like Isaac. So they left him in peace.

By and by the king of the land came to the place where Isaac was living. "Why have you come?" asked Isaac. "You drove me out of your land. Why do you follow me here?"

"We see that God is your Friend," said the king. "You are a man who will not quarrel and we want to be friends with you."

So Isaac and the king agreed to be friends. Isaac made a feast for the king, and they ate and drank together.

From that time Isaac grew his wheat and barley in peace. He dug wells and used the water for himself and his servants and his cattle. And God greatly blessed this quiet, hard-working farmer who would not quarrel. He gave him lands and cattle, and was with him in all that he did.