Genesis 26:2-5
2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Isaac is in a tough situation and he has to make a decision. There is a great famine in the land and things do not look good. As any other logical person would think, Isaac is thinking of relocating to Egypt, at least there his chances of survival seem better.
God tells him not to go down to Egypt but rather he should dwell where he is in the land of Gerar and remember there was a famine in the land.
Gods ways are higher than our ways and to be able to hear and walk according to Gods leading requires faith because his ways will seem to contradict with what you see in the natural.
To move forward we must walk in faith in obedience to the voice of God. The bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God for those that come to him must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Isaac listened to the voice of God and he walked in the counsel that God had given him even though it seemed to contradict to the blessing that God had spoken over him. How can abundance be found in the midst of lack, because that’s what a famine is, a season of lack, no productivity. Isaac goes a step further and he sows in the same year that there is a famine and God responds to his faith.
The bible says that he reaped that same year 100 fold
Genesis 26:12-14
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
As you listen to Gods voice and walk in obedience, may you prosper and continue to prosper until you become very prosperous!
Reflective Thoughts
When you feel trapped and you can seem to make progress, do you seek out the voice of God or do you lean to the voice of logic or fear?
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Has God ever given you instructions that seem foolish and illogical? What happened?
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Isaac sowed in the midst of a famine, are you willing to look foolish as you follow Gods direction or are you held back by what people will say?
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