Genesis 26 tells us there was a famine in the land, so Isaac, in his wisdom, decided to move to Egypt. But God showed up and told him not to go where he planned to go, but instead, follow his direction and go to the land where he would send him.
Thankfully Isaac was obedient and ended up prospering and increasing in the land, so much so that he was asked to move because he was too great. If Isaac had relied on his understanding instead of God’s, he would have moved away from God’s provision and blessing. From a human’s perspective, it didn’t make sense to stay in a land facing famine, yet that is precisely where God put him.
Wherever you are in your life may not make sense to you. God’s plans don’t usually coincide with human nature. He likes to stretch us and teach us to rely on him. Isaac had to trust that God would come through for him because if he didn’t, he and his family could die.
Maybe you are in a place where God has called you, but it looks like you might die (not literally), the bills are adding up, the sickness appears to be winning, or the situation isn’t changing. Let me encourage you today with this truth; if you are where God sent you: he WILL provide for you. Today I want to look at lessons we can learn from this story.
Trust and Believe
Isaac had to trust that God’s way was the right way, even if it didn’t make sense. He had to believe that God was faithful and would not fail him even when it didn’t look good. God said he would be with him, bless him, and multiply his family. It was Isaac’s job to believe him and trust him. If what you are facing today seems overwhelming and impossible to get through, hold onto the truth that God is faithful. If God said it, and you believe it, then he will do it.
Application
But how do we believe what God has told us? Firstly, find a promise in the Bible that applies to your situation, meditate on it and speak it out. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, so meditating and speaking will help you believe.
Secondly, don’t meditate on things that contradict the promise. Thinking about things that contradict what you are believing will allow doubt, and doubt counters belief. Isaac couldn’t think about possibly starving or consider how it might be better in Egypt; instead, he had to think about the promise that God said he wouldn’t leave him and He would bless him.
Obedience
In verse 3, God tells Isaac, Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you; the promise that God would be with Isaac rested on the statement sojourn in this land. Obedience was essential to Isaac receiving the promises of God. He had to put away his thoughts of going to Egypt and instead dwell in the land that God chose for him.
If we want to see the promises of God come to pass, then we must be obedient to both the written word and the words he speaks to our hearts. You cannot walk against what God wants for you and still expect him to fulfill His promises in your life. Obedience is a must.
Action
With obedience comes action. Isaac’s first act was following God to the place he led him, but another action is seen later in the chapter. Genesis 26:12-13 states; that Isaac sowed in the land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich and gained more and more until he became very wealthy.
You probably noticed two action words there; sowed and reaped. Against what Isaac saw in the natural, he planted a seed. Famine doesn’t seem like a good time to expect abundance, but that is what Isaac gained; however, he never would have received this blessing if he hadn’t acted; he had to plant the seed before it could grow.
Application
There is an action that God will require of you to receive what he has for you. Faith without works is dead; you must put your faith to work by acting on it. This will look different for each person and each situation but have no doubt that God will not have you sit back and relax. I want to clarify that this does not mean you are to figure it all out and work to make something happen. Isaac didn’t do the job of God by making the plant grow, but he did accomplish his part by planting the seed, taking care of it, and reaping the harvest.
Listen for direction on what that means in your situation. This is a partnership with God, so when he speaks, you act. It is also important to note that your actions cannot contradict what you are expecting. Isaac expected God to keep his word and bless him; if he didn’t he would have never planted the seed. If instead, Isaac had started planning his trip to Egypt in case God didn’t come through, then he would’ve missed out on what God had for him. Your actions reflect what you believe.
Closing Remarks
We can see from Isaac’s life that God is a faithful God and that he is trustworthy. So if your situation looks hopeless today, remind yourself of that truth. Trust him to know which direction is best for your life and look for opportunities to obey him and act. It is not all up to God whether you receive what he has for you; you have a part to play. Commit today to stand firm on what he has told you and boldly obey him.
Referenced Verses: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+26&version=ESVUK https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010%3A17&version=NKJV
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