Morning Light – Prospering in Tough Times (Video)

Prospering in Tough Times. Times are tough but God is still on the throne! Today Prophets Russ and Kitty revisit Genesis 26 when Isaac was facing famine in the promised land. In chapter 26 of Genesis Isaac and his family struggle to deal with a devastating famine in the land. The angel of the Lord comes and gives him vital instructions that make all the difference in what happens next. As a result Isaac prospers against all odds as an example of the reward that is always found on the other side of obedience.

[Read Genesis 26]

After the death of Abraham another famine comes upon the land besides the famine that Abraham experienced years before. As a result of the first famine Abraham had taken refuge in Egypt leading to the situation where Sarah was taken into Pharaoh’s harem. As a result Hagar comes into the picture and Ishmael is forthcoming. The Father never told Abraham not to go into Egypt but now that his son Isaac is attempting to do the same thing he is intercepted with a warning not to go to Egypt as his father before him but to dwell in the land.

This is a difficult instruction for Isaac to follow. Famine is raging all around him. How will he survive doing what God is clearly telling him to do? No doubt that Isaac had many questions least of all would be how would they avoid starving to death if they did what God was instructing. There is no record of God giving Isaac any information beyond the simple instruction not to go to Egypt. Have you ever faced similar circumstances? You feel like you’ve heard from God but you don’t have all the answers? You know God had spoken but the prospects of obeying leave you with questions as to how are you going to make it through unless something changes? Be willing as Isaac was willing to take a simple instruction without demanding explanations or answers beyond what God has clearly instructed you.

God not only promises to take care of Isaac (v. 4-5) but goes further to promise that his seed will multiply as the stars of the heavens. Why would God do this? What is the basis of this promise? It is found in v. 5. God promises to care for Isaac and to bless him beyond all imagining not because of anything he has done to earn the Lord’s favor. God will bless Isaac “because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge…” This exactly how God blesses you and me.

Just as Isaac looked back in faith at the justifying actions of Abraham in his behalf even so we look back upon the obedience and sacrifice of Christ as the basis for our own blessings and favor. Isaac couldn’t claim God’s favor because of anything he had done or not done. God blessed Isaac because of Abraham’s faithfulness. Neither can we claim God’s favor on the basis of anything we have done or not done. God blesses us because of who Jesus is and what He did and not who we are or what we have done.

Isaac winds up dwelling in Gerar (v. 6) and unfortunately falters and gets over into fear of his life because of his wife Rebekah’s renowned beauty. This was the same error that Abraham fell into. Let us remember that when Abraham lied to Abimelech and to Pharaoh that Isaac would have known about this and been impacted by his father’s weakness. Let us bear that in mind regarding our own children. Little eyes are watching everything we do. Let us purpose to set a good example in the effort to spare our children after us the consequences of our own disobediences.

As it was with Abraham, the king finds out Isaac is lying and confronts both Isaac and his wife (v. 7-11). I want you to notice what happens next. In the aftermath of Isaac’s deception God does not reprove neither rebuke him. Rather v. 12 says that Isaac sowed in the land in a time of famine and received a hundred fold return as a result. This is exactly what happened to Abraham. After lying to Pharaoh there is no rebuke or reproof but rather an accounting of just how blessed Abraham was after being expelled from Egypt for his own deception:

[Gen 13:1-2 KJV] 1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram [was] very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

What are we to conclude because of this? Is it ok to lie and deceive? No. Both Abraham and Isaac were operating in fear when they took these actions and God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, peace and a sound mind. What we need to learn from these examples is that God loves us with an unconditional love and doesn’t deal with us with a harsh hand even when we are falling short. This is not consistent with the teachings of Evangelical theology but we have to make a decision whether we will believe God’s word or not. Again this isn’t a license to sin or to disobey, rather an example of the unconditional love of God who continues to deal with us in lovingkindness as He molds us into His image.

In v. 14-22 we find Isaac contending for the wells of his father Abraham. He repairs a destroyed water sources and the Philistines come and contend with him over it. Isaac departs and digs another well in the valley and the herdsmen of Gerar come and contend for that well besides. Isaac moves again and the same thing happens all because he is digging again the wells of his father Abraham. Finally in v. 22 he removes again and digs another well in a place where Abraham had not established a well. For this the herdsmen of Gerar do not content and Isaac thanks the Lord for making room for him in the land.

What can we learn from this? Are you in a situation where you are striving and not able to get ahead? Perhaps you are contending over things relating to your upbringing and the answer is to go out and get your own testimony by your own efforts and not try to duplicate the works of those who have gone on before. Isaac followed Abraham’s example in regard to the lies told regarding his wife and it caused problems. Then the aftermath was in attempting to take advantage of what Abraham had established in the past more problems result. You have to get your own walk with God regardless of the strengths or weaknesses of those who have gone on before. There are no short cuts. You can’t cut corners or try to take the easy way out. Make it your determination to be faithful to what God called you to do without being misdirected by the unfruitful examples of your parents or those who went on before.

In v. 23-34 the king comes out to meet Isaac to make a pact of non-agression with him just as his father had done with Abraham. It is noteworthy that neither Isaac or Abraham ever warred against Abimelech or his son. They covenant the king wants to make is one that both kings had broken before it was ever established. You will see this many times in dealing with people. They will suspect you of doing exactly what they are doing with impunity. Neither Abraham nor Isaac called these kings into account for their hypocrisy but simply made the effort as we must to live in peace regardless of the unfaithfulness of others.