Favor in the Midst of Famine

• Genesis 26:1 (TNIV)
• Genesis 26:2 (TNIV)
• Genesis 26:3 (TNIV)

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Isaac finds himself in the same tight faith spot that his father Abraham was in years before. There is a famine in the land. So what does God do?

1. God directs him to a specific location
2. God promises His presence
3. God promises His favor
4. God reminds him of the covenant word He spoke to Abraham

The first three verses alone are rich in life lessons along the journey of faith but here are just a few:

1. Obedience brings blessing. God told Isaac what to do regarding travel plans: CANCEL them. Only obedience would position Isaac to receive whatever God had for him. The promise in 26:3 is a conditional one based on Isaac's obedience to God to stay put and press "Pause" on the panic button.

2. God uses famine to manifest favor. You would think that the best thing to do is to leave a place when nothing is growing and resources are few. But then God does the unthinkable and points out to Isaac that the place of blessing is right in the midst of the famine. Circumstances never stop God from keeping His word. In fact, He will keep you alive long enough to keep the word/promise He has made to you.

3. God's blessings are always beyond you, not just about you. Not only did God promise to bless Isaac but also to bless his descendants per His covenant with Abraham. God casts a wide net when it comes to favor but that favor is not the flaky ATM-esque nonsense the Word of Faith movement tries to pass off as "blessings." Rather, the end of all blessings from God is to realize that God Himself and the privilege of being in relationship with Him is THE BLESSING.

Solo Christo.

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