‘The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you…”
[Genesis 26:2-3]
Living here in The West, ‘famine’ feels like a far-removed concept. It’s something we might hear about in the news, but not experience first-hand. Well, that is when it comes to food. But none of us are immune from experiencing ‘famine’ in alternative forms.
Shortage. Want. Unproductivity. Scarcity. Barrenness. Loss. Lack. Fruitlessness.
Do any of these resonate across your life right now?
In Genesis 26, we read that Isaac is experiencing famine in the land where he lives. In the PROMISED land – the very place where God sent his family to reside. As far as we can understand from the text, the famine wasn’t as a consequence of Isaac’s wrongdoing or a result of anything he had done. He was faithfully living in the place God had called him to be, and through no fault of his own a famine strikes.
Yes, famines can occur in the place where God positions you! You’re where you’re meant to be, doing what God asked of you, and hardship hits. You’ve not stepped out of the promise, it’s just that the promised land is not immune to the harsh realities of the world. This land of milk and honey (Exodus 3:8) experiences famine temporarily. But whether in a season of abundance or in lack, it’s the place where God has called you.
As a response to the hardship, Isaac makes a geographical move to Gerar before God appears to intervene in his plans to head south to Egypt. It’s not hard to imagine Isaac’s reasoning for making such a plan, considering the tales of his father who fled to Egypt in a time of famine and returned a wealthy man (Genesis 12:10 & 13:2). If it worked out for Abraham, why not for him too?
Following the example of our elders can be wise and fruitful in many ways. But simply replicating what others have done before us because we liked their results is a shortcut to taking the time to seek and discern God’s will in our circumstances. What is God’s way THIS time?
Now, because we have hindsight, it’s interesting to see that the very next generation of the family – Jacob and his sons – will actually be sent TO Egypt by God. Relocating to Egypt becomes the means of His provision for His people during severe famine in the promised land (Genesis 46:3-4). In following God, it’s rarely ‘one size fits all’ – His plans are bespoke.
In desperate times we make our plans and they can be motivated by good intentions – to ensure survival, to protect our family, bring comfort etc. But as God’s people, when we face hardship our crucial first response should be to turn to God and know what He is speaking for, not to make exit plans.
“Stay here, Isaac. Live in the Promised Land that I have spoken for. Yes, I’m asking that you stay in the place of famine and hardship and lack. But know that I will be with you in that place and I will bless you and provide for you, despite the circumstances. Trust Me. I have more for you in this place! Stay in this place of promise and watch what I will do.”
“So Isaac stayed…” (26:6)
Isaac’s trust in God leads to obedience, believing that He will come through on what He has said. And God does. (…of course!!) The story unfolds and Isaac becomes exceedingly wealthy under the favour of God, even in the midst of famine and his own character flaws. He does the hard work of digging wells in spite of the relentless opposition that frustrates his plans, and eventually taps into new supplies of fresh water which sets him and his family up for great success into the future.
God was with Isaac in the famine and He blessed him. But to see this reality, Isaac had to obey what God had spoken, even while his instinct was screaming ‘Flee!’. This took TRUST. Isaac entrusted his life, his family and his future into God’s hands. He had God’s Word, now he had to choose to walk in it as reality, despite what his circumstances were speaking.
Wherever you are experiencing ‘famine’ in your life, I encourage you to seek after God to know what He is saying, surrender yourself to trusting Him and then obey. Perhaps you’ll need to abort your self-made plans, continue to live in dry places, power on working in the midst of opposition. You may look like a fool for remaining in the place where God is asking you to stay! But living in a famine WITH God is by far more life-giving than living in a green valley WITHOUT Him.
Mel works as our Engagement Manager here at Worship.Works. She is passionate about Christians growing in their relationship with God and experiencing the transformative power of His Word. This article was originally published in our July newsletter. You can sign up to receive these monthly updates here.