Genesis 26 gives quite the historical account. There is a famine in the land. It is apparent that the famine is not in Egypt because people are relocating there in hopes of surviving. Isaac is no doubt considering making the journey to Egypt also. It only makes sense that he would consider doing this. What husband/father wouldn't do everything in their power to provide for their family? However, God speaks to Isaac and tells him NOT to go to Egypt, but rather to stay in Gerar. God further speaks to Isaac, confirming the covenant He had made with Abraham. Then the Bible records these precious words...
"And Isaac dwelt in Gerar."
It's one of the smallest verses in the Bible, yet these five words sum up what the whole Bible is about = OBEDIENCE! Isaac didn't need to fast and pray for forty days and nights. He didn't need to receive seven confirmations. God said "stay" and Isaac stayed!
Now, imagine how Rebekah or their servants must have felt, or what they must have thought. Maybe they've been packing up and preparing to make the convey to Egypt. Isaac comes home and tells everyone that God has spoken to him and that they are not going to leave, but rather stay. Isaac might have heard the following questions:
"Isaac, are you sure you've heard from God?"
"Does God realize there is a famine here?"
"Did you fall off your camel and bump your head?"
In a famine the ground is parched and unable to produce a harvest. Without a harvest there is no food. If there is no food, you don't live! This was life or death. But if these questions were asked of Isaac, they didn't detour him from obeying God. Scripture does not record Isaac questioning God, or asking for a confirmation, or changing his mind. God said "stay" and Isaac stayed! Period.
This alone is a great message. Obedience to God's Word is a most beautiful message. However, what Isaac does next is even more impressive. Read Genesis 26:12.
"Then Isaac sowed in that land..."
Isaac sowed good seed on bad ground. I mean, if you're going to stay, you might as well sow too, right? No wonder Isaac's name means "laughter." I can imagine the procession of those leaving town were laughing at Isaac all the way out of town. But that didn't matter to Isaac. God had told him to stay and he stayed. He knew he needed to feed his family, and his obedience led him to faith. Isaac had to believe that God would provide for him in spite of the famine, so he sowed. Now, let's look again to Genesis 26 and see the rest verse 12 and also verse 13:
"Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. (13) And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great."
Isaac feasted in a famine because he stayed and sowed!
Go ahead and try it. Be obedient to God and let your obedience lead you to great faith in God.
As for me and my house, we're staying and sowing, and expecting a 100-fold harvest!
