“Now there was a famine in the land—besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Genesis 26:1-4, NIV
In this passage, we see that there was a situation in the Old Testament where Isaac and the entire nation of Israel were in a crisis. The Bible says, “Now there was a famine in the land.” Often times during a famine, we look for ways on how to survive. Isaac was caught up in the same situation. The Bible says that when he was planning to go down to Egypt, the Lord appeared to him.
He was looking for ways to stay alive, but in-spite of the prevailing situation, the Lord appeared to him and commanded him not to go down to Egypt. God knew that there were things that Isaac needed to fulfil. He told him “stay in this land for a while,” adding that He would bless him and give him resources in that very land. God assured Isaac that he would fight for him in this very land.
I understand some of us are in a similar spot, and feel God is not with us because of the things we are facing right now. I want to encourage you that the God that was with Isaac, is still with you. The only thing you need to do is be alert. Keep your ears open to His voice. Keep your ears open to His instructions because that is where life begins. Life does not begin from where you run to for refuge. Life begins in God. Our helps comes from God.
We see Isaac, trying to survive by planning to go to Egypt but, God had plans for him. My question for you today is this; what are you going through as an individual, and what has God instructed you to do?
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths,” Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV.
When faced with a famine in the land, we see that it would have been very easy for Isaac to depend on his own understanding. Today, some of us are depending on our own understanding, strength and finances, but God is calling us back to depend on Him. He is our source of strength. He is our helper. He has our back. He is the one that provides for us.
There are people who are running to different places; we are running to television, social media to find ways on how to survive, but out only place of life is God.
Today, would you really decide to depend on God? He wants you to lean on Him, and not on your own understanding. You may never understand everything about the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic – I know you follow the news – but God wants you to live in the Good News (the bible) so that you find the life that will sustain you through this season. God has your back. I want to remind you that no situation can change God’s plan or purpose for your life. There is no situation that can reduce His love for you. He still cares for you, He still loves you, no matter what you are facing.
I know there are so many people interpreting this situation (COVID-19 pandemic) as though God is punishing us. I am here to remind you that God loves you and He has your back. God is here to hold you. He is here to fight for you and give you victory. The only thing He requires of you is to keep trusting Him. Keep believing Him. Keep following Him. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world or the situation that you see. Despite the prevailing conditions, there are great things that you are able to do. After Isaac listening to what God told him to do, the Bible says that he “dwelt” and “planted.” The only reason he was able to planted during a famine is because he trusted God.
In this season, choose to do something that really different from people’s expectations and what they are saying. Choose to plan big. Choose to dream and think bigger. Choose to see things differently from the situation prevailing right now. Do not limit the potential God has given you to the situation you are seeing right now. God is able to make things happen – far much greater than what you imagine. We are in a season where God wants us to believe great things.
Transcribed from a teaching by Brian Lubega at Word of Life Community Church. He is a renowned worship leader, singer songwriter, and senior pastor of Sower City Church – Bujjuko.
