God’s System Works

Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great. (Genesis 26:12-13)

Isaac found himself in a difficult situation — living in a famine-stricken land. There was hardly any food, water was scarce, and finances were not coming in. Isaac faced a choice, one that many of us face at various times in our lives. Would he pay attention to the problems or anchor his faith to God's promises?

Isaac trusted in God by sowing seeds in barren soil. This act defied any natural logic, but Isaac was operating in faith. God told him to stay and sow, and that is what he did.

Living by faith is not always easy, but it always produces blessing. Isaac didn’t just have a good crop. He reaped a hundredfold harvest—one hundred times what he had sown. This was a manifestation of God's blessing that propelled Isaac from greatness to a very great stature. His flocks multiplied, his influence expanded, and his prosperity became the envy of the Philistines.

Isaac was walking in the promise God gave Abraham and his descendants. This inheritance was the territory of Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and parts of Syria and Lebanon. Isaac's prosperity in the land wasn't just a fulfillment of divine promise; it was a precursor to the legacy of blessings God intended for His people.

Isaac's story is not just about material abundance; it's a profound lesson in spiritual stewardship. Isaac obeyed God and sowed in that land when things weren’t going well. The blessing Isaac received was rooted in obedience and anchored in faith.

Practical Application

Has God called you to sow during a time of famine? Often during difficulty and financial lack, the Holy Spirit will call you to sow yourself out of famine. Don’t doubt, just obey God! Sow something in faith, knowing that God’s system of sowing and reaping works and His plan for you is abundance!

Job 42:12; Psalm 67:6

The Land and the Promise

And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. (Genesis 26:1-6)

God promised Abraham a large family and a specific land.

The country that is referenced in Genesis 26:1-6 includes the area of Garar. Garar is roughly 9 miles south of Gaza City. Usually, the Bible refers to this area as the land of Canaan. Originally, it was occupied by the Philistine people who worshiped false gods, and practiced sexual immorality and human sacrifice as a part of their worship experience. Not only did they have temple prostitutes who would perform sexual acts in their holy places, they would also sacrifice their firstborn sons and practice other horrible atrocities in the name of their religion.

God saw the atrocities committed by these people and purposed for men who had a relationship with Him to take over the land and bring it back to God’s purpose.

Notice the promise that God made. Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron and Gath are all included in the area that God called Abraham to recover and bring into subjection. This land belongs to Abraham and his descendants by the promise of God.

Practical Application

Pray for Israel. Pray that they walk in the favor of God and for them to recover all that God promised them. Similarly, remember that whatever God has spoken to you will come to pass. Even if it seems held back by the enemy, do not give up. God has a plan for you to receive everything He has promised you.

Genesis 12:10; Genesis 20:1

Many Sons, One Covenant

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. (Genesis 21:1-5)

Isaac's birth was not just a biological miracle; it was a divine proclamation.

Sarah was barren and beyond childbearing years, yet she conceived a son because of God’s promise. That son was destined for greatness. Abraham's joy knew no bounds as he became a father in his twilight years. He named his son Isaac, a name that means "he laughs"—a perpetual reminder of the laughter of unbelief turned into laughter of joy.

Isaac's birth brought much joy to Abraham and Sarah, but his birth was significant to the entire world. He was the embodiment of God's covenantal promise—a promise to bless the nations through Abraham's line. Abraham fathered other sons in his later years, but Isaac was the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. This covenant was a divine contract that would shape redemptive history.

Isaac's life served as a bridge between promise and fulfillment that stretched from the Garden of Eden to Calvary. His birth signaled the first steps of God's redemptive plan. Isaac’s lineage would ultimately culminate in the birth of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

As we reflect on Isaac's life, we're reminded of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Even when circumstances seem bleak and the fulfillment of God's Word appears improbable, He remains steadfast. Just as Isaac's birth defied natural laws, God continues to work in miraculous ways, bringing to fruition His divine plans and purposes.

Practical Application

As God's covenant people, we're called to live lives that reflect His faithfulness and extend His love to others. Treat every interaction you have with other people with the revelation that you are part of God’s plan of redemption!

Genesis 18:10; Hebrews 11:11