Famines and Faithfulness

There was another famine in the land in addition to the one that occurred in Abraham's time, and Isaac went to Abimelech, king of the Philistines, at Gerar. The Lord appeared to him and said, "do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about; stay in the land as a foreigner, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm My oath that I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky, I will give your offspring all these lands, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring, because Abraham listened to My voice and kept My mandate, My commands, My statutes, and My instructions." So Isaac settled in Gerar. Genesis 26:1-6

Famines happens to the righteous. Why? They lived in an earth subject to a curse. Yet God was with Isaac. He appeared to him and told him not to go to Egypt, however it appears it was okay to go to the land of the Philistines. It is interesting that Isaac also had an Abimelech. For this man to be the same man his father had interactions with would make him very old indeed. However, it is thought that the name might be more of a clan name or a title.

Abraham has favour with Abimelech and so does Isaac. It is interesting that father and son perpetrate the same lie about their wife, both claimed them to be their sister. Both create the same trouble.

When God said why Abraham was a great guy, He said it was because he listened to His voice and obeyed. He did not mention the lie about Sarah being his sister. God din't factor that in and neither does Isaac's lie become an issue. It appears God had more important things on His mind, Egypt being out of bounds.

Why was Egypt out of bounds? As we know the Israelite end up in Egypt in another famine, this time under Jacob, Isaac's son, so why not now? Perhaps it was important that God stamp the land with His influence at this time and not later God has perfect reasons for everything. Just because we cannot see the deeper purpose does not mean that it does not exist.

So the moral of the tale is: trust The Lord and listen to Him, do not lean on your own understanding. Amen!

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