2024.07.14.Sermon Notes.Genesis 26. God’s Direction in Feast or Famine.
William Akehurst, HSWC
Big Idea: GOD’s promises are true whether you are going through difficult times or times of plenty. While HE may change the situation to move you into HIS Will, GOD is sovereign to provide HIS Mercy and Grace regardless of your obedience or disobedience, as HE will use it for HIS Purpose.
Key takeaways.
GOD will use whatever situation you find yourself in, to reach you, to move you, to give you direction and to draw you to where HE desires for you to be.
Even when we stray, HE may use Feast or Famine to change our direction.
Famine will cause us to move from where we are.
Feast may cause others to move us from where we are.
The important thing, is to realize that WHEN we are WHERE GOD wants us to be, we will have a heart of worship and praise for HIM, allowing HIM to keep HIS Promises with us.
Scriptures: Genesis 26:1-35, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Psalms 51:5, Romans 14:23, Mark 4:22, 1 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 6:10, 2 Corinthians 8:9, Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 2:4, James 3:17, Acts 1:8, Acts 2:40-43
Genesis 26 - Chapter dedicated to Isaac.
Isaac lived longer than his father Abraham and his son Jacob.
Genesis 26:1-35
1 There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
Famine in the land. The first famine Isaac experiences. Isaac never had to worry before, always an abundance for his family, servants and flocks.
Most of us, like Isaac, have never had to worry about food, or pray for our daily bread.
Perhaps you have experienced famine in other ways, finances, or relationships, or simply feeling all alone.
And perhaps a famine in your relationship with the LORD GOD.
Life’s famines are not new to others, Abraham faced not knowing where GOD was leading him.
Famines or times of need or lack, or discomfort should draw us closer to GOD.
Paul experienced a thorn in the flesh. (a famine in his life). And yet it caused him to trust GOD more. GOD uses these times to test us to see if we will trust HIM.
MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU. MY STRENGTH IS PERFECT FOR YOUR WEAKNESS.
2Corinthians 12:7-10 (NKJV)
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh. Keeps him humble and focused.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Peter. The genuineness of your faith is more valuable than gold.
GENUINE FAITH IS PRICELESS.
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Genesis 26:2-5
2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
GOD reminds Isaac of HIS promises.
Isaac didn’t stay and wait for the Lord. He went to Gerar.
HEBREW STUDY. Abimelech. A title not a name. We will see this title many times through scriptures.
Hebrew Root words. Abba and Melech
Abba = Father
Melech = King
“MY FATHER the KING” or “MY KING THE FATHER”.
In all this, Isaac doesn’t seek the Lord. But the LORD responds to his journey. Don’t go to Egypt like Abraham did.
1st time GOD directly speaks to Isaac.
God spoke to Abraham. Even Rebekah.
We are all tempted. Isaac was going the wrong direction. Headed toward Egypt.
God will make an escape from temptation.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
God told Isaac to dwell in this land and I will keep the promises to Abraham.
Dwell. To stay temporarily. In Gerar.
Eventually I will show you where to live.
Stay and I will keep those promises.
Isaac interrupted and redirected.
All the lands around Gerar would be his according to the promise, and Abraham’s obedience.
Abraham made mistakes. He sinned. But GOD doesn’t mention Abraham’s sin. Instead, God sees Abraham’s obedience and Abraham as righteous.
Genesis 26:6-7
6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. 7 And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.”
Vs 7. She is my sister. Sounds familiar. Like father like son. The same lie. Both in Gerar. The same thing for the same reason. The fear of man. Acting selfishly to save themselves at the expense of their wives.
Isaac wasn’t born when Abraham lied about Sarah. Ch 12 & 20.
Isaac committed same sin.
Psalms 51:5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
Sinful nature is passed along to next generation by example and by the nature of man.
I’ll never do what my parents did! You’re on the same path. Pray.
If Isaac was just passing through, he could have left. Instead he put down roots and wanted to stay. So he lies.
Romans 14:23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
Lack of faith. Not walking by faith leads to sin.
Genesis 26:8-9
8 Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. 9 Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”
Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’ ”
Vs 8. Isaac has been there a long time. Living the lie of his wife. He was supposed to be passing thru
Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
Numbers 32:23 But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.
Behold your sin will find you out.
Vs 8 Abimelech sees Isaac endearing Rebekah. Thinks NOT Sister…Wife!
Not good for Isaac to live the lie.
Abimelech saw liar. Not righteous not faith. Bad witness. No integrity.
Vs9 Abimelech why lie? What have you done to us?
Gen20 Abraham lied. Abimelech took Sarah. Almost died. Knowing god would judge adultery.
Sad when the world behaves more righteously than the believer.
Isaac Rebuked by an unbeliever.
How would you respond?
Genesis 26:10-14
10 And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” 11 So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”
12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.
Isaac’s response is to obey God.
But instead of making his time in Gerar temporary, he now settles in to live there. Planting crops.
12 Isaac continued and sewed in the land and God blessed him. Isaac was still wrong and not obeying God and yet God’s grace blessed him.
Prosperity and Success is not evidence of God approval.
1 Corinthians 4:11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
2 Corinthians 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Paul experienced lack
Jesus too.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Prosperity Gospel is not scriptural
Prosperity is not evidence of Gods approval.
Sometimes prosperity and blessings are to bring people to repentance.
Just because you are prosperous doesn’t mean you have no problems.
Matthew 5:43-48 Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Evidence of GOD’s goodness to bring them to repentance.
Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
God can use prosperity or loss of prosperity to move us to repentance.
Isaac’s increase led to philistines envy.
Envy, I want what someone else has and will go get it so he have it.
Genesis 26:15-22
15 Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”
17 Then Isaac departed from there and pitched his tent in the Valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham. He called them by the names which his father had called them.
19 Also Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found a well of running water there. 20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac’s herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they quarreled with him. 21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also. So he called its name Sitnah. 22 And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, because he said, “For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.”
Vs 15. Philistines made life difficult for Isaac.
Abimelech. Get out of here.
Isaac leaves and pitches tent.
Still trying to live there.
Isaac digs wells again. But driven away.
Esek (Well) means Contention.
Sitnah (Well) means Opposition
Rehobeth (Well) means Spaciousness or roominess.
Victim of envy. Yield to their desires.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Genesis 26:23-25
23 Then he went up from there to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” 25 So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well.
Give it up and move on.
Isaac didn’t have to feel insecure he knew the promise.
Goes to Beersheba. Dream. God says I am with you.
Wait in Jerusalem to be filled with Holy Spirit. Acts 1. Be my witnesses to the ends of the earth
Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 2. Full of Holy Spirit Peter speaks and people got saved.
Acts 2:40-43 (NKJV)
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
But they didn’t leave Jerusalem. “Go and be my witnesses even to the ends of the earth”. Until their success led to envy, opposition to move them out. Act 6. Stephen was martyred there.
God says stay here temporarily. Don’t put down roots.
God reaffirms his promises to Isaac once Isaac listens to him.
In response vs 25. Isaac builds alter (worship) and digs a well. Pitched his tent.
26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath, one of his friends, and Phichol the commander of his army. 27 And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?”
Abimelech sees the blessing upon Isaac and comes to see him.
Unbelievers should see our testimony and be drawn to the LORD.
Vs26. We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you.
Swore an oath. Sheba. Beersheba.
In Gerar, people saw Isaac as an enemy.
In Beersheba same people saw God’s blessing on Isaac.
We are most effective WHEN we are WHERE GOD wants us to be.
And to be effective we must be responding to God and worshipping him.
Isaac was now all about the LORD. He builds and alter and worships GOD.
We have been given the Holy Spirit so we can be different from the world but more like HIM. And this is our testimony and witness that causes others to want what we have - Jesus.
And WHEN we are WHERE GOD wants us to be, we will be worshipping HIM for WHO HE IS and WHAT HE has done.
Genesis 26:28-33
28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the LORD is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.’ ”
30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.
32 It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shebah. Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba to this day.
Genesis 26:34 ESAU, GRIEF to ISAAC and REBEKAH
34 When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.
Vs 34. Esau’s 2 wives. Isaac 100 yrs old, grieved.
Isaac and Rebekah’s lives taught compromise and deception that goes to Esau and Jacob.
Repent and be redeemed.
Key takeaways. GOD will use whatever situation you find yourself in, to reach you, to move you, to draw you to where HE desires for you to be. When we stray, HE may use Feast or Famine to change our direction. The important thing, is that when we are WHERE GOD wants us to be, we will have a heart of worship and praise for HIM, and HE will pour out HIS Promises upon us.
If you have wandered off, or in Feast or Famine. Turn back to GOD and Worship HIM and HE will direct you to WHERE HE wants you to be.
We are sojourners dwelling temporarily in this world. Our HOME is in Heaven. We can't simply stay in our comfort zone but are called to get out of that comfort zone, and through our testimony, we are to be witnesses to share CHRIST to the WHOLE WORLD.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
