God Prospers Us

Genesis 26

The theme of Genesis 26 is that God is able to bless His children even in times of economic crisis. The blessings of God on Abraham had been transferred to Isaac. There was no hardship under the sun that could stop him from fulfilling God’s plans for his life. We serve a covenant keeping God. Genesis 26 teaches us many lessons of God’s working in our lives. He is able to take us from anywhere and make His plans for us come to pass. 

There are 5 main lessons from this chapter:

#1. We must be obedient to the word of God. (Genesis 26:1-6)

God spoke to Isaac not to go to Egypt but remain in the land and experience His blessings. He further reiterated the promise He made to his father Abraham and how he remained faithful. Isaac heard the voice of God and obeyed Him. He dwelt in the land. We must be obedient to God’s word if we truly want to see His power in our lives. Psalm 1 says that the just man who obeys the word will bear fruit in good season. Obedience opens doors of opportunity to us to experience God’s mighty power.

#2. Great people are human. (Genesis 26:7-11)

In this section, we see that just like his father Abraham lied about his wife to keep her when they got to Egypt (Genesis 12), Isaac also lied about his wife to keep her from the wicked people of the land. He told the people that she is his sister. Later they found out that it was the wife. The men of faith in the Bible were as human as the rest of us. They sometimes doubted, lied and did all manner of things to keep on going but they still trusted in God. It teaches us that we must keep going when we fall along the line. God will show us mercy because He knows our heart.

#3. Obedience to God brings prosperity. (Genesis 26:12-25)

When Isaac stayed in the land as God instructed him, he prospered with his work. He stayed, sowed and reaped abundantly. He didn’t stay and do nothing but he stayed and sowed in the land God gave him. He didn’t need conditions to be perfect. He only needed the perfect word from God. The blessings of the Lord come through the work of our hands. For Isaac, he was a farmer and so God caused his farm crops to yield abundant produce. Proverbs 16:3 says that we should commit our ways to the Lord and He establishes our thoughts.

#4. The presence of God in our lives can be observed. (Genesis 26:26-33)

Abimelech saw the presence of God in the life of Isaac and then journeyed to him to make peace. The same man who sent him away came to make peace. Indeed, the blessings of the Lord make our enemies to be at peace with us (Proverbs 16:7). The same way Pharaoh saw that God was with Joseph was the same way Abimelech saw the hand of God in Isaac’s life. He has promised to never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Unbelievers know when the hand of God is working in the lives of believers.

#5. Disobedient children are disincentive to parents. (Genesis 26:34-35)

Whilst the hand of God was blessing Isaac regarding his work and favour before people, his son, Esau, was a thorn in his flesh. He never followed his father’s example to marry from his people but went for foreigners and ‘they were a grief of mind’ to his parents. Esau is very symbolic of waywardness and disobedience. He never brought honour to his parents but only grief. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” We must not follow the way of Esau.

Genesis 26 teaches us that we must trust in the word of God and leave our economic fortunes in His hands. As He made Isaac prosperous in the land, He can do the same for us who put our confidence in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Take Action: Ask God to prosper the work of your hands in hard times.