The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.” Genesis 26:3
Daily Reflection:
When famine strikes the land, Isaac plans to take his family to Egypt where they could find abundant food. It makes perfect sense. But God has other plans and appears to Isaac to let him know Egypt is not the answer. If he trusts God and stays where God tells him, God promises to be with him and bless him. When God is with his people, his blessings seem to overflow. For Isaac, God provides abundantly for their physical needs during this time of famine. He finds well after well of water and reaps a crop one hundred-fold what was sown. God’s hand of blessing is clearly on him.
It’s been in my hardest “famine” times when circumstances were the worst, that God has showed himself more present with me than ever. I desperately leaned hard into Jesus, the only Rock of Refuge who satisfies (trust me I tried others!). God provided strength beyond myself; he provided financially; he put a supportive community around me, but most of all, I rested in the comfort of his presence, knowing he understood my pain even if no one else could.
Daily Prayer:
Lord, we, like Isaac, need your Presence. Help us not to run to what seems like a quick fix, but to trust you even when we don’t quite understand your leading. Thank you that with you are endless gifts of all kinds. Thank you for understanding each of our hearts and minds and bodies.
Digging Deeper:
What does this passage reveal to us about the character of God? What names could you give him based on his relationship with Isaac?
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Also in Emmanuel Devotional Sneak Peek
Emmanuel: A Christmas Devotional, Day 5, God with Moses
Emmanuel: A Christmas Devotional, Day 4, God with Jacob Again
We are hanging out with Jacob again today. Decades have passed. He now has 11 sons and several daughters from four wives. He still lives in his Uncle Laban’s household where he’s worked since he ran away from home years before. God is clearly with him. His flocks increased while Laban’s decreased. Jacob anxiously notices his Uncle’s and cousins’ jealousy. At that time God once again intervenes.
