Genesis 26:1-6 NLT - A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
A famine hit the land, so Isaac moved from a more isolated place in the desert to a small coastal city called Gerar. The next logical step would have been to go to Egypt because that’s where his father, Abraham, took refuge during famine.
But in this situation, the logical solution, the one that worked last time, was not the right solution this time. So God stepped in to get his attention with quite an offer.
What was the offer? Do as God says, and great blessing will be the result. You will get land and children and end up with so much that all the nations will be blessed through you and your descendants.
That offer still stands. If you do what God says, great blessing will be the result. Some think that obeying God means taking a vow of poverty. Nowhere in scripture can you back that up.
If you obey God, blessing is the result. He’ll ask you to do things that aren’t logical. He’ll even tell you to resist using the same solution twice. But in the end, you’ll find out that He was right.
If you obey God, blessing is the result. I can prove it to you as we continue to read about what happened to Isaac.
Genesis 26:12-13 NLT - When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.
What happened when Isaac did what the Lord told Him to? He enjoyed a hundredfold harvest while everyone else was in famine.
What was the result of that hundredfold harvest? He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow.
If you are still holding on to the belief that God is against Christians being wealthy, today would be a good day to slaughter that demonic doctrine.
God’s desire is that you obey Him. And the result of obeying Him is great blessing that causes you to get wealthy and continue growing in wealth.
Obey first. Then wealth is the result. But don’t forget about what happens next in this progression. Let’s continue reading.
Genesis 26:14-22 NLT - He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.” So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them. Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water. But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”
When you get wealthy God’s way, people get jealous and cause you trouble.
Many mistake this as God causing the trouble because He’s mad at you for becoming wealthy. But I think we all know that’s not true. Why would God be mad about something he caused?
It’s not God that’s made when a Christian becomes wealthy. It’s the devil that’s mad. He will stir up all kinds of trouble to get you to backtrack and go back to living with barely enough.
But that’s not what Issac did. He kept moving forward. And at the next place, he encountered trouble again. But he didn’t give up. He kept moving forward and finally found his place to prosper.
If you start to prosper and give up when trouble shows up, you just let the devil fool you.
Let’s say your income increases through a job promotion or whatever. Then you get an unexpected bill, or a pipe bursts in the house, or whatever. So, you get discouraged and resort back to the lie that God wants you with just enough.
Can we become more resilient than that? Can we recognize the trouble for what it is: a distraction from the enemy?
You know what the enemy is trying to do? Usurp your authority. He knows you have all authority in Christ, but if you don’t enforce it, the enemy will run all over you.
It’s time for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to rise up and enforce our God-given authority in every situation. No more putting up with the enemy’s shenanigans.
As a matter of fact, let’s put the devil on notice to pay back sevenfold everything he’s ever stolen from us. He’s not getting away with it any longer!
When you obey God, great blessing is the result. When that blessing starts to show up, it is guaranteed the enemy will show up to try to get you to back up. Don’t do it! Press forward.
So, Isaac found himself in the midst of a famine. He was headed towards the same solution God gave his father. God said, “No. What worked last time won’t work this time. Stay put, and I will bless you.”
Not only did Isaac have to obey the illogical command, but he also had to take action to step into that blessing of great wealth. Do you remember what it was?
He had to sow. There would have been no hundredfold harvest if Isaac sat on his fanny and waited for God to fulfill his promise.
There is always a partnership in covenant. There is action you need to take in order to access the promise God has given you.
When it comes to your finances, the tithe is your first step. Give the first 10% of your increase to God every time, every paycheck. This is what opens the window of heaven so God can pour out blessing.
According to the Bible, the tithe isn’t even considered giving. It is something due to God. It’s how you honor the One who gave you the ability to make money and all the early resources to do so.
Then, once you have the tithe in place, everything you give into the Kingdom of God from that point forward is considered seed. The amount you sow will determine the harvest you enjoy.
If you want to live in the great godly wealth I’ve been preaching on since the beginning of the year, you have action to take. You must be intentional with your giving.
What’s the result of giving according to how the Word of God teaches us? Exactly what happened to Isaac. You’ll receive a hundredfold harvest and become very wealthy.
I’d like to invite you to give right now. If you are giving by cash or check, use the offering envelope in front of you. Drop that in the donation box on your way out today.
You can give online anytime at nolimits.fyi. Or text your donation amount to 84321. Or send it through Cash App to $churchnolimits.
If you feel pressured to give right now, don’t do it. God does not want you giving in response to pressure. He wants you giving from an obedient, cheerful heart.
So, if you feel pressured, take some time to study the Word on giving until those anxieties are resolved. Then, when that faith drives out all the doubt, you’ll be ready to give.
