When God Says Dwell

Genesis 26:2

Genesis 26:1–2 ESV

1 Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. 2 And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.

The Lord has two commands for Isaac in this passage “do not go” and “dwell”. We two have been given two commands in which we must follow to be under the blessing and protection of God. We must not go where the Lord has commanded us to refrain and we must dwell in the place that the Lord has sent us.

I. The Famine

There was a great famine in the land where Isaac had became insulated from the world of despair. We too have seen the famine come in our lives. As children we often see the world as one of happiness and being problem free. As we grow older then the brokenness of the world begins to manifest itself in our hearts. We like Isaac become displaced both in our physical lives as well as our spiritual lives. We begin asking “is the promise worth the wait?”. We see Isaac begin to run to Egypt. He makes it to Gerar which is at the borderline of the promise. It’s here that the Lord stops him. God tells him not to go any further but instead to dwell in the land in which he has given him. We may look around at our lives whether it be in the land of family, career or ministry and see a season of want. A time that everything is not ok and great famine is seemingly overtaken us. Our first response is to run to a foreign land that on the outside seems to provide us of our needs. However in this land that is outside of God’s provision is great temptation that is a greater spiritual famine than we can withstand. It is in this that the promise is given in I Corinthians 10:13

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.

We are given the way of escape and the greatest escape is to remain where God has placed us. We must hold on to the promise that our God is always faithful and never slack on keeping His covenant with His people.

II. Dwelling in Obedience

The Lord had made a promise to Abraham that this land would be given to his descendants and that God himself would bless them THERE! Here He interrupts Isaac’s path to tell him to remain in the land of promise. Isaac was looking for bread but God was building faith. Which is better? In the carnal we only seek the things to nourish the body but God intends to build the spirit. We see this example in the wilderness temptation of our Lord.

Matthew 4:3–4 NKJV

3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Obedience is greater than bread. We must stop running to the world, our Egypt, when things get thin and instead run to the One where blessings come from to sustain us. Every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is our life giving nutrient, not the provisions of the world.

III. The Product of Dwelling

Genesis 26:12–13 NKJV

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;

When we obey and not run there is always blessings to follow. Isaac remained and became very prosperous in all that he did. Even in the land of famine God is able to make a way for those who are obedient to prosper. Often times we look for the outward blessings and completely miss the inward ones. The following generations was able to look back at the promise made and promise kept in Isaac’s life. These would not have become a witness had he continued into Egypt. We in our lives will be faced with many tests but it is only when we stand firm and persevere that the Lord makes a test into a testimony. Romans 5:1-5

Romans 5:1–5 NKJV

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

James 1:2–4 NKJV

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The blessings of the Lord come with perseverance, to those that remain faithful. God will never bless what He didn’t ordain. We can’t expect to run to Egypt, wherever that may be, and demand God bless us. The Lord chastens those He loves. He doesn’t give us comfort in our rebellion. As Paul states in Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1–2 NKJV

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

We have died to sin so there is no promise of blessings in running back to it! Instead there is promise in our faith that the Lord isn’t slack but yet longsuffers in His promise. 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

He is patient and gracious in His promise that all may be given the opportunity to escape judgement and dwell in His steadfast love!

We have a witness and in that witness those around us will see the fruit of dwelling in Him!

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

IV Expect Resistance

Genesis 26:14 NKJV

14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.

Often times in God’s blessings there will be haters. So how should we respond? With contempt and anger? Never put with the same love and longsuffering the Lord has for us. We must remember that those who are in the world don’t have the promise living in them and instead there is ungodliness and spiritual famine. We must continue steadfast in the promise we have as the salt and light in this world. Sin is the famine and the Gospel is the bread. We as believers are charged with being the ones in which the souls of this world can find the bread!

1 Peter 3:8–12 NKJV

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Are you in famine today? Is there a great deal of want in your soul? If there is I have wonderful news! He’s the bread for the eater and the seed for the sower!

2 Corinthians 9:10 NKJV

10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,