How to prosper in the midst of a famine

  BY Argie Simonis

"Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred times: and the LORD blessed him.

And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:" Gen. 26:12-13

The blessing of the Lord was not seen in Isaac's life at a time when everyone was enjoying prosperity. The Lord blessed him in a year of famine:

"The blessing of the LORD, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." Proverbs 10:22

This increase would not have happened if Isaac had not sown, even in difficult times. I believe that many people, thinking that there is no chance of success, do not even bother to sow. How many times have we found ourselves in similar cases? Especially now with all these restrictions, prohibitions and the violation of our rights that we experience. But we do not know what the future holds:

"In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening withhold not your hand: for you know not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good." Ecclesiastes 11:6

If we do not sow, we will certainly not reap (Galatians 6:7).

It's amazing how good things happen to those who get their hands on things:

"The LORD shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses, and in all that you set your hand to..." Deut. 28:8

We have a special promise for God's provision during times of famine:

"They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." Psalm 37:19

Another lesson we learn here is that Isaac "sowed in that land." He would not have the same results if he sowed in a place different from what the Lord had told him. The blessing of the Lord was where the Lord had told Isaac to be. We see the same in the case of the prophet Elijah:

"And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 1 Kings 17:4

The Lord did not send the crows where Elijah was. He sent the crows where he told Elijah to go. God had already ordered the ravens to bring him food there.

Hundredfold returns are unlikely to be made even in good times. The fact that this happened to Isaac during a time of famine is a proof of the blessing of the Lord in his life.

And one more thing that is perhaps the biggest lesson from this story: Isaac did not get prosperous in an instant. His prosperity came in steps, from a series of right decisions that he made and were blessed by God for a period of time until he became "very great."

The most important decision we can make is our praise, thanksgiving, and trust in His promises:

"Let the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for you shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth. 

Let the people praise you, O God; let all the people praise you.

Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him." Psalm 67:3-7

Amen?