The Lord is awe-inspiring, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him in Genesis 26:1,
“Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar.”
Now that Abraham has died, God’s blessing is passed down to Isaac. In the previous chapter we read, “After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who then lived near Beer Lahai Roi.” Genesis 25:11. But here we read that Isaac is caught in a famine at the time and so went to the Philistine King Abimelech.
I am reminded of the reality that although we are chosen (as those who embrace Jesus Christ in faith), heirs to the promises of God and loved by him, we still encounter hardships in the world. There is a notion in the church today that proclaims if we have enough faith, keep from sin and live by the principles we are taught in Scripture we will avoid the hardships and heartaches this life would otherwise deal us. Even beyond that, in some circles it is taught that we can keep ourselves from illness and receive wealth!
While God’s word certainly provides us direction for life that will save us from pain and hardships we can create for ourselves, as Isaac, we still experience hardship in this present world that exists under God’s condemnation. While we read of a new order of things that is coming for us in the resurrection, many of those wonderful things will wait until the Lord returns. Thanks be to God for the wonderful blessings he has lavished on us today! His indwelling Holy Spirit, the comfort and fellowship of other believers, his word - the Scriptures, hope in this life with a promise of an eternity spent with God, purpose and meaning in this life, etc. But some things are going to wait until resurrection day. Life without illness and infirmity, no more pain and death. Sin and its consequences will be entirely eradicated from our lives, and face to face fellowship with the God who loves us and sent his Son as our Savior will be ours.
Meanwhile we read that as we experience hardships in life, as characterized by Paul in Romans 8:35, “Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword” separate us from the love of Christ? No, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” It is in these difficulties God works for our good, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Our God works for our good, not by removing difficulties in life but by working for our good through the difficulties in this life.
All of us will hopefully find great cause for the worship of our Lord as we learn the lesson of Paul, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11b-13.
Just as Isaac, the heir of the blessing and promises God made to Abraham, experienced hardship in his life from time to time, so we will as well. But thanks be to God for his love and care for us!! He watched over Isaac and he will watch over us as well!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your theme of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We’d love to hear from you!
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