1 There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.
Genesis 26:1-6
God has not changed his mind about your future, regardless of how things have looked or the challenges you’ve faced in the past ten months. God sent me here to remind you that he will fulfill what He promised for your future. Being here today or hearing my voice means that you are among those whom God expects to:
- Leave a lasting imprint on the world stage.
- Make a significant impact on this and the next generation.
- Leave things in a better state than when you encountered them.
Remember these three expectations. There are 77 days left in this year, which is considered significant. During these 77 days, expect God to do extraordinary things in your life, career, and ministry. This is a time of transition where God intends to do more than just the ordinary. Expect the unusual, uncommon, unpredictable, unexpected, and unprecedented from God.
Repeat after me: unusual, uncommon, unpredictable, unexpected, unprecedented. Reflect on your life and ask yourself if you can receive these blessings. I certainly am. If you could see the upcoming times and seasons, you would praise and glorify God without hesitation. The enemy has tried to hinder this season but has failed.
God has incredible plans for your life, career, business, and ministry beyond your imagination. You can only comprehend parts of it at a time. In light of this, I have two words for you: get ready.
You are in a transition and need to embrace it. Increase your expectations as you move from one place, posture, condition, or state to another. Transition means shifting gears and changing pastures, conditions, and states of mind.
The Famine
Abraham went to Egypt during a severe famine. This is important because it sets a precedent for how to react to a famine in the Palestinian regions, as stated in Genesis 12:10. If you’re experiencing a famine in these areas, it tells you what to do.
Genesis 26 shows Isaac following in Abraham’s footsteps during a famine. Isaac sees Abraham as his hero and role model, so when faced with a famine, he contemplates going to Egypt. Then, the Lord appears to Isaac in the midst of the famine.
You may not believe this, and you don’t have to receive it. But the key idea here is that the Lord promises to be with you in times of crisis. From now until the end of your life, God will show up and speak whenever you face a crisis.
Whenever you have a crisis again, God will show up, speak, and guide you. You won’t have to worry or wonder what to do next because God will give instructions.
Don’t Follow the Crowd
Isaac is considering going to Egypt because his father went there during a famine. But God appears to Isaac and tells him not to go. God’s message to Isaac is clear: don’t follow the crowd. This is an important point for the church as well. We are called to be different and have a specific assignment.
If you are a member of this church, it’s because God chose you for this specific assignment. So put your notebooks and phones down and focus on God’s assignment for this church. “Isaac, don’t go to Egypt. Don’t follow the crowd. Instead, go where I will tell you to go. Follow the instructions I’ve already given before seeking the next step.” God is waiting to reveal more to you, but you need to obey the previous instructions first.
During a transition, it’s best to stay in one place. God says to expect opposition from the devil but be prepared to fight.
God said, “Isaac, don’t go to Egypt.” Isaac asked, “Where should I go then?” God replied, “Stay where you are.” Isaac questioned this decision due to the famine, but God insisted he stay. When Isaac asked why, God simply replied, “Because I told you to.”
I want to show you something, teach you a life principle, and help you experience life at a new level. But if you hesitate, you’ll miss out. If you take action, you might get some benefits, but if you stay, I will bless you, be with you, give you nations, fulfill my oath, multiply your seed, and bless all the nations of the earth.
Isaac considered going to Egypt due to the famine, but God told him to stay. God promised to reveal Himself, bless Isaac, fulfill the promises made to his father, and bless the nations through his descendants.
I’m here at Evangel Church by ordination, not invitation. I don’t care what happens today; I won’t lose this fight. Everyone here is supposed to win. Find your cheerleader quickly and hold their hand. Let them know we’re supposed to win today. Let’s celebrate like our victory just started. Rejoice and be glad on this day.
God fights our battles with His power and Spirit. Praise the Lord. We’re going into deep waters. Don’t be scared. There’s a major shift about to happen.
Trusting God to Stay in the Land
In verse 12, the focus is on Isaac and his decision to stay in the land instead of going to Egypt. The verse emphasizes the importance of trusting God’s promises and not following the crowd. By staying in the land, Isaac will experience supernatural blessings, and his descendants will bless nations.
We continue the story of Isaac selling in a land of famine and emphasize the importance of not moving away from biblical principles during times of crisis. The key principle highlighted is the assurance that seed, time, harvest, and other natural cycles will not cease regardless of the circumstances.
Let me share the challenge we have as believers. The transitions between seasons are inevitable, like day and night, and the presence of heat and cold. However, the main problem lies in the understanding and application of the principles of seedtime and harvest. We need to recognize that seed time comes before harvest. As long as the earth remains, these principles will continue. Let’s remember this and not lose sight of it.
I’m here to assist with your transition. During a famine, Isaac sold and received a harvest. Despite the famine, he obeyed God’s instruction to stay there and sow. So he sold and reaped.
The blessing is when God shows up and blesses your entire life. That’s why I’m here today, to fulfill that purpose. God says it’s time to bless your whole life. I hope you hear me clearly. Let me reiterate: in that line where there was a famine, he reaped in the same year.
Conclusion
God wants to bless you. What is this? Show someone how God can bless you. Wait a minute, are you saying the Lord didn’t bless him when he reaped? No, that wasn’t a blessing. That’s the fulfillment of a principle. As long as the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest. If you sow, you reap. Make sure you reap something for what you sow. That’s not your blessing. That’s the result of a principle. But in this case, after he finished reaping, the Lord blessed him.
As part of your assignment, support church members facing poverty and lack. Declare over them that they are in transition. This is the season they’ve been praying and waiting for. Their breakthrough will happen. They will transition and move from one season to the next. If you received that, squeeze your neighbor’s hand and say, “I got that too.”
Are you ready to see your life change? There is a special word for you today. You are in transition! God has so much more for you. Discover what’s in store by watching the whole sermon “I’m in Transition” here.
Come and be part of the Evangel Cathedral community as we spread God’s profound and timeless message to the world. Stay connected by subscribing to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@EvangelCathedral.
