Sowing in Famine
From The HeartPublish date: 07/22/2007
Thoughts on Stewardship - Lessons from Genesis
Sowing in Famine
Foundation Scriptures: Genesis 26:12 - 14
Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings. 13 And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished; 14 He owned flocks, herds, and a great supply of servants, and the Philistines envied him. Genesis 26:12-14 AMP
1. Isaac sowed seed in the land – not in a time of plenty – but in the time of famine.
a. When it comes to cultivating the land, in this natural world, the middle of a drought and famine is definitely not the optimum time to sow seed.
b. However, in God's economy, it does not matter when you sow seed. He is the Lord of the harvest!
c. Sowing seed in a time of famine takes great faith in God, because you have to have confidence that you will reap a harvest in spite of the fact that all odds are against you.
2. Not only did Isaac reap a harvest at all, but he reaped a miraculously huge harvest – a 100-fold harvest – 100 times as much as he had planted!
a. Some people don't believe that you can trust God for a 100-fold return on your giving, but Jesus talked about it several times. In Matthew 13:23 and Mark 4:20 Jesus said that those who hear the Word, understand it, receive, accept, and welcome it, will bear fruit – some yielding 30, some 60, and some 100-fold! In Matthew 19:29 and Mark 10:30 Jesus said that those who have had to give up relationships or property for His sake would receive it all back multiplied by 100 here in this lifetime and they would also inherit eternal life.
b. Of course most of us would love to have the 100-fold return, but even a 20 or 30-fold return is better than "no-fold"! It is dependant on your faith and your walk with God – the more you obediently submit your life to Him, the more you can be trusted with, the more He can bless you.
3. The Lord favored Isaac with blessings
a. Proverbs 10:22 AMP says, "The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]." When God blesses you, He really blesses you. You must realize that it's not dependant on your works alone, but on your faith in God.
b. The favor of God: when God's favor is on your life, you don't even need the money to get things done. Favor will make a way for you and take you where money alone cannot.
c. The Lord has many blessings available to those that are counted as His own.
4. Isaac became great, and gained more and more, until he became very wealthy and distinguished.
a. He owned flocks, herds and a great supply of servants – so much so that the Philistines envied him.
b. Because Isaac trusted in God, and not in himself or in the elements, he prospered while others were struggling. If you obey God, He can multiply you in the midst of the worst circumstances of life and grant you favor. Even in the middle of famine – when everyone else is decreasing, losing, and going under - you can be prospering, increasing and multiplying!
Pastor Adonica's Thoughts
Our relationship with the Lord is a faith relationship. It's not based on our five senses. It is not performance based. The Lord is always trying to get us to recognize and acknowledge the fact that He Himself is the Beginning and the End, the Author and the Finisher, the Creator and the Master of all, our Source and Supply. If you trust in yourself, you can try your best, and never accomplish what you could accomplish through simple faith in God and obedience to His Word. Sowing seed, when you can least afford to, is a powerful demonstration of your faith and gives God a mighty opportunity to prove Himself and to show Himself strong in your behalf, that will turn out to be a sign and a wonder to those who do not believe! God will bless you because He loves you and at the same time He will show His glory through you to those who have not yet bowed their knee. Trust and obey God. Give Him an opportunity to use your life as a witness at the same time as He blesses you super-abundantly!
Pastor Rodney's Thoughts
Back in South Africa, in 1982, this truth changed our lives. You can read about it in depth in our mini-book called "Sowing in Famine." When Adonica and I were in a situation of famine in our own lives, we sowed a seed that changed our lives. This seed broke the Spirit of poverty off of us and changed our lives. Since the Lord opened our eyes to this truth, we have applied this principle and have truly experienced the 30, 60, and 100-fold return. God's Word is amazing – it never returns void. He always goes over the top to bless and reward faith and obedience.
Prayer and Confession:
Father, I thank You for Your Word that is true. Today I realize that if I have something in my hand, and it is not enough to meet my need, then it must be seed. Help me not to eat my seed, but sow it and believe You for a miracle of supernatural provision. If you can do it for Isaac, then you can do it for me because You are no respecter of persons. Thank You, Lord, for blessing me as I honor You with my faith and obedience.