AND GOD BLESSED ABRAHAM IN TIME OF FAMINE

CREDIT: encoremedia

AND GOD BLESSED ABRAHAM IN TIME OF FAMINE

Let's quickly look at a couple of scriptures in Genesis and learn some lessons from them?

Genesis 12:1-4

NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you they will bless themselves]. So Abram departed, as the Lord had directed him;

Genesis 12:9-10

*Abram journeyed on, still going toward the South (the Negeb).
Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down into Egypt to live temporarily, for the famine in the land was oppressive (intense and grievous).

Notice that God told Abram to do something and there was an attached promise. Abram obeyed and was in the will of God, but the next passage shows that calamity ensued.

Abram could have at this stage doubted if he really heard from God. He could have packed in and headed back to the land of the Ur. Obviously he didn't but decided in the next verses to plot his own way whilst partly obeying God (don't we all do this?).

He eventually got expelled from Egypt but the favour of God was still with him (the gifts and callings of God are without repentance).

CREDIT: bible.knowing-jesus.com

Genesis 13:2

(Now Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold.) and chapter 24:35 (And the Lord has blessed my master mightily, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks, herds, silver, gold, menservants, maidservants, camels, and asses.) proves this.

• I say again, the fact that you are doing what God says to do, does not obviate trials and famine. In the middle of famine (whilst in the will of God) do like Isaac so you prevent yourself from heartache;

Genesis 26​:1-3

AND THERE was a famine in the land, other than the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I will tell you. Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.

And vs 12

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.)

• In obeying God's instructions, if there is hardship or famine, listen for the next instruction and do it. Don't set off for Egypt! He is big enough to take care of you. The famine never takes him by surprise. Just trust Him because everything, (including the famine) is factored into the promise.

Selah!