Genesis 26:1-5: a reflection

1There was a famine in the land, in addition to the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar. 2The LORD appeared to him, and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about. 3Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. For I will give to you, and to your offspring, all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and will give all these lands to your offspring. In your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed, 5because Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my requirements, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

When a famine comes upon the land, Isaac is tempted, as his father Abraham once was, to go down to Egypt for relief. But God appears to him with a clear direction: Don't go down into Egypt. Live in the land I will tell you about. Live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. God directs Isaac to stay where he is sent, even in the famine, rather than seeking relief in Egypt his own way; and he attaches a promise: I will be with you, and will bless you. Isaac was to trust God's direction to stay put, even when the famine tempted him to go elsewhere for relief, trusting God's presence and promise where he was.

Notice God's direction to Isaac to stay, and the trust it required. The famine made Egypt look like the sensible place to go for relief; it would have been the obvious human solution. But God directed Isaac to stay where he sent him, trusting God's presence and blessing there rather than seeking relief his own way in Egypt. This required trust: to stay where God directed, even when circumstances pressed toward another path, trusting God's promise to be with him and bless him where he was. Isaac was not to solve the famine by his own way, but to trust God's direction to stay, resting on the promise of God's presence rather than the apparent relief of Egypt.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are sometimes called to stay where God directs, trusting his promise, even when circumstances tempt us to seek relief our own way. When difficulty presses, there is often an obvious way out, an Egypt that seems to promise relief; and we can be tempted to take it rather than staying where God has placed us. But God directed Isaac to stay in the famine, trusting his presence and blessing. Sometimes faith means staying where God directs rather than fleeing to the apparent relief. When circumstances tempt you to seek relief your own way, do not rush to your Egypt; consider whether God is directing you to stay, trusting his presence and promise, as he directed Isaac. Trust God's direction to stay where he places you, resting on his presence and promise, even when circumstances tempt you to seek relief your own way, as God told Isaac not to go down to Egypt in the famine but to stay and be blessed; for faith sometimes means staying where God directs rather than fleeing to the apparent relief, trusting his presence with us where he has placed us.

Lord, when a famine comes upon the land, Isaac is tempted, as his father Abraham once was, to go down to Egypt for relief. But you appear to him with a clear direction: don't go down into Egypt; live in the land I will tell you about; live in this land, and I will be with you, and will bless you. You direct Isaac to stay where he is sent, even in the famine, rather than seeking relief in Egypt his own way; and you attach a promise: I will be with you, and will bless you. Show me your direction to Isaac to stay, and the trust it required. The famine made Egypt look like the sensible place to go for relief; it would have been the obvious human solution. But you directed Isaac to stay where you sent him, trusting your presence and blessing there rather than seeking relief his own way. This required trust: to stay where you directed, even when circumstances pressed toward another path. Isaac was not to solve the famine by his own way, but to trust your direction to stay. Take that to my heart, for I too am sometimes called to stay where you direct, trusting your promise, even when circumstances tempt me to seek relief my own way. When difficulty presses, there is often an obvious way out, an Egypt that seems to promise relief; and I can be tempted to take it rather than staying where you have placed me. But you directed Isaac to stay in the famine. When circumstances tempt me to seek relief my own way, keep me from rushing to my Egypt; help me consider whether you are directing me to stay, Lord, trusting your presence and promise, as you directed Isaac not to go down to Egypt but to stay and be blessed.