Last week, we saw how Abraham fled to Egypt to escape the famine that was in his territory. Later, Isaac experienced a similar famine in the same land, but this is what the Lord told him:
The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father" (Genesis 26:2-3).
And what was the result of Isaac's obedience not to flee in the face of an impending food crisis?
When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham (Genesis 26:12-15).
It seems that the Philistines were upset over Isaac's success and took it upon themselves to stop up the wells that Abraham had dug and Isaac was using. What was Isaac using these wells for? He was not only using them to meet his personal needs, he was probably also using them to irrigate and water his crops. Isaac sought the Lord, God spoke to him to stay and not leave, and then Isaac innovated a solution to the drought, something his father was unable to see and therefore did not do. The only option Abraham saw was to go, but Isaac saw another, which was born out of crisis.
You will also experience dry times in the pursuit of your creative purpose. Don't automatically run to Egypt. By that, I mean don't assume that you must make a move, whether it be a new job or place of residence. First, seek the Lord and then do what He directs you to do without fear. Then take a look at what you've done and are doing to see if God will show you something new to do—or a new way to do it. Tough times are a wonderful source of creativity and innovation when you may discover something you and others have overlooked that will then become a secret of your success.
Are you going through a famine or drought? If so, do what Isaac did. Seek God for direction and then look for a way to water your crops while others are moving to Egypt. By doing so, you will uncover strategies in the midst of crisis that will help you find your financial blessing while you flow in your creative purpose.
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