Mensa Otabil - Seasons of Famine
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Using Genesis 12:10, the preacher shows that famine can come even when we are walking in God’s will, concluding that seasons of scarcity are tests of faith meant to deepen our trust in God as our true provider.
When Famine Appears in God’s Will
Genesis 12, verse number 10. Now there was a famine in the land, and Abraham went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. Just reading this is fascinating, because everything seemed right, and then suddenly, famine appeared.
Abraham had been to Canaan. God said, «This is the land.» He went to Bethel, built an altar, and everything looked like it was going well. God was speaking, God was leading, and then out of nowhere, the famine came into the land.
Walking with God Through Seasons
Here is a man walking in the ways of God, obeying Him, and clearly experiencing God’s presence. Yet famine still came. Walking with God takes us through different places and different seasons. It is not one smooth journey filled only with comfort.
You can be right in the center of God’s will and still go through famine. It is not always roses and honey. Abraham’s life shows us that obedience does not exempt us from seasons of difficulty or scarcity.
Understanding the Season of Famine
A famine is a season of scarcity, when things feel hard and resources seem limited. Often we assume God is angry, we have displeased Him, or the devil is attacking us. But sometimes it is simply a phase God allows us to walk through.
God is with us even in famine. Scarcity or difficulty does not automatically mean we are outside the will of God. While disobedience can lead to hardship, not every hardship is the result of disobedience.
Checking the Heart Honestly
It is wise to examine your heart. Have you disobeyed God? Are you dishonoring Him? Are you living in sin? If that is not your story, yet famine remains, then you are walking the same path Abraham walked.
The famine came after Abraham reached Canaan, after blessing seemed evident. Scarcity followed obedience. This shows us that famine can be part of God’s plan, not a contradiction of His promise.
Why God Allows Famine
Why do we go through famine? To test our faith. God tests our obedience and our trust. Do we trust Him only in abundance, or do we trust Him in scarcity as well, when answers are unclear and resources feel limited?
Faith is what God desires from us. Life’s experiences test our dependence on Him. We may think we need money or solutions, but God is looking at our faith and our willingness to rely fully on Him.
Faith in Scarcity and Abundance
Our walk with God is a faith walk, both in famine and in abundance. Learning to live through famine is vital. God is able to bless us even when there is scarcity everywhere around us.
He knows how to isolate His children and sustain them. Hardship may surround us, but God remains able to meet needs, provide strength, and show His faithfulness in unexpected ways.
Lessons Learned in the Dry Season
Going through famine teaches us to value abundance. When God brings us into blessing, we remember the hard seasons and refuse to take His provision for granted. Scarcity prepares our hearts for gratitude.
Abraham’s journey began in Ur of the Chaldeans and ended in Egypt during famine. Interestingly, his descendants would also go to Egypt and suffer before deliverance. Abraham’s life became a prelude to Israel’s story.
Prayer
Let us pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are with me when I go through seasons of famine. I look to You as the supplier of all my needs. In Jesus’ name, Amen and amen.»