Mensa Otabil - Seasons of Famine
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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. I mean, just reading the Bible, it’s fascinating. Here it is. He’s been to Canaan. God says, «This is the land.» He goes to Bethel. He builds an altar. It looks like everything is going well for Abraham, and then out of nowhere, there is famine.
So, here is a man who is walking in the ways of God. He’s obeying God, and it seems like God is with him. God is speaking to him, and things are going well, and then out of nowhere, a famine comes in the land. Walking with God takes us through different places and different seasons. It’s not just one journey. It’s not just roses and honey and things always being nice. You can be right in the center of God’s will and go through famine, and that’s what’s happening in Abraham’s life.
If you are going through a difficulty, a famine basically is a season of scarcity when it looks like things are hard, things are tough, and many times we may think, «Oh, it may be because God is angry with me,» or «I’ve displeased God,» or «the devil is attacking me.» Could it just be it’s a phase that God wants you to go through? It’s just a process he wants you to undergo. So God is with us even when we go through famine, and the famine, or the scarcity, or the tough time must never communicate to us necessarily that we are out of the will of God. I mean, there are times when being out of the will of God could lead to some difficulties.
But just check your heart. Have you disobeyed God? Are you dishonoring God? Are you living in sin? If that’s not your story, but you’re still going through famine, you have company with Abraham. The famine was severe after he had gone to Canaan. After he had gone to all these lands and after it seemed like God was blessing him, he went through scarcity. So, why do we go through famine? To test our faith. God will test your faith, your sense of obedience. Do you only trust him in abundance, or do you trust him also in scarcity? Do you only trust him when things are going well, or do you trust him also when you can’t figure out how things are going?
Remember, all that God wants from us is faith. Everything we go through is a test of faith. We may think, «Oh, I need money. I need this, and I need that.» But to God, it’s all about faith. Your trust in him and your dependence on him. So, all of life’s experiences, our walk with God is a faith walk in famine and in abundance. Being able to live through the famine is very important. But remember, God is able to bless us even in a season of scarcity. There can be scarcity. It can be hard everywhere. But somehow, he’s able to isolate his children and bless them.
So, even if there is hardship all around, may the Lord bless you. May the Lord prosper you. May the Lord meet your need. And may the Lord water you. May you be a watered garden wherever you are. Going through famine helps us to appreciate God’s abundance. When God brings you to abundance, you remember the famine, and you don’t take the abundance for granted.
So, walking with God, walking by faith like Abraham from his father’s family in Ur of the Chaldeans, we end our story with Abraham in Egypt and in famine. Isn’t it amazing that his descendants also went to Egypt and suffered for many years until they were delivered? The life of Abraham was a preamble to the life of Israel.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, you are with me when I go through the seasons of famine. I look up to you as the supplier of all my needs. In Jesus' name, Amen and amen.»