#68 Famine in the Land Genesis 26

Now there was a famine in the land, besides 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; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." Genesis 26: 1-5 ESV

I decided to continue with my study, and look at my third question at a later time. It will present itself often, but in reflection during the Exodus of the next book. This is what happens when you give someone with ADD a Bible and a blog spot. So back to Genesis 26.

God told Abraham to leave the land of his fathers, and Abraham obeyed. There is another famine in this land now, and apparently the natural course for Isaac to take, is to pack up and go to Egypt. Sometimes God tells us to go, but this time He is telling Isaac not to. Whether He shows us a different path or tells us to stay and stand fast, it is ours to trust and obey. God speaks to Isaac and reassures Him of the covenant He had with his father.

"I will be with you":
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23: 4 ESV

"will bless you":
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Matthew 5:5

"I will give all these lands":
Abraham had received a national promise, and these lands would be given to this nation as its home.
"Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord God promised you." Joshua 23:4&5 ESV

"I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven"
He does not here make the earlier statement of sands of the seashore, but carries it with you and your offspring. He then moves in to the spiritual blessing of stars of heaven, and the blessing that will come to all nations through this covenant.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1: 3-6 ESV

 "because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."
And how did Abraham keep these?
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 ESV