Divine Purpose (Part 6)

Recession, inflation, and economic hard times have been with mankind since the beginning of time. They are not new situations demanding new solutions. Biblical answers for dire economic conditions appear early in book of Genesis 26:1: 

"And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham." 

During this difficult time, God gave Abraham’s son, Isaac, specific instructions to follow in order to prosper. These are steps which you can adopt during your own times of financial famine.

-Remain faithful to biblical principles.
Many believers become inconsistent in times of economic pressure, growing lax about their personal devotions,  their giving, and their church attendance.  Deviating from these basic principles only creates more problems. The Lord told Isaac that He would bless him because his father, Abraham, "...obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" in Genesis 26:5.   God blessed Abraham because he walked faithfully in God’s ways regardless of the circumstances of life and he looked to God as his Source.  God directed Isaac to follow Abraham’s example so that he would prosper, despite the famine.

-Do not follow the pattern of the world. 
Because of the famine in Israel, everyone was leaving for Egypt, where they heard things were better economically.  But the Lord had a different plan for Isaac. He told him in Genesis 26:2, 3, "Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and I will bless thee." Most of the time if you look at what the world is doing and then do the opposite, you will be in harmony with God's plans because the principles of the Kingdom of God are usually opposite those of the world.  In times of crisis, do not look around and do what others are doing. 

-Remain in the center of God’s will.
Remember that God can bless you in any location, so remain where He has placed you unless He directs you to do otherwise.

Deuteronomy 28:3 "Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field"

In economically hard times, do not make any move geographically or financially without God’s specific guidance.  Even though you might hear rumors of prosperity in other locations, do not move without God's direction.  Remain in His will, and like Elijah move only at His command.

-Sow generously during the famine.  
Isaac remained where God directed him and "sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him" according to Genesis 26:12.  Sow generously into God's work during times of financial famine and you will reap an abundant harvest.

God established these steps of biblical economics in a time when dark clouds of adversity loomed on the horizon. Isaac followed these principles and was blessed. He prospered, despite the famine, and so can you!