Don’t Descend
"Now there was a famine in the land…. and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar…. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live…. and I will be with you and will bless you… "Gn 26:1-6; 12-13
The region of Gerar was an isolated place on the outskirts of the desert, Egypt was a good place to breed animals, and that was Isaacs occupation.
In that time there was a famine on the earth and Isaac was in Gerar…
God didn't want Isaac to go to Egypt, even though it would have been easier for him to do so. "Do not go down to Egypt " this was the order, in other words God's saying stay here and don't go even though it may seem difficult for you to do so.
Egypt symbolised this world and system of living and God warned Isaac like he warns us today. Don't go down to Egypt, the idea is to climb, grow in God and do not descend or turn back "live in the land where I tell you to live", God always has the best for us in mind.
Reflect on this, every time that you don't obey God, you start to descend…
In this new year walk in obedience what God tells you, because that's what's best for you.
His promise is "I will be with you and will bless you" so carry on and don't descend!
Tere