The actual harvest is always greater than any single seed.
Seed Faith in Famine
You and I know that the world is going through turbulent times. There’s a spiritual, material, and moral famine in the land. We are experiencing unprecedented shortages, unruly outbreaks, unparalleled increases, and unpredictable disruptions of services.
In fact, I’m writing today to encourage you with a triumphant word for these turbulent, troubled times we are living in together. It comes from the true story of Isaac in the book of Genesis. There was a famine in the land and Isaac knew that the logical thing to do was to play it safe and move to Egypt.
But God directed him to stay and dwell in the land. And then He promised Isaac, “I will be with thee and I will bless thee…” (Gen 26:3). So, Isaac obeyed the Lord and stayed in the land even though there was famine all around him. And then quickly look at what Isaac did:
“Then Isaac planted [seed] in that [famine] land and reaped in the same year a hundred times [more than he had planted], and the Lord blessed and favoured him” (Gen. 26:12 AMP).
Can you imagine how preposterous Isaac must have looked to others as he sowed perfectly good seed into bleak and barren soil? His neighbours most likely thought he was crazy. But Isaac believed that God’s promise to be with him and to bless him (in spite of any famine) was true!
I’m writing you today to encourage you to do 2 THINGS:
#1 – Stand on (and claim) every promise God makes in His Word to be with you, to help you, and to bless you! You can begin with Isaiah 41:10. In fact, say this promise out loud:
“Fear not for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Claim those words today! It’s one of God’s many promises to you that you can bank on . . . and put your faith and confidence in.
#2 – Look for every opportunity to sow during this famine. Ask God to show you creative ways to sow seeds into your family, neighbours, friends, your church, and the ministries you love and appreciate.
Your words are seeds. Prayers are seeds. Thoughts are seeds. Good deeds and personal gestures of love are seeds. Your time, talents, and resources are precious seeds that God can use to bless others… and advance His Kingdom.
If you look at horrific events going on in the world today, the natural tendency is to hold back, sit back, and just play it safe. We need to focus on the fact that the WORST of times can be one of the BEST times to obediently sow every seed God has given you.
Look what He did for Isaac after he sowed in famine:
“And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac’s servants came and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said unto him, we have found water” (Gen. 26:32).
I believe that Isaac’s seeds produced a bountiful harvest during the drought because God gave him a creative solution. He opened up a way for Isaac to irrigate his seeds from his new wells. And God blessed him in the same year!
God can give you creative solutions, guidance, and wisdom to be a blessing and be blessed in this season of famine.
The first two gifts God gave to man were #1) dominion over all the earth, and #2) Every herb that yielded seed (Genesis 1).
And then in Genesis 6, He promises you and me that the law of “Seed time and Harvest” would never cease.
Then God commanded every seed to do one thing, multiply!
You can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you’ll never be able to count the number of apples in a seed.
The actual harvest is always greater than any single seed.
My Dear Ministry Friend, we are all experiencing a famine in the land. I’m encouraging you to rise up (like an Isaac) and sow your seed in this time of famine. As you do, you can claim God’s promise that says:
“Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards. He cares for them when times are hard; even in famine, they will have enough” (Psalm 37:18-19 TLB).
“In hard times, they’ll hold their heads high; when the shelves are bare, they’ll be full” (Psalm 37:19 MSG).
This is an ideal time to activate your faith by sowing good seeds. I believe that God will help you to develop some new, creative sowing habits that will last long after this season of famine has passed.
