A HUNDREDFOLD BLESSING

Genesis 26:1-35

Key Verse 26:12

1. Read v. 1 and think about the famine in the land. What is it like for one to go through a famine? The Scripture says that Isaac was a "blessed" person. Yet, why did God allow the famine to occur in his life (1Pe 1:7; Pro 17:3)? 

2. Read vs. 2-6 and think about the relationship between the Lord's command (2) and the Lord's promises (3-5). On what condition will these promises come true for Isaac (3)? In what respect might it not have been easy for Isaac to obey the Lord? Yet, how do you think he obeyed the Lord? What can we learn here from Isaac?

3. Read vs. 7-11. How many times is the word "thought" repeated? What does this observation tell us about the cause of Isaac's failure? How can we overcome a problem like this (Rom 1:17; Heb 3:1; 12:2)? 

4. Read vs. 12-13. The Lord promised to "bless" Isaac, yet Isaac "planted" crops "in that land". When did the Lord bless Isaac? How much did the Lord bless? What can we learn here about the way to secure the blessings God has in mind for his children (Psa 126:5; Gal 6:7; Pro 6:6,9; 13:4; 20:4)? 

5. Read vs. 14-22. How significant is a well in the Middle East? Despite his enemies' continued disruptions, Isaac kept digging wells. What can we learn from Isaac? 

6. Read vs. 23-25. How significant is it for a believer to build an "altar" [to the Lord] and call on the name of the Lord (Jn 4:24; Phi 4:6)? 

7. Read vs. 26-32. What does the way in which Isaac served his "thorny" neighbor teach us about the way to handle blessings from God? 

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