Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, Now Isaac sowed seed in the landThe act of sowing seed is a fundamental agricultural practice, symbolizing faith and expectation. In Hebrew, the word for "sowed" is "זָרַע" (zara), which implies scattering seed with the hope of future growth. Isaac's decision to sow during a time of famine (as indicated earlier in Genesis 26) demonstrates his trust in God's provision. This act of faith is reminiscent of the biblical principle that those who sow in faith will reap in joy ( Psalm 126:5). The "land" here refers to Gerar, a region inhabited by the Philistines, indicating Isaac's willingness to work and invest in a foreign land, trusting in God's promise to bless him. and that very year
The phrase "that very year" emphasizes the immediacy and timeliness of God's blessing. It suggests that God's provision is not only abundant but also timely, meeting the needs of His people precisely when they need it. This immediacy is a testament to God's faithfulness and His ability to transcend natural circumstances, such as the famine that was affecting the land. he reaped a hundredfold
Reaping "a hundredfold" is an extraordinary yield, especially in the context of an agrarian society. The Hebrew word for "hundredfold" is "מֵאָה" (me'ah), which signifies completeness and abundance. This miraculous increase is a direct result of divine intervention, highlighting the principle that God can multiply our efforts beyond natural expectations. In the New Testament, Jesus uses similar language in the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:8), illustrating the abundant fruitfulness of those who receive God's word with a good heart. And the LORD blessed him
The blessing of the LORD is a central theme in the patriarchal narratives. The Hebrew word for "blessed" is "בָּרַךְ" (barak), which conveys the idea of divine favor and empowerment. This blessing is not merely material but encompasses all aspects of life, including spiritual and relational prosperity. God's blessing upon Isaac is a fulfillment of the covenant promises made to Abraham, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His word. It serves as a reminder that true prosperity comes from the LORD, who is the source of all good things (James 1:17). Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaacThe son of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac is a patriarch of the Israelites. In this passage, he is depicted as a farmer who experiences God's blessing. 2. The LandThis refers to the region of Gerar, where Isaac settled during a famine. It is significant as a place where God's promise to Abraham is being fulfilled through Isaac. 3. The LORD's BlessingThe divine favor that results in Isaac's abundant harvest, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Teaching Points Faithfulness in AdversityIsaac sowed during a time of famine, demonstrating trust in God's provision. We are called to remain faithful and diligent even in challenging circumstances. Divine ProvisionThe hundredfold harvest is a testament to God's ability to provide abundantly. We should trust in God's provision and timing, knowing He can multiply our efforts. Covenant FaithfulnessGod's blessing on Isaac is a reminder of His faithfulness to His promises. We can rely on God's unchanging nature and His commitment to His covenant with us. Stewardship and ResponsibilityIsaac's action of sowing seed shows the importance of taking initiative and being responsible stewards of what God has given us. Witness to OthersIsaac's prosperity served as a witness to the surrounding nations of God's power and favor. Our lives should similarly reflect God's blessings and draw others to Him. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Isaac's experience in Genesis 26:12 encourage us to trust God during difficult times? 2. In what ways can we apply the principle of sowing and reaping in our spiritual lives today? 3. How does God's blessing on Isaac relate to His covenant promises to Abraham, and how does this encourage us in our own faith journey? 4. What are some practical ways we can be good stewards of the resources and opportunities God has given us? 5. How can our lives serve as a testimony to God's faithfulness and provision to those around us? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 12:2-3God's promise to Abraham about making him a great nation and blessing him, which is being fulfilled through Isaac. Matthew 13:8The parable of the sower, where seed that falls on good soil yields a hundredfold, illustrating the principle of divine multiplication and blessing. Galatians 6:7-9The principle of sowing and reaping, emphasizing that those who sow to please the Spirit will reap eternal life. People Abimelech, Ahuzzath, Bashemath, Basmath, Beeri, Elon, Esau, Isaac, Judith, Phichol, RebekahPlaces Beersheba, Egypt, Esek, Gerar, Rehoboth, Shibah, Sitnah, Valley of GerarTopics Blessed, Blesseth, Blessing, Crops, Findeth, Fruit, Got, Hundred, Hundredfold, Hundred-fold, Isaac, Planted, Planting, Reaped, Received, Seed, Sowed, SowethDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 26:12 4430 crops
4510 sowing and reaping Genesis 26:1-14 5503 rich, the Genesis 26:12-13 8701 affluence
8780 materialism, and sin
8809 riches Genesis 26:12-14 8733 envy Genesis 26:12-22 4296 wells Library The First Apostle of Peace at any Price
'Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him. And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him. For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture"Thou Art Now the Blessed of the Lord. "
"Thou art now the blessed of the Lord."--Genesis 26:29. THESE words truly describe the position of many whom I address at this time. There are hundreds here upon whom my eye can rest, and to any one of whom I might point with this finger, or rather, to whom I might extend this hand, to give a hearty shake, and say, "Thou art now the blessed of the Lord." I need not say it in the same spirit, nor for the same reason, that the Philistines did. They had behaved basely towards Isaac, and now that he …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892 Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be …
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing Whether Every Lie is a Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that not every lie is a sin. For it is evident that the evangelists did not sin in the writing of the Gospel. Yet they seem to have told something false: since their accounts of the words of Christ and of others often differ from one another: wherefore seemingly one of them must have given an untrue account. Therefore not every lie is a sin. Objection 2: Further, no one is rewarded by God for sin. But the midwives of Egypt were rewarded by God for a lie, for it is stated that …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Elucidation.
The conduct of Father Abraham, although not approved of by Inspiration, but simply recorded (Gen. xxvi. 7), gave early Christians an opinion that the wicked may be justly foiled, by equivocation and deception, for the preservation of innocence or the life of the innocent. In such case the person deceived, they might argue, is not injured, but benefited (Gen. xxvi. 10), being saved from committing violence and murder. The Corinthian maiden was accustomed to be veiled (as Tertullian intimates), and …
Hippolytus—The Extant Works and Fragments of Hippolytus An Obscured vision
(Preached at the opening of the Winona Lake Bible Conference.) TEXT: "Where there is no vision, the people perish."--Proverbs 29:18. It is not altogether an easy matter to secure a text for such an occasion as this; not because the texts are so few in number but rather because they are so many, for one has only to turn over the pages of the Bible in the most casual way to find them facing him at every reading. Feeling the need of advice for such a time as this, I asked a number of my friends who …
J. Wilbur Chapman—And Judas Iscariot The Plan for the Coming of Jesus.
God's Darling, Psalms 8:5-8.--the plan for the new man--the Hebrew picture by itself--difference between God's plan and actual events--one purpose through breaking plans--the original plan--a starting point--getting inside. Fastening a Tether inside: the longest way around--the pedigree--the start. First Touches on the Canvas: the first touch, Genesis 3:15.--three groups of prediction--first group: to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3; to Isaac, Genesis 26:1-5; to Jacob, Genesis 28:10-15; through Jacob, …
S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks about Jesus And to Holy David Indeed it Might More Justly be Said...
22. And to holy David indeed it might more justly be said, that he ought not to have been angry; no, not with one however ungrateful and rendering evil for good; yet if, as man, anger did steal over him, he ought not to have let it so prevail, that he should swear to do a thing which either by giving way to his rage he should do, or by breaking his oath leave undone. But to the other, set as he was amid the libidinous frenzy of the Sodomites, who would dare to say, "Although thy guests in thine own …
St. Augustine—Against Lying Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Appendix ii. Philo of Alexandria and Rabbinic Theology.
(Ad. vol. i. p. 42, note 4.) In comparing the allegorical Canons of Philo with those of Jewish traditionalism, we think first of all of the seven exegetical canons which are ascribed to Hillel. These bear chiefly the character of logical deductions, and as such were largely applied in the Halakhah. These seven canons were next expanded by R. Ishmael (in the first century) into thirteen, by the analysis of one of them (the 5th) into six, and the addition of this sound exegetical rule, that where two …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 26:12 NIVGenesis 26:12 NLTGenesis 26:12 ESVGenesis 26:12 NASBGenesis 26:12 KJV
Genesis 26:12 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
