Breaking New Grounds, Part 1
Central Though: The believer is to display skill or power by the Grace of God.
Hymn: Rock of Ages, cleft for me.
Text: Genesis 26:1-25
Our desire for advancement and breaking new grounds in our personal, family and business lives is proper and legitimate. This is God’s will not only for believers but for the entire human race. This is contrary to the belief of some Christians that the call to serve the Lord, which makes them conscious of heaven, excludes the Christian from the world and its activities.
John 17:11-16 says we are in the world, but not of the world, but not of the world. Though we live in this world, we do not pttern our life style after the manner of this world like the unbelievers.
Hence, the child of God must strive not only to grow spiritually but also for mastery in all endeavors by godly means. While in this world, we must excel in our secular jobs as this brings honor to God. The call to Christianity therefore, is not a call to timidity or mediocrity as some people think, but to display eminent skill or power by the grace of God.
God has given us the blue-print for success in His word. In this study, we shall be using the life of Isaac to discuss how we can break new grounds spiritually and materially.
Lesson Objectives:
- The meaning of the phrase, ‘breaking new grounds’.
- Identify the challenges Isaac encountered in Gerar.
- Appreciate the place of persistence in breaking new grounds.
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What do you understand by the phrase, ‘breaking new grounds’? Genesis 26:1-25
Breaking new grounds connotes doing something new, something that has not been done before or doing what has already been done in a new way. It is achieving what looks ordinarily impossible or difficult. It entails succeeding where others have failed, become a high flyer in life. It may also mean removing the barriers of progress and making advances in life. It might start small, but do not despise the days of small things, Zechariah 4:10; for though the beginning be small, the latter end shall greatly increase, Job 8:7.
In the above text, Isaac was a stranger in Gerar but he sowed in the time of famine following God’s instruction and reaped a hundred-fold (verses 12-14). In the context of our discussion, Isaac broke new grounds and did not experience famine. He sowed and with God’s favor, he reaped a hundred-fold.
As Christians, we must be seen doing something, i.e. engaged in a profitable business or venture. For God will only bless the work of your hands (Deuteronomy 28:12, 30:9), but where there is no labor there is nothing for God to act on and bless. We must look beyond the prevailing circumstances, hindrance and limitation, to do something for god to bless
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What was the prevailing challenge Isaac faced? Genesis 26:1-2
The prevailing condition where Isaac lived was famine and he went into Gerar in the land of the Philistines. It appears that the famine also extended to Gerar and Isaac intended to Gerar and Isaac intended to go to Egypt but God instructed him to remain in Gerar. It was not the first time the land of Gerar was experiencing famine, as we are told, there was an earlier famine in the time of Abraham, Genesis 12:10, 26:1.
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Why did God bless Isaac? Genesis 26:3-6
The blessings of God upon Isaac were hinged on the covenant with Abraham and Isaac’s obedience to God. Verse 3. “Stay in this land and I will bless thee”, that was God’s instruction to Isaac. He was on his way to Egypt but was stopped by God at Gerar, which was on the route to Egypt. Like his father Abraham, Isaac listened and obeyed divine instruction, to remain in a land the Lord showed him. Hence he got seven-fold blessings from God… “I will be with you; bless you; Give you all these countries; perform the oath made to Abraham; multiply your seeds as the stars; Give all these countries to your seed; bless you and multiply you for Abraham’s sake”.
We as Christians must listen to God and obey divine instructions. That everybody is into a certain trade, business, profession, which seem to be in vogue and appear that those in it tend to be making it, is not sufficient for us to jump into it. We must take out time to pray and seek the face of the Lord concerning our endeavors. The Lord may direct and lead us to what might not look so lucrative and attractive but there is great satisfaction, reward and blessings at the end when we obey god’s instructions and remain in what the Lord wants us to do.
Another reason why God blessed Isaac was because of his father Abraham. God had established a covenant of greatness with Abraham and his seed forever. God does not lie; this covenant he fulfilled in Isaac.
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Identify the numerous challenges that Isaac encountered in Gerar. Genesis 26:7-17, 18-22
The first challenge was that of sowing in spite of the prevailing famine; he was not deterred; he looked beyond the challenge and sowed in obedience to God. Other persons could just have been discouraged from attempting to sow. He however looked beyond the prevailing conditions unto God; and God blessed him a hundred times as much as he planted.
Isaac had to refer to his wife as his sister just like Abraham his father. This was done with the intention to deceive and is therefore not justifiable. The real truth is that he feared for his life and did not look up to God.
The indigenes contended with Isaac over the wells dug by his servants and father. This did not hinder him. These wells were the source of water for the flocks and possibly for irrigation purposes. Out of envy, the inhabitants had to cover up the wells and disputed with him. Water is very important for survival everywhere, especially in the desert area. Isaac’s experience cold be likened today, to having an expanse land in the choicest area in town and you are chased out of your own property with utmost impunity.
For a non-indigene to contend with indigenes over what the indigenes presumed to be their own, is not a pleasant experience. Isaac was not deterred in spite of all these experiences, but continued to dig more wells and he was fruitful in the land. His doggedness and constancy is an important business skill for us to learn from.
The envy of the indigenes was because of his increased wealth, Ecclesiastes 4:4, as seen in v.14. The king, Abimelech had to ask him to leave, but these were not and impediment to his greatness. Isaac was asked to leave out of envy and jealousy, that a stranger has become greater than them, the indigenes, v. 16-17. The Bible says who can stand before envy, Proverbs 27:4.
As Christians we should not be discouraged by the challenges on our path of greatness; forge ahead in spite of challenges, remain where the grace of God can reach us and we would not only attract God’s blessings and favor, but would also become the envy of men.
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Isaac and his men dug new wells three times; discuss this in the light of breaking new grounds and peace making.
In spite of the fact that the indigenes contended with him for the wells until he dug Rehoboth, he was not discouraged. He rather persisted an was industrious, opening the wells that his father had dug. He made advances by digging new wells and sustained the efforts in the face of opposition and rivalry.
In breaking new grounds, the place of persistence must be emphasized. According to Colin Powell, there are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure that guarantees success.
Most times, Christians take God for granted and expect miracles when they have not done their part. Christians must play their part and let God do for them, those things they cannot do for themselves.
To break new grounds, Christians may need to repeat the same thing all over, perhaps in different ways, and must refuse to be discouraged no matter the circumstance. We must set a goal to achieve, and must do everything within the confines of the law and the laws of God to achieve the set goal.
Though Isaac and the option of standing on his ground, i.e. maintaining his right to the well. He left the wells, cleaving to a peaceful principle and depending on God.
As Christians, we have to let go of our due rights sometimes, just to allow peace to reign. The Bible says we should follow peace with all men, Hebrews 12:14, and that we should follow after the things that make for peace, Romans 14:19. We do not have to rush to the police station or law court at all instance, we must let our lights shine before men, everywhere and at all times. We should be an emblem of peace. Insistence on our rights sometimes, could mar our testimonies as God’s people; heaven should be our focus, hence we must maintain an integrity and relationship that would enable us to reach out to others.
Daily Living Application:
Everyone who followed and obey the word of God will enjoy multiple blessings in his life. Isaac’s life testified of his trust and obedience to God.
Do you trust God for blessings and greatness? Start by giving your life to God, let your ways please Him. Ask God to lead and guide you into the area of need you can fill to carve a niche for yourself, i.e. to shine your light to His glory. Pray for divine ideas to distinguish you in your area of specialty and be committed to the course of your call and business. Be prudent with money, acquire knowledge and relevant skills on your area of choice, look for those that are already in that field and humble yourself to learn from them. Be patient; do not be in haste to make it. Be diligent and do not procrastinate. Above all, be grateful to God for the little things He has done and He will do more.
Memory Verse:
Genesis 26:13 – “And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great.”