Sowing in Times of Famine

By Alex Morales

Back in August of last year, I preached a message I called “Sowing in the Time of Famine.” As I prayed about what to write, I was reminded of this message and felt like this word is still as important for now, as it was then.

As I have talked with many in the body of Christ, I have found that many feel like they are in a season of drought and famine. Although, they trust the Lord, it seems like the land around them is dry, and nothing is producing for them. I began to pray and ask the Lord what He wanted to say to this. As I was in praying, I was reminded of Isaac in Genesis 26. It was a year of famine and Isaac sowed during this time and reaped a harvest of 100 fold of what he had sowed. I felt like I began to hear the Lord release the following to me:

Genesis 26:1-6 - It’s time to remember the promises of God

Isaac received a word from the Lord. He was instructed to not go to Egypt as His father, Abraham had done. He was to stay in the land the Lord had told him to go to. The Lord also confirmed upon Isaac the promises made to Abraham, that He would bless him, give him and his descendants the land, and make is descendants numerous. Isaac obeyed and stayed in the land of Gerar.

The first thing I sensed was that Isaac obey because he had a Word from the Lord. This required great faith. There was a promise that was contingent on his obedience. As I meditated on this, I was reminded how many in the body have received a word from the Lord. My sense is that as we navigate this season, we need to remember the promises of God over our households, our families, our businesses, etc. and continue to occupy the land which He has given us. For me, going to Egypt represents going outside of ourselves to try and solve a problem, when we should rest in the promises of God. This is not a time to go outside of what the Lord has instructed. His promises are true. We need to remember that He is faithful to His promises and not try to do for ourselves what He wants to do for us.

I also noted that Isaac was in the land of Gerar, which means lodging place. However, the root of Gerar in Hebrew means to drag off roughly and to chew up. This speaks to me, that it will be uneasy, and uncomfortable. Although it may be easy to go off and shift our focus, it is important for us to stay where we may feel uncomfortable in order to see God fulfill the promises that He has given us.

Genesis 26: 12-15 - It’s time to sow

Isaac sows during this time and reaps a harvest that is 100 times greater that what he sowed. He prospered greatly and increased his herds, and servants. He increased so much that the Scripture points out that the Philistines envied him.

The second thing I sensed was that Isaac knew the importance of sowing even in the midst of a famine. This passage doesn’t indicate that the Lord instructed Isaac to sow, but sowing signifies ownership of the land. However, it goes against reasoning to sow in the midst of famine. I feel that Isaac walked in wisdom and discernment. He had to know 1. What to sow, 2.  Where to sow, and 3. When to sow. I believe that during this season, we need to inquire of the Lord through prayer, to see what we are to sow into during this season. It may be financial, it may not. I do believe that the Lord was showing me this to remind us that sowing is a part of owning the land. I believe the Lord is releasing a Spirit of Wisdom and the gift of wisdom in order to hear from the Lord what to sow, where to sow it, and when to sow it. I believe that when we operate in this wisdom, we will see an increase and blessing of the Lord. I sense an increase in our finance (100 fold harvest) and increase in our authority and influence (increase in number of servants).

Genesis 26:17-32 - It’s time to re-dig the old wells and dig new wells

Isaac begins to re-dig the wells of his father Abraham that the Philistines had filled in after his death. He also digs new wells. In doing so he faces obstacles from the enemy, Philistines.

My sense as it relates to digging wells, is that we must first re-dig the wells that the enemy has filled or try to fill. The questions I keep asking is “Are there any wells that the enemy has filled or tried to fill?” Isaac re-dug the wells of Abraham and gave them the same names that Abraham had given them. It is time to go back and restore the wells that have been dug, and restore to them their name.

Also, Isaac dug new wells. I find it interesting that in doing so, the Philistines would come and bring resistance to these wells. As we dig new wells, we must know that we will face resistance from the enemy. Isaac names one of the wells Esek, which means quarrel, and he names another Sitnah which means Enmity. I know that as we dig new wells we will face quarrels and enmity, but we needs to continue to dig. Isaac dug a third well, where there was no quarrel, which he names Rehoboth which means spacious. As we keep digging, the Lord will provide a place that is spacious for us. It is a place that is spacious, where all can come and draw from.

- Wells Represent Supply and Provision

- Wells Speak of Encounters with God

- Encounters of Grace, Worship, and the Prophetic

- Wells are Places of Divine Appointments

As I prayed into these things, I felt that we needed to:

1. Remember the promises and be obedient to what the Lord has asked and is asking us to do. We need to walk in faith having the promises of God in hand.

2. Begin to sow. We need to pray for a spirit of Wisdom. We need the Spirit of Wisdom and the gift of Wisdom to know what to sow, when to sow, and where to sow this seed.

3. Begin to re-dig the wells that the enemy has, or has tried to fill. We need to also dig new wells that will lead to the blessing on us being recognized by those who might stand against us.

Alex, a New York City native, dedicated his life to Christ early on. He moved to Miami, Florida where he earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Trinity International University and became a Youth Pastor at 18.

By 2006, he became Senior Pastor of a small church in Miami. His hunger for God's presence led to a transformative journey, experiencing the Holy Spirit in new ways. In 2008, he married Sarah and left his church position to serve at his father-in-law's church.

In 2013, they moved to Round Rock, Texas. Sarah became Worship Pastor at True Life, while Alex took on various roles. In 2014, he became Interim Youth Pastor and, in 2016, the Associate Pastor. Today Alex also serves with Prophetic Company as a Master Trainer. Alex's passion is to empower people to fulfill their God-given destinies and advance the Kingdom