Digging In.
Week #3: Pitching Tents.
In this series we explore three aspects of digging deep, drawn from the story of Isaac in Genesis 26. He digs wells, builds an altar and pitches his tent. We believe God is calling each one of us to do the same: to dig deep in prayer, to build our own altars of worship and sacrifice, and to put down roots in the place of his blessing.
If we will take care of the depth in this way, he will take care of the breadth.
Now there was a famine in the land – besides the previous famine in Abraham’s time – and Isaac went to Abimelek king of the Philistines in Gerar. The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspringall nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.’ So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
Genesis 26:1-6
In the days of Isaac, Egypt was a land of wealth and security, with the abundance of water from the river Nile protecting it from the famine that lack of rain so often brought the other lands. This can be a powerful metaphor - there may be times when God is calling us to pitch our tent and put down roots, despite it being hard or uncomfortable, and we are tempted to rather head for Egypt, walking away from the right place to find a more convenient or comfortable place.
First, take a few minutes to all quietly re-read this passage on your own, noticing any words or phrases that really stand out to you, speak to you, grab your attention. Afterwards, go around and each share what stood out to you. (Do this without explanation of why you chose that word/phrase, and without group feedback or comment. E.g. just say, “I will be with you” or “blessed”, and then move on to the next person.)
What is our culture’s attitude towards discomfort? If something is hard, or something doesn’t ‘feel’ right, or something is not convenient anymore?
What’s your own general response to discomfort? (in relationships, situations, jobs, etc.)
Do you assume discomfort is bad and try to get away? Or do you embrace discomfort as an opportunity to grow?
In this passage, what does God promise Isaac if he chooses to obey God and stay in this uncomfortable place?
How does God’s promise to Isaac speak to you?
Have you ever experienced God asking you to stay put (e.g. in a location, a job, a situation) despite the discomfort?
Share about how that happened, and what the outcome was.
What is God asking you to do in this season?
Is there something he’s asking you to stick with, maybe put down roots, sow seeds, invest in, dig wells, go deeper?
Share with each other. How can this group support you?
Pray for one another.
Pray together (in pairs or small groups) for each other.
