settings icon
share icon
Question

What does it mean that Isaac sowed in the land (Genesis 26:12)?

Isaac sowed in the land
Answer


During a time of great famine, Abraham’s son Isaac moved to Gerar, an area in south-central Canaan. Despite the scarce conditions in the land, Genesis 26:12–13 says, “And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. The Lord blessed him, and the man became rich, and gained more and more until he became very wealthy” (ESV).

Isaac sowed in the land refers to his planting and farming crops. The Hebrew verb translated as “sowed” in Genesis 26:12 means “placed or scattered (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth.” Isaac is the only patriarch of Israel depicted as sowing and cultivating grain. His “hundredfold” harvest most likely suggests that Isaac gathered in the maximum grain he could expect to produce from the crops he had sown (cf. Matthew 13:8). In the New Testament, a hundredfold blessing is shown to be the result of faithfulness (Matthew 19:29) and obedience to God’s Word (Luke 8:8). But, in Isaac’s case, the hundredfold blessing appears to be linked solely to God’s promise and His faithfulness.

The Bible presents Isaac out of communion with God just before he receives God’s blessing. Repeating the sin of his father, Abraham (cf. Genesis 12:10–20; 20:1–5), Isaac succumbs to fear and lies about his wife’s identity to King Abimelech. Nevertheless, God is trustworthy in keeping His promises even when we fall short (see Hebrews 10:23; 2 Timothy 2:13).

Drought was probably the cause of the famine in Genesis 26. Still, Isaac experiences great abundance and blessings, just as God had promised (see Genesis 26:1–5). Throughout the Old Testament, a good harvest reflected God’s blessing (Leviticus 25:18–22; 26:3–5 10; Amos 9:13–14; Isaiah 65:21–22; Zechariah 8:11–12). On the flip side, a poor harvest signaled His judgment (Leviticus 26:18–20; Deuteronomy 28:15–16, 38–40; Isaiah 5:10; 17:10–11; Jeremiah 8:13; 12:13; Haggai 1:6, 10–11).

Gerar, where Isaac sowed in the land, was home to the Philistines. Isaac’s success and prosperity are so remarkable that it makes the Philistines green with envy: “[Isaac] acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham” (Genesis 26:14–15, NLT). Eventually, Abimelech, king of Gerar, orders Isaac to leave the country (Genesis 26:16). Isaac loses his testimony and blessing and gains a public rebuke from the pagan king.

Isaac sowed in the land in a literal, agricultural sense. He planted seeds in the ground, and God blessed him with abundant material crops. Genesis 26:12 highlights the law of sowing and reaping as it operates in nature and according to God’s sovereign will. In the New Testament, the law of sowing and reaping is a significant spiritual reality of God’s kingdom. When God’s Word is preached, it is figuratively and spiritually “sowed in the land.” It is scattered upon the ears and hearts of those who hear and listen. People’s hearts are the soil or the ground. When the good news about Jesus Christ falls on rich, receptive soil, it produces a hundredfold harvest of salvation (see Mark 4:1–20; 4:26–29).

Believers can also “sow in the land” by exhibiting goodness toward others and doing what is right in God’s eyes: “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9, NLT; see also Psalm 126:5–6). We can either sow and reap goodness or sow and reap evil (Job 4:8; Proverbs 11:18; 22:8; Hosea 8:7). We can “plant the good seeds of righteousness, and . . . harvest a crop of love” or cultivate “wickedness” and harvest “a thriving crop of sins” (Hosea 10:12–13, NLT).

The apostle Paul taught that we harvest what we plant: “Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:7–8, NLT). James writes, “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18, NLT).

When Isaac sowed in the land, he received material blessings from the Lord because God was faithful in fulfilling His promise. Later, as Isaac walked in faithful obedience, God gave him spiritual blessings to enjoy (see Genesis 26:23–35).

Return to:

Questions about Genesis

What does it mean that Isaac sowed in the land (Genesis 26:12)?
Subscribe to the

Question of the Week

Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox!

Follow Us: YouTube icon Facebook icon X icon Instagram icon
© Copyright 2002-2025 Got Questions Ministries. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
This page last updated: January 22, 2025