Mission 1:8 Courageous Devotional | 2020 - Day 2
God’s Midas
By Kevin Batista
“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.”
Genesis 26:12-14
Greek mythology tells us the cautionary tale of King Midas. Midas had it all: a kingdom, wealth, power, palaces, family, everything. After performing a good deed for a satyr, he was granted one wish by a Greek god. Midas asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Interesting request for a man who was already wealthy. Against good advice, Midas insisted, and his wish was granted!
Then everything he touched turned to gold. Sounds amazing, until he got hungry. He picked up some grapes to eat, but they turned to gold at his touch. As did everything else he touched and tried to eat.
Midas’ beloved daughter, seeing her dad’s dismay, threw her arms about him to comfort him, but when he touched her, she too turned to gold! His wish had become a curse. His avarice became his pain.
In many ways, the biblical character Isaac was given the Midas touch in the form of the blessing and favor of God. In Genesis 24, a famine hit the land where Isaac lived, and he wanted to move to Egypt. But Isaac was the son of promise, the miracle baby born to almost 100-year-old parents (Abraham and Sarah). Through him the nation of Israel would be born.
God intervened and told Isaac to stay put. In the midst of a famine, God exponentially blessed him in every way. His crops grew by a hundredfold; his flocks and herd grew so much you lost count; and he constantly hit the original middle east gold, not oil but fresh water in the form of wells.
God did all this in the midst of a famine. It’s clear that obedience and the courage to stay unlocked God’s blessing in Isaac’s life.
Lest you think that Isaac had perfect faith and unquestionable courage, in the previous verses we read how he was so afraid of the men in the land that he lied and said his wife Rebecca was his sister.
My point is this: perfect faith and courage are not needed for God’s touch of blessing in your life. But genuine faith and courage are indeed required.
Midas had everything and still wanted more. What he had did not satisfy, and his own desires brought so much pain. Unlike Midas, Isaac recognized that there was blessing when you live obediently and courageously according to God’s will and not according to your own desires. There is a protection. There is favor.
The Psalmists puts it like this in chapter Psalm 1:3: “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”
The true Midas touch is the perfect amalgamation of God’s will becoming our will and our will becoming God’s will. When this happens, whatever you do will prosper (because it’s God’s will).
Questions for Thought
- What area of your life do you need to ask God for faith and courage today?
- Have the odds ever been so stacked against you that nothing short of the total blessing and favor of God could explain victory in your life?
Daily Challenge
It takes courage to be thankful for God’s provision. And thankfulness removes our Midas-like desires. Share with one person today an area in your life where God has blessed beyond your understanding.
Author Bio
Kevin Batista
Kevin’s parents were church planters overseas, and from an early age, he saw the life-changing impact that the Church has worldwide. He believes that the Church can help people discover and use their unique gifts to impact eternity. Outside of work, Kevin loves hanging out with family and friends at the movies, games, or concerts. He is also a frustrated guitar player. He and his wife, Kim, have three great kids.
