Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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Here is, a famine in the land of Canaan, a grievous famine. This was a new trial of Abram's faith: by which we see that the end of one affliction is the beginning of another. That fruitful land was turned into barrenness, not only to punish the iniquity of the Canaanites who dwelt therein, but to exercise the faith of Abram who sojourned therein; and a very sore trial it was; it tried what he would think,
1. Of God that brought him thither, whether he would not be ready to say with his murmuring seed that he was brought forth to be killed with hunger, Ex 16:3. Nothing short of a strong faith could keep up good thoughts of God under such a providence.
2. Of the land of promise, whether he would think the grant of it worth the accepting, and a valuable consideration for the relinquishing of his own country, when, for aught that now appeared, it was a land that ate up the inhabitants. Now he was tried whether he could preserve an unshaken confidence that the God who brought him to Canaan would maintain him there, and whether he could rejoice in him as the God of his salvation when the fig-tree did not blossom, Hab 3:17,18. Note,
(1.) Strong faith is commonly exercised with divers temptations, that it may be found to praise, and honour, and glory, 1Pe 1:6,7.
(2.) It pleases God sometimes to try those with great afflictions who are but young beginners in religion.
(3.) It is possible for a man to be in the way of duty, and in the way to happiness, and yet meet with great troubles and disappointments.
Scofield Commentary:
famine A famine was often a disciplinary testing of God's people in the land. (Cf) Genesis 26:1; 42:5; Ruth 1:1; 2 Samuel 24:13; Psalms 105:16.