JAPA IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

• DAY 312
• FAITH FILE: ISAAC
• SCRIPTURES: Genesis 26:1-3,12

There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the LORD appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him.

JAPA is originally a Yoruba word that means to run away, escape, or flee. But it evolved into a colloquial term used to describe the outmigration trend of Nigerians into Europe and other parts of the world in search of greener pastures.

As a Nigerian, I understand why people are running away from this country. It seems the system doesn’t work and it has gotten worse over the past few years. From leadership to the cost of living to poverty, unemployment, currency, policies, businesses, and the legal system, even our democracy, everything seems to have taken a turn for the worse. And even the rich are feeling the impact too. But when people leave they seem to be more financially stable and happier in a system that works. Note, so it seems. So naturally, everyone wants to outmigrate to survive.

Biblical Japa

In Isaac’s day, everyone was “Japa-ing” too. There was famine in the land and Egypt was the only place that had supply so everyone went there. Isaac was not poor he was the son of Abraham, so he was the rich of the rich the 1% of the 1%. When famine started he went to the king. Who do you know that just goes to chill with the president because fuel is scarce? only someone like Dangote. Although he was rich, the famine didn’t miss his address. This famine was caused by a lack of rain and not an enemy’s siege, farming was tough and he needed to farm to survive. but even if he tried to plant it won’t germinate.

In the midst of this, God said don’t go to Egypt. This seemed strange because Egypt seemed like the only place to go. And the last time there was famine, his father went to Egypt. Yet, that was not God’s strategy for him. God’s promise was that in this same nation where everyone couldn’t grow any crop, he would plant and have a hundredfold. In the same nation where everyone lacked, he will have abundance.

Ask God

That’s the amazing thing about getting God’s strategy for the seasons of your life and not following the crowd, you get to succeed where everyone else failed. The truth is in this same Nigeria, with all the outcry, people doubled their income, they bought lands and their business flourished. So there are still riches in this land but God’s word is what causes it to be revealed.

Beloved, Japa is not for everyone. People can be running away because something is not good but for you who live by the word of God it will be different. You would plant in this land, and you will reap. Businesses may be closing down but yours will flourish. The whole nation might lack but you will prosper. And this will happen if you live by the word of God. Do not be quick to join the bandwagon. Have the courage to ask the Lord’s will for every season of your life and the courage to do what He says, even if it means to stay put.

Shalom.