Last Sunday, in Genesis 44-45, we saw Joseph’s brothers come to true repentance and Joseph was standing ready to save them. This week, in Genesis 46, we’ll see Joseph relocate Jacob and all of his family in Egypt, and the LORD will reassure Jacob saying, “Do not be afraid to go… I myself will go with you (46:3-4).”
Why would he be afraid? He has been personally invited by Pharaoh to escape the famine and enjoy the fat of the land. But, let’s not forget God’s promise to Abraham when he first called him.
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age (Genesis 15:13-15).”
Immediate relief will be followed by hard times ahead.
You may be in the middle of hard times right now. We can all be sure that there will be hard times ahead. We need to steel ourselves with the confidence that God Himself will go with us.
Let’s prepare ourselves to come this Sunday, not as spectators, but as participators. One way to do that is to read ahead in Genesis 46 praying, “Lord, show us your glory. Enlarge our views of Jesus. Calm our fears. Strengthen our faith. Help us persevere.”
Jackson Randall will be preaching and Kenny Clark will be leading us in sung worship. Please pray for each as he prepares.
See you Sunday!