December 3, 2020
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 46 (NIV)
Jacob Goes to Egypt
1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
Another awesome reunion now with Joseph and his father. I love that Joseph is providing a safe way for his family to reside in Egypt similar to the way Jesus provides us a way to join Him in eternity!
Genesis 46
Genesis 46
Genesis 46
Genesis 46
One can only imagine the excitement that Jacob had to travel to see his son that he thought he had lost, but along with it a measure of hesitancy about relocating from the land promised to Abraham. Beersheba was the southern point of the promised land and was significant to Abraham and Isaac. It is where the Angel of the Lord met Hagar, where Abraham made a covenant with Abimelech, and where Isaac made an oath to God. In this context it would be the last stop leaving the promised land and heading to a new land. And here God speaks with Jacob. How important that God would validate this move as a part of His will and assure Jacob of His provision and promise as he goes. God speaks to us in various ways but the primary ones are His word, His Spirit and in prayer. We should seek to grow in our relationship with God to know His voice and be in His Word to discern His will.
It is also significant that we would know who of the Jews would be traveling with Jacob..The chosen people are on the move, changing locations, but it’s important to know just who the chosen people are at this point. Thus it is broken down for us….
God assures Jacob about his move to Egypt. It was nice of God to clarify because I would wonder if God would be wanting him to stay in the land He had given them.
“So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”
“So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.” I like the emotion and tenderness shown here.
So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
3“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”