SCRIPTURE: Genesis 45:16-46:7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Joseph’s life has been a roller coaster, as has Jacob’s. Now we get to the “happily ever after” part, at least for the time being. Jacob (Israel) honours God through his sacrifices, and God affirms His purpose through the ups and downs. We also get a hint of what is to come, where God indicates that Jacob’s family will become a great nation in Egypt. What isn’t said – but what is anticipated – is that his family will also go through what Joseph did, ie become slaves in Egypt, but that their story will also end in freedom and glory.
How hard it is to trust that our stories will ultimately have a “happily ever after”, when we are still in the middle of the difficult journey. Then and now, it takes a bold affirmation of faith to believe what we cannot yet see.
PRAYER:
Lord, my faith is weak, yet I desire to be bold and strong. I choose to declare today that my story is in Your hands, and will conclude with Your Story, the ultimate story, the “happily ever after”. Amen.
God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. Jacob did not believe at first that his son was alive. Jacob was caught up in his own world, almost refusing to change his downward look to an upward look. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. God reaasured him with the gifts, but all the more with His calling in the night! Jacob was living with His God again. Just look at his response “Here I am.” He knew the voice of his Master and Friend.
Leaving the familiar and going to a strange and faraway place is daunting. As God reassured Jacob, He also reaasures you and me by His promise to go with us wherever we travel on our road of life in His name. Fear is normal. Yet to trust and obey and go where the Lord leads you shows that you place everything to God’s ability to take care of you. As we all travel our journeys of faith, wherever we are planted, may we always place our hands in the hand of God. Lord God, help us on our way.
God moves in mysterious ways,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.