So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
No one likes to go on a road trip alone. Some of our best memories are in the car on a long trip. The sons of Jacob had made two 500 mile journeys to Egypt to buy grain and did not get what they bargained for either time. But in the second one, they got a big surprise when they found out their brother Joseph was not dead or in slavery, but was in power. Now Pharaoh himself summoned Jacob to Egypt. We could wonder if Jacob thought it was a trap but all it would show is that we did not read these verses that tell us that God went with him.
We have learned some key lessons from the life of Joseph so far. Wherever we are, God sent us there. Here we learn that, like Jacob, we are never alone, even when we go it alone. This enables us to step out and do things we would not necessarily do because we have a very powerful traveling companion. Next time you feel alone in your journey, look over to see who is really driving. When we wonder where God is, listen for his reply…
Here I am.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church