Places of Blessing
Opening Prayer
“Every good and perfect gift is from above” (Jas. 1:17). Praise God for all the blessings that he’s given you.
Read Genesis 46:1-34
[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!” “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. [4] I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” [5] Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. [6] So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. [7] Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters-all his offspring. [8] These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob. [9] The sons of Reuben: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. [10] The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. [11] The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. [12] The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. [13] The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron. [14] The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel. [15] These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all. [16] The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. [17] The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel. [18] These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah-sixteen in all. [19] The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. [20] In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. [21] The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. [22] These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob-fourteen in all. [23] The son of Dan: Hushim. [24] The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. [25] These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel-seven in all. [26] All those who went to Egypt with Jacob-those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives-numbered sixty-six persons. [27] With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all. [28] Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, [29] Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. [30] Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.” [31] Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. [32] The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ [33] When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ [34] you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
Reflect
What assurance(s) did the Lord give Jacob as he traveled?Throughout his life, Jacob waited in faith for the fulfillment of promises from God. So for him this is a momentous journey. Not only is he on his way to see the son he thought had been dead for 20 years, but he is also leaving Canaan, the land of promise. This must have seemed a paradox that God was saving the family from starvation by leading them away from the land they had been given. So Jacob stops to offer sacrifices to God (1). God reassures him that although he is now being called away from the Promised Land, one day his descendants will return. For now, the blessing of God is to be found in Egypt, in an area of land (Goshen) that is very fertile, and where the Egyptians will pretty much leave them alone (due to their cultural custom not to associate with shepherds; v. 34). Here they can continue to live as a family and prosper. Sometimes our paths seem to take detours from where we think God has called us, or where we think his blessing is to be found. But in those times trusting that God knows what he’s doing is what a life of faith is all about.
Apply
Is there a “detour” you’ve taken or are taking? Resolve to trust that God knows what he is doing.
Closing prayer
Lord, I know that You are good. Bless the paths where You’re leading me, and make me a blessing to others.
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