December 2nd, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Family Reunited…Finally

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Amidst all the tension and turmoil around me, Lord, You remain my center, my strength, and my hope. Be so again today.

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] They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. [7] He took 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: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. [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 Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Probably each of us has experienced the breath of life as God’s words have come clearly to our hearts, giving direction for the way before us, encouraging or strengthening us” (Mark Virkler).

Think Further

As Jacob headed toward Egypt and reunion with his beloved son, he stopped at Beersheba, the last outpost of Canaan. Its purpose was recommitment to the God who had brought his family into the land two generations earlier, and promised a nation, land and blessing to his grandfather Abraham through the line of his father Isaac. Jacob’s large itinerant family was evidence of the promise of descendants becoming fulfilled; the role Joseph was already playing in Egypt was a foretaste of being “blessed to be a blessing.” However, journeying to Egypt was problematic for possession of the land. Jacob had left and returned before, but this substantial move with his whole family in his old age was more worrisome. So a special word from God to reinforce the promise of return was timely.

The Bible often records visions and encounters when God calls his people into new and challenging endeavors. Jacob’s experience here preceded those of many well-known descendants (e.g. Moses, Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, Mary, Paul). But this was not Jacob’s first encounter with God. On his previous departure from Beersheba, his angelic dream at Bethel reinforced the family covenant (28:13-15). On his return home decades later he struggled with God beside a brook at Peniel, where pain was inflicted but blessing restored (32:22-32). This last vision affirmed that it was the right thing to join his son Joseph in Egypt, knowing that God’s presence would go with him and his family. Joseph’s welcome and his diplomatic wisdom on how to approach their new situation in a strange land made the reunion complete.

Apply

Reflect on something God has promised you (or you prayed for) that has yet to be fulfilled, and then resolve to wait on him patiently and expectantly.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. May my life reflect Your presence in me today.

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