QT 1/7/2026 Gen 46:1-7, He is with his children

Genesis 46:1–7 (ESV) —

1 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.”

5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

 

NOTE: It must have been hard for Jacob to leave the land. Abraham was so fearful of his son leaving, that he sent a servant to fetch a wife from relatives. God encouraged Jacob to come back after he left and found himself in Haran. And now God encourages Jacob to leave the land. There was good reason. They were beginning to assimilate into the  culture of Canaan. In Egypt, because of Egypt's attitude toward Shepherds, Israel will remain a tight community.

 

But Jacob also knew of the prophecy when they leave the land.

 

Genesis 15:13 (ESV) — Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years.

 

While things were starting well, they would end up being slaves. So God met with him -- this is the sixth time God spoke to Jacob, and this is the fifth "Do not be afraid" consolation that God gives in Genesis (the previous four were given to Isaac and Abraham). This was a huge move. The only positives were that he would see his son Joseph again, and they would have food for his family.

 

We all face big events in our life: a new job, a move, marriage, family, etc. Sometimes these moves takes us far away from home and family. But they never take us away from God. He is always with us. He may seem far at times, but he is not. He is with those who are his children by adoption always.

 

PONDER:

1. Are you in a new season in life? God is there!
2. Are you facing tremendous pressure and struggles? He is there.
3. Go to him in honesty. He will hear.

 

PRAYER: Father, Life is not always how we want it, but it is always as you allow. You are in charge despite the evil against you. God has not forgotten you. Stay with him and he will bring you through.