1. The Beginning - So
Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached
Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And
God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied. “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. 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.” Genesis 46:1-4 – There was a great famine in
the land. God provided salvation through Joseph in Egypt.
Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous. Genesis 47:27
When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people. Genesis 49:33
Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous. Genesis 47:27
When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people. Genesis 49:33
2. The
Problem - Genesis 50:24-26 – 24 Joseph
said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will surely take care of
you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to
Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob." 25 Then Joseph made the sons
of Israel swear, saying, "God will surely take care of you, and you shall
carry my bones up from here." 26 So Joseph died at the
age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in
Egypt. When Joseph died they were to take him back to the
land God had given them. They should have returned home as well. God had to
make Egypt (“Here”) uncomfortable (slavery) so that they’d want to leave if
given the chance again.
3. The Promise fulfilled -Joshua
21:43-45 - Look at what happened when Israel arrived There! 43 So the
LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they
took possession of it and settled there. 44 The LORD gave them rest
on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their
enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. 45
Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed;
everyone was fulfilled.
How
about you? Have you ever ignored God’s prompting to leave “Here” and
step into the unknown in faith?
Perhaps you were so
consumed with life (life on your terms) that you missed His prompting?
The reason God puts us
through this cycle is to make us more Christ-like. Each time we go through the
cycle our hearts become more in tune with God’s which makes it easier to hear
His voice, obey His command to leave “Here” and trust in His love and provision
to get us “There”.
God still speaks to us today. Are we
listening?
