Genesis 46
Bible Passage: Genesis 46
Was it the promise of being able to see Joseph his beloved son, or his trust in God that made Jacob immediately mobilise 70 people, livestock and goods to travel to Egypt?
Jacob endured many hardships in his life. In fact, his struggles began even before he was born (Gen 25:22).
Throughout his life, he strives and struggles to gain his inheritance, his father’s blessings, even his wives.
He lost his beloved son born of Rachel – Joseph, thinking he was dead. His family as we have seen in the previous chapters was plagued with unfortunate incidents.
Yet he kept his faith in God and trusted Him enough to mobilise all his family and his son’s families immediately at God’s calling.
They travelled to Goshen, and finally he met with his son Joseph whom he thought was dead.
He didn’t turn the years of anguish he suffered against anyone, and did not even breathe a word against God for keeping someone so dear to him away from him most of his life.
Perhaps in his advanced years, he began to comprehend that without God, he is nothing, and that is it wise to trust and strive after God’s purpose instead of solely slogging to attain his own desires.
Will we like Jacob take a lifetime to discover this truth?
What do most people do to stay happy? What do we do?
Have you ever felt sometimes that if we worked very hard for a certain thing, but forgot to add God into the equation, the thing that we put so much effort into never seem to succeed or edify the people around us?
Let’s put more effort in the things that matter, and stop wasting our time on those that don’t.
How to stay happy and youthful? Could it be trusting and obeying God more?
Let’s enjoy this song and its lyrics:
1. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. 3. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. 4. But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. 5. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
One Comment
PS
Gen 46:27 …All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.
What was the total number of people in the household of Jacob?
70, no bec 70 did not include Jacob’s sons’ wives, male servants, maids and other hired helpers.
God’s words to Abram in Gen15:13-16 started to take action in Gen 46.
God spoke to Israel again in Gen 46:2-4. Was there a long silence from God since Gen 35:13?
God was always with Israel although he might not hear Him. God was watching over Joseph for Israel.
Gen 46:30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”
“Israel” was his name in Gen 46 may be bec he spent 22 years in the “Wilderness of Sorrow” grieving for his son Joseph and he did not murmur against his Almighty God El Elohe Israel.