Today’s
Scripture Reading (May 15, 2012): Genesis 46
I have to admit that one of the things that I marvel at is how little
time that the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) spent in the land that God
had promised to them. It seemed that, especially Abraham and Jacob, spent most
of their time just passing through the Promised Land. I keep on thinking that
if God pointed out a piece of land and said to me – this is the land that I am
giving to you – I am not sure what it would take to move me out. And most of
the time the leaving of the Promised Land seemed to be very voluntary.
But as Jacob’s life starts to enter its final stretch, God tells Jacob
that it was time to leave. The man that God had named Israel left the land that
would one day carry his name. But, this time, it wasn’t because of a whim, or because
of a promise of greener pastures somewhere else, or even because of sins that
he had committed that caused him to leave – it was God that instructs him to
leave. The promise is still for Jacob and his descendants, but just as Joseph needed
to grow before his dreams could come true, so Jacob and his family would need
to develop before they could take possession of the land that God had promised
to them.
So God makes Jacob an offer he can’t refuse. Jacob would leave the
Promised Land for Egypt. And God would go with him. But the move would not be
permanent. God would bring him back from Egypt to the Promised Land. This would
actually happen in two ways. First, while Jacob would actually die in Egypt,
his bones would be carried back to the place that would be named Israel after
him. But maybe more importantly, God would bring Jacob’s descendants back to
the land that he had promised to Abraham, Isaac and to Jacob.
It is a repeating message of the scripture. God is in control, and
everything that he has promised will become a reality. But, just as it was for
Jacob, it will become a reality on his timetable.
Tomorrow’s
Scripture Reading: Genesis 47
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