Scripture: Gen. 46: 1-7,28-34 (CEB)
Israel packed up everything he owned and traveled to Beer-sheba. There he offered sacrifices to his father Isaac’s God. 2 God said to Israel in a vision at night, “Jacob! Jacob!” and he said, “I’m here.” 3 He said, “I am El,[a] your father’s God. Don’t be afraid to go down to Egypt because I will make a great nation of you there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I promise to bring you out again. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.” 5 Then Jacob left Beer-sheba. Israel’s sons put their father Jacob, their children, and their wives on the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They took their livestock and their possessions that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and arrived in Egypt, Jacob and all of his children with him. 7 His sons and grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters—all of his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.
28 Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph so that Joseph could explain the way to Goshen. Then they arrived in the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph hitched up his chariot and went to meet his father Israel in Goshen. When he arrived, he threw his arms around his neck and wept, embracing him for a long time. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “I can die now after seeing your face. You are really still alive!”
31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “Let me go up and inform Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household who were in the land of Canaan have arrived. 32 The men are shepherds, because they own livestock. They’ve brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ 33 When Pharaoh summons you and says, ‘What do you do?’ 34 say, ‘Your servants have owned livestock since we were young, both we and our ancestors,’ so that you will be able to settle in the land of Goshen, since Egyptians think all shepherds are beneath their dignity.”
What does this passage mean to me/us?
Contributed by Leah Shank
That night, God spoke to Israel in a vision, “Jacob! Jacob!,” he said.
And Jacob replied, “Here I am”.
Genesis 46:2
Do you hear God calling out to you? Does the world speak louder than the Lord in your day-to-day life? Do you allow time for God to call out to you? And then, what do we do when the Lord does call out to us? Are we open to hearing what He is calling us to do?
“Here I am“ was Jacob’s response to God’s call. These are powerful words to say. And we must be prepared for what the Lord puts on our hearts and minds as part of our response.
God created each and every one of us. He created us for HIS purpose, not ours. The world today calls out to us in so many ways and can often be louder than our spiritual call. It is up to us to find quiet time to read the Word and be still as we wait for the Lord.
I believe that God calls out to us often. As we grow in our faith and in different seasons of life, God may be calling us to do bigger and bolder things. He takes us out of our comfort zone so that we grow in love and faith.
In times when I need guidance or situations where I want to hear from the Lord, I call out to him. There have been times when I call out to God maybe before he calls out to me and say, “Here I am”. I am listening for his words, his direction for what to do next.
It is our responsibility to be disciplined to have quiet time to hear the Lord call us and courageous enough to answer the call.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, hear my call today. By Your Holy Spirit working in me, help me discern Your answer, and be boldly obedient! In the name of Jesus our Lord, AMEN.
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