Genesis 46

Father, thank you for this Word. Holy Spirit may You give us understanding as we read the Word and may our hearts draw closer to the Father and the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd of our lives and guardian of our souls with every decision we make in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Today's lead Word is from Genesis 46:2-4 (NKJV)

"2.Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob!" And he said, "Here I am."

3.So He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.

4."I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes."

Genesis 46:2-4 reveals Israel's heart of humility and willingness to submit to God's plans and purposes in every season of his life. We also see Jacob and God finally having conversation together after such a long time. From the time Joseph was believed to be dead, we did not see a dialogue take place between Jacob and His God.

Jacob was happy and glad to know that his son Joseph was alive. In fact Genesis 46:1 shows us how he set off with his family and went to a place called Beersheba where he made sacrifices to God. However, Jacob's track record shows us that he was not a man who leaned on his own understanding. As much as seeing Joseph before he died was exciting and important to him, what was most important to Israel was knowing that God was in alignment with this decision as well. This shows us something important about Israel's heart posture, he relied and leaned on God through each and every decision.

As seen above, God honours Israel's heart posture of humility and in Genesis 46:3-4, God encourages him that He was with him on this journey and would also make him a great nation in Egypt.

My question to us today, is what decisions do you have to make and which ones have you or have you not surrendered to God in prayer? Where are you more likely to apply the more 'common sense, realistic approach'?

Philippians 3:3 reminds us as children of God to have no confidence in the flesh. A person with a heart posture that is attuned to God's heart recognizes their need to rely on God and His wisdom concerning every decision of their life as opposed to relying on their society status, natural talents and abilities, academic credentials, spiritual gifts, etc. It is not so much what we do for God but rather what we allow Him to do through us when we choose to rely on him with every decision we make. Philippians 2:13 NKJV re affirms this and says, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." May I submit to you that nothing outside of you will qualify you for an assignment or purpose except the grace of God found in Christ Jesus.

I'll end with this word found in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

"1.Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2.looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Amen, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: I invite you to make this confession that invites you to new covenant of love that is found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ where we get to have a personal relationship with God, the Father where His heart to lead and guide you as His child is found when you choose Jesus Christ, His only Son as your Lord and Saviour.

Please speak the words below:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

Please feel free to reach out to us on info@bibleversionoflife.com. We would love to hear your story and send you a free Bible! God bless you.

PS: In case you have not already, please remember to read Genesis 46 alongside this post in your personal devotional time and share your thoughts in the comments below!