January 18, 2017: SOAP #2603:  Genesis 44-46; Luke 18

Scripture:  Genesis (NIV) 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “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.  4 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.”

Observation:   Jacob has just recently learned that the son he had long considered dead was alive and in charge of all Egypt, second only to Pharaoh!   Now he had stopped for a night on his way to see Joseph.  And God appeared to Him in a vision.  “Do not be afraid to go to where you are headed.  I am going to make you a great nation there.  All you need to do is have lots of babies.  I’ll take care of the rest of my plan.  I will go with you and I will SURELY bring you back!”

Application:   When the God Who created the world and sent His Son to die for my sins says something like this to me, what is an appropriate response?  In my youth, God led me out of Kansas and went with me.  Each place He led me He was with me.  And He has brought me back to Kansas.  And like every other place I have been, God is with me now.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, you are the God who is with me.  You are the promise-keeping God.  You are the God who cares for me and has plans for my future.  Your plans for me include being your dwelling place for a short time here on earth, then joining you in your dwelling place for all eternity!  Wow!!!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!