August 22nd, 2018 | Genesis 46:1-7
In the 1950s, Bill Fair and Earl Isaac created an automated scoring system to rate how likely a person was to repay a debt, which became the creditscore system vital in the economy today. If someone makes a promise, how do we know they will fulfill it? The credit rating is important because humans can be unpredictable. The objective measurement provides confidence to the lender, and the loan can be approved.
God made several promises to the Patriarchs. One key promise was that they would inhabit the land of Canaan, clearly defined and reiterated (12:7; 13:14–17; 15:7; 26:3). Though Jacob was excited to be reunited with Joseph, he also had some apprehension about leaving the Promised Land. God had told his father, Isaac, “Do not go down to Egypt” (26:2). This may be the reason Jacob paused at Beersheba, the southern border of the land, to offer a sacrifice and seek God’s direction.
God spoke to Jacob in a vision. This is the last time God would appear to any of the Patriarchs in such a direct way, and God affirmed for Jacob that he could indeed go down to Egypt (v. 3). In fact, Egypt is the place in which another of God’s promises will be fulfilled: God will make the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob into a great nation there.
Further, God affirms that He will be with Jacob (v. 4). This was a remarkable guarantee in a culture that assumed deities were geographically limited. On a more personal note, God assured Jacob that he will have a peaceful death in the presence of his favored son (v. 4). Jacob had confidence from God’s promises to move forward with his plan and bring his whole family and their possessions to Egypt.
APPLY THE WORD
God does not change. The same God who made promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is faithful to fulfill them. We can have confidence that God will keep His promises, including that Jesus will return and we will live with Him forever. And God has given us His Spirit to indwell us while we wait. Praise Him for His faithfulness!
Today in the Word’s Devotion is a production of Moody Global Ministries
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