Genesis 46 tells the story of Jacob. God has asked him to go to leave his home and everything he knows and head to Egypt.
“Don’t be afraid,” God says. And He gives two reasons here that I love.
01. You don’t have to fear the hard things God is asking you to do because He has great plans He’ll accomplish through it.
“Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.” Genesis 46:3
God has great things planned for you. Admittedly, God does define the word “great” differently than we do. But, as I discussed in my most recent podcast episode, that’s totally fine because God knows what is best for us and what will make us more like Him.
His “good” doesn’t mean “comfortable.” It means living a life worth living, one working at constant sanctification. It’s the self-betterment counseling situation of a lifetime.
In Jacob’s case, his act of faith would lead to an entire nation . . . and eventually, the Messiah!
Sometimes things happen and we never get clarity about why they did. But sometimes, a couple years later, we can look back and see how that experience shaped us into the people we are today.
If I hadn’t experienced heartbreak at the ripe old age of 17, I would never have actually read through my entire Bible. Most of the verses I know off the top of my head would just *whoosh* be gone, because I memorized a TON of Scripture to combat the sadness. Oh Beloved One itself probably wouldn’t exist, and I certainly wouldn’t be out here in California.
There are other things in my life that I never got answers to, but that’s okay. We practice faith in those areas, trusting if God says He has good reasons than that applies…whether we see the reasons or not.
02. You don’t have to fear the hard things God is asking you to do because He’ll be with you through it all.
“I will go down with you to Egypt.” Genesis 46:3
God is the creator of the universe. He didn’t have to make “hard things” have such good outcomes. He could’ve made a world where it’s hard and terrible and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel and you just have to deal with it. But no! He promises that every tear is not for naught. Instead, all of our trials accomplish God’s plan for our lives, and we have His very presence through it all.
Take advantage of that! When you’re overwhelmed by the situation, pray immediately. Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalm 55:22).
When you need someone to talk to, talk to God. After all, He has the best insight into the trial you’re facing. He understands why it’s there, all the details, the people it involves, and even the emotions you’ll face as you tackle it all.
God’s presence comforts me to a degree I can’t even begin to imagine. Moving to California was hard, because I’d almost never been by myself for longer than a day. But from the moment my sister walked into LAX to catch her flight home after unpacking me, I felt a peace. It was such a sweet gift that, to be honest, I’ve kinda lost recently because I was too focused on the here-and-now.
I received a very intimate knowledge and awareness of God, and it’s coming back now. He’s in my tiny studio apartment; He’s wrapped around the walls, making sure I’m safe. He walks me down the hallways, down the stairs, out to my car. He’s on my bumper, in my rearview mirror. He escorts me to work, to church, and to home again.
The God of the universe is WITH you, beloved. Hold onto these two truths as you tackle the hard things He’s asking you to do.
