Genesis 46

New Journey

Jacob left Hebron and got to Beersheba and offered a sacrifice to God. Beersheba was about 25 miles from Hebron and was the southern most part of Canaan. This was as far south as he could go without leaving the promise land. He had a lot riding on the Journey. He wanted to make sure it was okay by God to leave and go to Egypt. Egypt had not been a place where the ancestors of Jacob could go because of the difficulties they had there. Abraham, his grandfather had lied to Pharaoh about his wife Saria and caused a plague on Pharaoh's household. Jacob’s father Isaac was forbidden to go to Egypt during the last famine. Finally, moving his family to Egypt would expose his family to pagan living. Jacob had a lot riding on this move and wanted to make sure that God would approve of the move.

Jacob offered sacrifices to the Lord. He wanted to meet the Lord and confirm that he was doing the right thing.

Life’s new journeys

Our lives are full of new journey’s. These new journey’s almost always create fear or concern because of the uncertainty of the outcome of the change. That being the case we must also realize that the only constant in our life is change. However there is no uncertainty with God regarding the changes we face. We must seek his guidance before engaging in the changes in our life.

Major Life Transitions

Career Shifts: Whether you’re considering a complete career change, accepting a new job offer, or deciding to start your own business.

Relocation: Moving to a new city or state is a massive undertaking that affects your community, your church home, and your daily environment.

Marriage and Relationships: Committing to a life partner or navigating a season of significant change within a marriage.

Family and Personal Growth

Expanding Your Family: Decisions regarding having children, adoption, or how to best lead and support your children as they grow.

Financial Stewardship: Making large purchases, deciding how to give or tithe, or navigating a period of financial hardship.

Health and Wellness: Facing a difficult medical diagnosis or deciding on a treatment plan that impacts your quality of life.

Serving Others

Ministry and Service: Discerning where to volunteer your time or if you are being called to a specific mission or leadership role within your community.

Educational Pursuits: Deciding whether to go back to school or choosing a specific field of study that aligns with God’s purpose.

How to Seek Guidance

If you are currently facing one of these moments, you might consider:

Prayer and Meditation: Taking quiet time to listen rather than just speak.

Scripture: Looking for principles or stories that mirror your current situation.

Wise Counsel: Speaking with a trusted mentor, pastor, or a close friend who shares your values.

Looking for "Open Doors": Paying attention to how circumstances align (or don't) as you move forward.

The underlying principle is this: whenever a change reshapes your relationship with God, your faith practices, your community, or your sense of meaning and direction, consulting God through prayer and discernment becomes essential rather than optional.

New Covenant

God met Jacob at Beersheba in a vision. He assured Jacob that He is God, Instructed him not to be fearful of the move, promised to make him a great nation, He would be with him, He would bring his family back to the promise land, and that he would die in Egypt.

I am God.

When we face life changes, we must recognize that we have a creator God that knows all things. We can bring our concerns to him and seek guidance from him.

1 Peter 5:7 NASB95

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

James 1:5 NASB95

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

God promises to meet us where we are, remove our anxiety and give us wisdom to take the step into change or remain where we are.

Do not be afraid.

When we go to God, He will give us the direction He desires for us to go. When we discern this it will cast out fear because He is our confidence in our decision. This doesn’t men the road of change will be easy, but it does mean that when the Lord leads us we will get to our best destination. Psalm 23

Psalm 23 NASB95

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I will make you a great nation there

God did this by providing him and his family an opportunity to thrive as shepherds in the land of Goshen.

Genesis 47:27 NASB95

Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous.

God will cause us to flourish in the area’s that he leads us to.

I will go down with you.

The Lord promised to be with Jacob during his time in Egypt. The journey of life is much more peaceful when the Lord is with us. Jesus promises us the same thing in the great commission. When we are making disciples on our journey, He promises to be with us. Matt. 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NASB95

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

As we go on our journey and make disciples, we can be assured that the Lord will be with us.

God promised to give Jacob’s family the promise land

One of the fears that Jacob had was leaving the promise land and losing the promise land. God assured him that He would give the promise land to his family. He fulfilled it in Gen. 50:24

Genesis 50:24 NASB95

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.”

God promises us deliverance to the promise land as well. John 14:3

John 14:3 NASB95

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Jacob would die in Egypt

God told Jacob that he would die in Egypt, but Joseph would take care of him in Gen. 50:1-6

Genesis 50:1–6 NASB95

Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Now forty days were required for it, for such is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. When the days of mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak to Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ ” Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

Jacob lived the last of his years in Egypt but was buried in the promised land.

We too are going to die. Will you be in the promised land?

New Life

Jacob left everything he knew to head to Egypt. He took everything he owned and all his family to a new life. This new life was his best life. Joseph took care of him and his famiy with the best Egypt had to offer. It was no longer a life of hardship, but one of peace and joy.

Our new life

Our best life is yet to come! The life we live here on earth is difficult, but the life to come is much better.