Last week we learned that we must
stand up in who we are in Christ. We should never be embarrassed by
where God has placed us or the occupation which God has given us to
do. He knows best and has placed us exactly where we need to be. He
has made Jacob and his family into shepherds, that is their
occupation. Now just because the Egyptians despised shepherds
doesn't mean that they must become someone else now. They should
still do what God has placed on their hearts to do. Other people's
opinions do not matter and it shouldn't matter to us either. We
must follow Him and be proud of who we are in Him.
Jacob went to see Pharaoh and he
blessed Pharaoh, and went to live in Goshen with his descendants.
There they received all the food that they needed from Joseph. They
were abundantly supplied for. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for
seventeen years. Why they didn't go back to Israel after the famine
ended we do not know, the Bible doesn't tell us. But they decided
to stay, and they were truly blessed:
"So Israel dwelt in the land of
Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and
grew and multiplied exceedingly." Genesis 47:27
They asked God whether they should
go to Egypt or not and He told them to go. He led them there and
provided for them there and they were truly blessed. I believe that
God told them to stay there as well and not to go back to Israel.
He had a plan and foretold this years before to Abraham:
"Know certainly that your
descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and
will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And
also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall
come out with great possessions." Genesis 15:13
God knew that Israel and his
descendants would move to Egypt long before Isaac or Jacob was even
born. And He knew that they will be mistreated, before He would
judge the Egyptians and lead them back home. He also knew that they
would leave Egypt with great possessions. He foretold all of this
to Abraham. Whether Abraham passed this information on to his
descendants we do not know, but I think he didn't. For later on
when Joseph died and the new Pharaoh began to mistreat them, we do
not read in the Bible that they were holding on to this promise
that God would deliver them and lead them home with great
possessions. It is actually a pity that they didn't know, it would
have helped them a lot to keep hold of God's promises.
Today we can hold on to His
promises. We have the whole Bible and we are free to study it at
any time we want. We can take a hold of His promises and make it
our own. For God said that all His promises are fulfilled in Jesus
Christ and Jesus lives within us, so all of His promises are ours
for the taking:
"For all the promises of God in
Him (Christ) are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through
us." 2 Corinthians 1:20
He has given His promises to us
through Jesus Who lives inside of us. How wonderful is that? I am
so glad and rejoice in that! His promises are amazing and true and
something to hold on to, especially if we are going through tough
times. Google the promises of God and select those that are
applicable to your situation at the moment. Apply it to your
situation and speak the words out loud. There is a lot of power in
speaking God's Word over your situation. His Word is our sword and
we need to use it to fight the enemy. It is the way how we can
conquer anything that comes our way.
The Israelites would have had more
peace if they knew that God was going to deliver them, as well as
avenge them and help them to return to Israel with a lot of
possessions. It would have been reassuring to them. Unfortunately
they didn't have the written Word then, but we do. Open up your
Bible and start claiming God's promises in your life. It will
certainly be worth it.
Father thank you for all Your
promises. We are so fortunate that Your promises are Yes and Amen
in Jesus and He lives within us. Hallelujah! He is the fulfillment
of all that You have planned for us, to give us a future and a
hope. We glorify Your Name. Amen