Jacob was Afraid to Go…but God had a plan.
I love Joseph! His brothers were mean to him. They sold him as a slave. But God had a plan. My focus was always on Joseph and how he loved and trusted the Lord. It meant everything to me throughout my life. Then a bible study that I attended opened my eyes to Jacob—Joseph’s dad; the mean guy. Jacob the deceiver. I actually disliked him most of my life. Why? He deceived his father and brother Esau in getting his birthright.
But later in life when he was old and grey, he longed for his son Joseph who he thought had died because his other sons had told him so.
Then, when the Lord finally opened the doors for Joseph, and he was in charge in Egypt, Jacob was asked to visit. But he was afraid. He didn’t want to lose his youngest son.
I never thought much about Jacob, who was a deceiver in his early life, yet was himself deceived by his father-in-law years later. He had to work 14 years to get Joseph’s mom, Rachel. No wonder he loved Joseph so much.
The point is, Jacob was afraid to go to Egypt because he could not see the future. Yet, God had a plan! When he finally gave in and went, he not only received back his youngest son, Benjamin; he also received back to life, his other son Joseph! Oh, how the Lord works if we only trust Him!
I walked away from that study thinking of how scared I am at times because I cannot see what’s around the corner. I can’t see what lies ahead. But through Jacob’s experience, my mind has been rekindled to trust the Lord who holds the future.
When you can’t see, obey and trust Him. He will work it out. Find out more about GreenLight: When God Says Go
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:11)
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