Page 34 - Living Light 90

Monday October 6 - God of presence
So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he
offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Genesis 46:1
Jacob had received the joyous news that Joseph was not dead but alive; to see him would mean uprooting his family and travelling to Egypt. Leaving the land that God had given Abraham as an inheritance was huge; Jacob needed to be sure, so he sought the Lord at Beersheba, the southernmost outpost in Canaan on route to Egypt.
Beersheba (‘well of the oath’) was a special place. It was where Jacob’s grandfather Abraham made a covenant with King Abimelech (Genesis 21:31), the place where God confirmed his promise to Jacob’s father Isaac when he said, “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham” (Genesis 26:24). God had not forgotten!
Leaving Canaan for Egypt was a big call; every emotion screamed “Go”, but Jacob, like his forefathers, needed to be certain for himself. In such life-impacting circumstances, it is essential to seek God. If Jacob had got it wrong the consequences would have been dire for the whole family.
Dear friend, if you are facing a Jacob-type decision, find your own ‘Beersheba’; it could be a place, it could be a person or a dedicated time of prayer and fasting. Do not rush ahead; come apart to hear from God. It’s a decision you will not regret!
Father, may I make the time to sit at your feet. Your will be done. Amen.
Tuesday October 7 - God of faithfulness
God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “...Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt...” Genesis 46:2-3
For now, the spotlight moves from Joseph to his father, Jacob. In a parallel story in Genesis 12, Abraham is faced with a severe famine; sadly, he chose not to enquire of the Lord but instead travelled to Egypt for help. As a result, he got into ‘deep water’ with Pharaoh. A generation later, when Isaac was facing another famine, God warned him not to make his father’s mistake by going down to Egypt (Genesis 26:2).
Jacob had a problem; the twin pressures of famine and seeing Joseph vied with the warnings of the past. Were previous, ‘No Entry’ signs specific or general? God spoke to Jacob in a dream: “Jacob, Jacob... do not be afraid to go down to Egypt.” The ‘double call’ from God, where God repeats a person’s name, happened for Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Martha, Simon Peter, Saul – and here Jacob. On each occasion, at a critical time, God wanted the person’s undivided attention. Jacob’s “Here I am” released the possibility of new opportunities. “Here I am” – I’m listening, I’m ready, speak Lord... Because of God’s generational faithfulness, Jacob waited patiently before his God, the God of promise. The green light came; he was to go to Egypt and his God was going with him! Despite everything that cried “I couldn’t do it”, here I sit with pen in hand – all because I heard, “Ian, Ian...”
Father, may all confusion and doubt evaporate at the sound of your word, for the glory of your name! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY