Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Wednesday January 16, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis. Please read Genesis 46-48. In today's lesson we will read and learn about Jacob's vision at Beersheba; the journey to Egypt; Joseph and the famine; the best land given to Jacob; and Joseph's sons are blessed.

Jacob knew that God had planned for his family to live in Canaan, not in Egypt, so he did not rush to Egypt for a grand reunion with his precious son Joseph. Instead, when Jacob left Hebron, he journeyed about 25 miles to Beersheba. Since the will of God remained uppermost in Jacob's heart, he needed assurance from God concerning his journey to Egypt, it was here where Jacob offered sacrifices unto God and received that assurance in a vision. "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. 2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him." (Genesis 46:1-5).

The Lord assured Jacob that the sojourn in Egypt would be a time of preparing his family to become a great nation. What gets priority, and how we live, has a direct bearing on our preparation for eternity. Our eyes should not be set on worldly securities and achievements, but rather on being the person God wants us to be in order to accomplish the purpose for which He created us.

Now, the Israelites settled in Egypt in the land of Goshen, since Joseph had come into Egypt earlier, including him and his family, Jacob's family number was 70 when they came into Egypt. "And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; 27And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while." (46:6-7,27-29)

Before Jacob's death he blessed Joseph's sons, "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers." (46:16-21). As the years in Egypt passed, Jacob could see how God had been directing, protecting, and providing for him all his life.

This remarkable man of God received much abuse throughout his life, but God conferred more spiritual blessings on Jacob than any other man in Old Testament history. The name of Abraham, the father of the faithful, appears over 300 times in Scripture. The name Isaac appears only 131 times, often only in conjunction with Abraham and Jacob. Jacob, however, is mentioned over 370 times, and his new name Israel, referring to both himself and his descendants, appears over 2500 times.

The life of Jacob gives the believer insight into the sovereignty of God, who assists, strengthens, and sustains all who are faithful to Him.

In today's lesson Jesus Christ is revealed by Joseph who was placed second to Pharaoh to sustain life and give provision. Jesus said, the Bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:33).

Today's Psalm: (89:1)
"I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for blessing me with this day and thank you for the many blessings you give me each day. Lord, thank you for taking care of us and being sovereign in our lives. Give us peace knowing that we do not have to worry about the future as You will direct our paths and take us where you need us to be. All we need to do if focus on You. We trust You, Jesus. No matter what our circumstances are, we will always have You to see us through it. You are always faithful and love us despite our short comings and sin. Thank you, Jesus for all that You do. In Jesus' name, I pray......Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day/night.
God Bless,
Christina

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