Foundations Week 5, Day 5

Scripture Read:  Genesis 46-47
Title: Joseph Reunites with His Family
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "Then He said, 'I am God, the God of your father.  Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.  I myself will go with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.'"."  Gen. 46:3,4

(E) Explain: Interestingly and ironically Egypt is the final destination for Jacob and his sons.  Egypt is where Israel finds salvation but it is also place where the people will be held in captivity as slaves.  At the onset one may think that this journey to Egypt was a mistake because of the impending slavery.  Egypt represents the pagan world at the time.  Why would Jacob (AKA Israel) want to leave the Promised Land and go to a Pagan country?  Remember, Egypt has never been a place where Jacob and his family have had good experiences. 
Nevertheless, the Lord meets with Jacob in a vision at night and He assures him that he should go.  God tells him not to be afraid to go, because this journey is part of God’s greater plan to make him a great nation.  Then He tells Jacob that He will be with him on this journey.  The stay would be temporary.  The journey would initially be the Salvation of Israel.  The famine was getting worse and it would continue so if Jacob does not go to Egypt chances are he and his family would die.  Death was not an option and not part of God’s plan.  God had a plan and yes this plan did include eventually slavery, a mass exodus (God’s glory), a lot of death, years of wandering in the wilderness, the giving of the Law and all this would force Israel into have complete dependence and obedience to God. 
Eventually Jacob, his family, their livestock, their goods and all they acquired in the land of Canaan left for Egypt with the Lord’s blessings.
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(A) Application: This story has so much for us to apply.  Joseph’s life is a picture of what the Christian life can look like.  In this account I see three things that can be brought to our attention.

1. God has a perfect plan – God has everything under control.  Since the beginning of Joseph’s story (and time for that matter) God had mapped out what He was going to do.  There difficult moments and trying times, but God was forming and fashioning Joseph for this very time.  Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”  God’s perfect plan will be fulfilled for your joy and his glory.
2. There will be joy when we reunite with the Father – The reunion of father and son is a glimpse of what it will be like when we reunite with the Father in heaven.  This life is not all we have.  God has prepared an eternity for you and me to share in his glory and we will be conformed to his image.  It will be a homecoming like no other.  This is our eternal redemption, this is our destiny.
   
3. Be separate from the world – As Christians we are called to be in the world but not of the world.  This simply means that should not allow the world to influence us.  We must be separate from the world.  We must maintain our identity as followers of Jesus Christ. in this world  We should be known and recognized who we are by the way we love one another and how have devoted our lives to serving the Father.

(R) Respond:  Lord,I know you have a perfect plan for your people.  I trust your plan.  I anticipate the day where I stand before you in eternal glory.  But for now, help me to live my life here on earth as a blessing to people and in love.  May I love others as you have loved me and may I love you with all my heart soul, mind and strength.