PERSEVERE IN DIFFICULT TIMES
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
So Jacob set out for Egypt with all his possessions. And when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac. During the night God spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” he called. “Here I am,” Jacob replied. “I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation.
Genesis 46:1-3 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jacob is leaving the land of Canaan and going to Egypt because of the famine. God has set Joseph, Jacob’s son, up as the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph is going to be used to save the entire family of Jacob. Jacob doesn’t want to go but God gives him a word that this is a part of God’s plan to fulfill the promise God made to Abraham—Jacob’s grandfather. God had promised Abraham a nation that would be blessed and would be a blessing to the world.
It is interesting to think about what is going to happen in Egypt. Jacob is going to Egypt taking 66 people as part of his family. The family will live in Egypt for 400 years and grow into a nation of over two million. At first, they will have favor with the Egyptians but eventually they will become slaves and forced to do manual labor. Through the difficulty God is going to forge a great nation.
Perhaps God knew that without the difficulty of Egypt the nation would never be able to fulfill the destiny God had for the Jews.
In the same way God will often bring us through some difficult times to develop in us the strength of character, the faith, and the perseverance that we will need fulfill His destiny in our lives. Don’t get angry or discouraged in the tough times. God is developing something new in your life.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to see what You are doing in me. Help me to partner with You to see Your destiny fulfilled in me.
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