The Promise of God's Presence
Many of us feel alone. We are beset with loneliness, even when we have others around. This is especially true when we have big changes in our lives, and we have to leave the things that are familiar to us. However, there is a cure for this type of loneliness. When we have the presence of the Lord with us, we can be anywhere and face anything and know that we are never alone, for He is with us. God gave Jacob that assurance when He told him not to be afraid to go down to Egypt, because He would make him a great nation there. (Genesis 46:3,4) There may be a lot of us who need to hear what the Lord told Jacob.
God assured Jacob that he was God, the God of his father. He never wants us to doubt who He is. He wants us to see that He is the One True God, the eternal God. Then, He wants us to know that there is no reason to be afraid, as we follow His will for our lives. Even when He directs us to a very strange place, we can and should have peace. The safest place in the world is the center of God's will, no matter where that is. God promised to make Jacob into the great nation. He had promised him before, and He assured him that He would do it in the foreign land of Egypt. God can bless us abundantly in the midst of opposition and/or oppression, if that is what He chooses to do. All we have to do is to be steadfast in trusting Him. Finally, we can know that God will fulfill His promises to us. He had promised Jacob to give the land of Canaan to him and His descendants. He will always do what He says He will do, as we follow Him. He will bring us comfort in death, also. He loves us so, and He will be there to take us to be with Him. Often, He sends loved ones to be with us, as we pass from this life to our home in heaven. What a blessing to have the promise of the presence of God! He gives this promise to all of His children.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-49.
God assured Jacob that he was God, the God of his father. He never wants us to doubt who He is. He wants us to see that He is the One True God, the eternal God. Then, He wants us to know that there is no reason to be afraid, as we follow His will for our lives. Even when He directs us to a very strange place, we can and should have peace. The safest place in the world is the center of God's will, no matter where that is. God promised to make Jacob into the great nation. He had promised him before, and He assured him that He would do it in the foreign land of Egypt. God can bless us abundantly in the midst of opposition and/or oppression, if that is what He chooses to do. All we have to do is to be steadfast in trusting Him. Finally, we can know that God will fulfill His promises to us. He had promised Jacob to give the land of Canaan to him and His descendants. He will always do what He says He will do, as we follow Him. He will bring us comfort in death, also. He loves us so, and He will be there to take us to be with Him. Often, He sends loved ones to be with us, as we pass from this life to our home in heaven. What a blessing to have the promise of the presence of God! He gives this promise to all of His children.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-49.