Don't Be Afraid to Go

 It is always a little scary to go to a new place. This is especially true when that place is a foreign land where people speak another language and have a different culture. Sometimes, it can be a thrill to go for a short visit, but what about going to live there for a long time? That could be a great challenge, as our missionaries have discovered.

Jacob had this happen to him when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, and sent them to bring all of Jacob's household to Egypt. Jacob made a sacrifice to God on the way. (Genesis 46:3) Then, God said to Jacob, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there." Going can bring us to fulfill God's promises to us.

God had promised to make Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob into a great nation. He also promised to give them the land of Canaan as their possession. We might assume God would accomplish this in the normal way, as they lived in the land. However, God knew that would not work to make His people what they needed to become.

They needed hardship, and so do we. God sends us into the hard places in life, and sometimes, He even moves us to a new place where things don't go exactly as we would like, in order to build our faith and our character. Then, we become strong enough to go on and enjoy what God had planned for us all along. Therefore, don't be afraid to go where God is sending you. It is the path to peace and stability if you trust Him well.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 47-49.