Garry spoke this morning on a ‘Place Prepared’, from Genesis 46:1-7. Jacob and his family returned to Egypt to be with Joseph. God promised to make Jacob a great nation there (Gen 46:3), but this was a promise not really fulfilled in his lifetime. Instead, it was not until 215 years later that we see just how numerous the nation of Israel had become in Egypt (see Ex 1:8-10).
Heb 11:13-16 reminds us that the Old Testament heroes, including Jacob, were still living by faith when they died. They did not see the life we now live; our spiritual vision needs to be enlarged always. Heb 12:1-3 reminds us that to run the race of faith, we need perseverance, endurance, a resolute continuance. We need to trust in the promises of God (2 Cor 1:20).
Jacob sent Judah ahead of them: praise and thanksgiving as the forerunner, as his name reminds us. God wants us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Ps 100:4). In many ways, Jacob’s gesture was one of faith. Jesus Himself was descended from Judah (Rev 5:5); the promises given to Jacob may have taken a long time to fulfil, but God was faithful to His promises.
God has promised great things to us as well. We need the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened (Eph 1:17-18); we need to see God better and understand that He will deliver in abundance.
