39_Confidence in the Lord Gen 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then He said, “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. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also assuredly bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.” Count Zinzendorf, the founder of the Moravian gospel movement, was in a Düsseldorf art gallery when he saw a painting representing Christ on the cross. Beneath the image were the words: “I did this for you. What have you done for me?” These words pierced his heart and led him to yield his life wholly to the Lord. Interestingly, the painting itself reflects the artist’s own pursuit of perfection. After his first attempt to depict the face of the Redeemer, he showed the work to a young girl. She simply said, “This is a good man.” Realizing he had failed, the artist destroyed his sketch. He tried again, pouring his prayers and skill into a second effort. This time, the girl remarked, “This is a man who has suffered much.” Still unsatisfied, the artist prayed and began afresh. Finally, the third attempt succeeded. When the girl looked at the painting, she exclaimed, “That’s the Lord!” Christ was not merely a good man, a wise teacher, or a revered prophet come to earth. His birth marked the arrival of God as the Word become flesh. Immanuel. God with us. The realization of this truth transforms lives and fills us with confidence in God’s presence and guidance, just as it did for Jacob in Genesis 46. Jacob had just received astonishing news: his beloved son Joseph, whom he had thought dead for over 20 years, was not only alive but was the ruler of Egypt. And he called his father to move with his clan to Egypt, to be provided for there by him through the five years of famine remaining. Eager yet cautious, Jacob began the journey but stopped at Beersheba, a place rich in his family history. There he sought the Lord’s guidance. At Beersheba, Abraham called upon the name of the Lord after making a covenant with Abimelech. It was here that Isaac was reassured of God’s covenant promise and built an altar in worship. Now, standing at the southern boundary of the Promised Land, Jacob enquired of the Lord before making his choice. Should he leave Canaan, the land God had promised to his descendants, and move to Egypt where God had sent Joseph ahead to prepare a haven for them? Unlike his earlier life, Jacob did not act impulsively or rest on his own understanding, Jacob had learned to prioritize God’s will over his own desires. Even the joyful prospect of reuniting with Joseph did not outweigh his need for God’s guidance. Jacob’s caution was understandable. Both Abraham and Isaac had frequently left Canaan for a time when famine struck the land. One time, Abraham went