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 to Egypt. There he lied for his own safety about Sarah being his wife, only to face royal reproof when the truth was revealed. During another famine, Isaac did the same thing in Gerar. But yet another time, God instructed Isaac to go to Egypt, promising to provide for him. God had promised to bless Isaac and his descendants if they remained obedient. Jacob knew these stories and likely pondered the lessons they held.

At Beersheba, God spoke to confirm his direction: “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. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” These words must have filled Jacob with confidence. God was leading him into Egypt and promised to bring Israel back to the Promised Land in the future. Little did Jacob think that his clan of 70 would grow to 600,000 by that time.

This is the confidence that comes from knowing the presence of God. Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly reassures His people with the promise of His presence when they follow his guidance. When Moses hesitated to lead Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land, God said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” When the Israelites faced oppression, Isaiah declared, “In all their distress, He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them.”

The Lord Himself promised His disciples: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” This abiding presence of God transforms fear into faith, hesitation into boldness, and sorrow into joy.

Jacob continued his journey with renewed confidence, and God blessed him richly. Joseph, the son Jacob had mourned as dead, was alive and waiting for his father. The reunion was tender and emotional. Joseph, the powerful ruler of Egypt, wept openly as he held his father. It was a moment of healing and restoration, a reminder of God’s faithfulness in the face of long years of sorrow and separation.

Yet even in Egypt, Joseph and Jacob remained mindful of God’s greater promises. Egypt was not their home. The destiny of Israel was tied to God’s covenant and the Promised Land. Jacob, on his deathbed, charged his sons to bury him in Canaan. Years later, Joseph gave similar instructions, asking that his bones be carried out of Egypt when God fulfilled His promise to take His people back to their homeland.

This forward-looking faith is a reminder for us as well. Like Jacob and Joseph, we are sojourners in this world. No matter how comfortable or successful we may become in our earthly circumstances, our home is with the Lord. The Lord prayed for His disciples, saying, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

As believers, we are called to live in the world but not be conformed to its lusts and desires. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the eternal promises of God. Let the promises shape our identity and purpose. Just as Joseph’s bones were a constant reminder of God’s promise and a harbinger of hope in Egypt’s oppression of Israel, we too must look forward to our hope of eternal life as a constant reminder of who we are and where we are headed.

Jacob’s journey to Egypt was a revelation of his faith. God revealed to Abraham that Egypt would be a place of both blessing and testing for his descendants. While they would prosper and multiply there, they would also face oppression and slavery. Yet God had already planned their deliverance. He would bring them out of Egypt and back to Canaan at the appointed time.

We all have seasons of uncertainty or difficulty. We may not always understand why God leads us down certain paths. But like Jacob, we can trust in God’s promises and move forward in obedience, knowing that His plans are good and His presence is with us.

Are we seeking God’s will in our decisions, big and small? Are His promises more precious to us than our own desires? Do we trust Him even when the way is unclear?

The hymn “Abide with Me” beautifully captures the assurance we have in God’s presence:

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Let this be our confidence. No matter where God leads us or what challenges we face, let us remember His promise: “I will go with you, and I will surely bring you back again.” Let us walk in the obedience of faith, for God is with us every step of the way. He will bring us home because we trust in him.