27 July Genesis 46

Following God’s will

Genesis 46:1-3 (NIV) “So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 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.”

Over 40 years ago, when Jacob was preparing to leave the Promised Land, God spoke to him in a dream. As Jacob was about to leave the land again, God reassured him through another dream to go down to Egypt. Jacob might have recalled that Abraham, during a famine, went to Egypt out of unbelief, which led to many troubles. He might also have remembered that God had told his father, Isaac, not to go to Egypt. As Jacob led his family into this foreign land, he was unsure about the future but trusted that it was in God's hands.

In these uncertain circumstances, God appears to Jacob and confirms that God will be with Him and that he can go to Egypt. “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.”

It is of the utmost importance that we seek God's guidance in difficult decisions. Charles Spurgeon put it so beautifully when he says, “Hesitate, my dear friend, while you are not sure that it is God’s will; but when once you are certain that it is according to the Lord’s mind, it will be unfaithfulness to God to have any kind of fear. Steam straight ahead, for that way lies your haven.”

When we make decisions, we must be in God’s will for our lives! We want to be wise and discerning and, above all, keep in the centre of His will! Therefore, when faced with a big decision, the first step is to pray. Pray that God will make the way clear, that He will give you wisdom and discernment, that your heart will yield to His will and plan, and that His will be done in your life. James 1:5 (NLV), “If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.”

Another question to ask when faced with a decision is, "How will this bring God glory? Is there any way this decision will keep me from glorifying God?" When we are faced with a decision, we ask ourselves, "Will this decision help or hinder my delight in God? Will it interfere in some way? Will it pull me away from seeking Him?"

In such a time read your Bible, and allow God to speak to you through his world. Psalm 119:105 (NIV) “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”. A mind trained in Scripture is a mind filled with wisdom. When you need help in making a difficult decision, seek Godly wisdom. Proverbs 15:22 CSB “Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”

One way we can be confident we are hearing from God is to follow peace. Sometimes, God may lead us to make sudden changes, but He will always give us His peace during it. Colossians 3:15 (NLT) “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful”.

Do you really want to follow God’s will? This is the safest place in the world to be! God’s will is “good, pleasing and perfect”. Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”.

I conclude with Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know”.