DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- POINTING THE WAY

 POINTING THE WAY
Genesis 46:28
 
"Then [Jacob] sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out to him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen."
 
Earlier, Judah was seen as a mediator or intercessor (Genesis 44:18 ff). Here, Jacob chose Judah for this special assignment to lead the troupe to Goshen. Jacob knew his sons strengths and weaknesses, as is evident in the words he spoke concerning each of his sons. Jacob saw leadership qualities that set Judah apart from his other sons. He was praised by his brothers, victorious over his enemies, a ruler with a scepter, and a lawgiver (Genesis 49:8-12). In short, he was a leader. It was befitting that Judah would have these abilities as the progenitor of the Lord Jesus. I am so glad that God has given us leaders who point the way.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God gives leaders who point the way for our benefit.
 
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Have a "thankful for leaders" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A FAMILY AFFAIR

 A FAMILY AFFAIR
Genesis 46:5-7
 
"Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. So they .... went to Egypt, Jacob and his descendants with him. His sons and his sons' sons, his daughters and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt."
 
There is great emphasis on the fact that all of Jacob's family from the youngest to the oldest went to Egypt with him. His children, his daughters-in-law, and all his grandchildren were included. Pharaoh had made provisions for all of them. No one was left behind. My fervent desire is that all of my family will go to heaven – my sons, my daughter, and my grandchildren. Jesus has provided the way for all of them to go. I don't want any of them to be left behind.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God has made provision for everyone to go to heaven.
 
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Have a family day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLING -- EMMANUEL -- GOD IS WITH US

EMMANUEL:  GOD IS WITH US
Genesis 46:3-4

"So He said, 'I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.' "

Jacob did not have to fear what lay ahead because God promised to be with him and bring him through whatever would happen in Egypt. God did not tell Jacob the future for his family – slavery, only that he would be with him until death, and would bring him again to Canaan. (The phrase, "put his hand on your eyes," refers to the old custom of closing a person's eyes after he dies.) God does not always reveal all the challenges that will face me in the future. He only says I don't need to fear because He is with me until death and will deliver me. "No temptation [or trial] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13).

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: No matter what the future holds, God is faithful and will bring us through.

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Have a "God with you" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HEARING GOD'S VOICE

 HEARING GOD'S VOICE
Genesis 46:2
 
"Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, 'Jacob, Jacob!' And he said, 'Here am I.'"
Jacob was no stranger to God's voice because he had heard it so many times before. He had heard God speak when he fled from Esau and had a dream with a ladder reaching to heaven, with God at the top of the ladder saying, 'I am the LORD God" (Genesis 28:13). He had heard the voice again when he fled from Laban and God appeared in a dream calling, "Jacob." And he answered, "Here I am" Genesis 31:11). He had heard the voice a third time when he wrestled with God on his way to the reunion with Esau (Genesis 32:22). Now he was traveling again on his way to Egypt, and God spoke to him again. It seems God spoke to him mostly in crisis situations when he was on a journey somewhere.  Perhaps he was more ready to hear God's voice when his life was in turmoil than when life was easy.  I want to be attentive to listen for God's voice as I travel life's path, especially in crisis situations.    May I be quick to answer, "Here am I." "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it' " (Isaiah 30:21).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God speaks to us as we are traveling through crisis experiences.
 
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Have a listening day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- STARTING THE NEW LIFE

 STARTING THE NEW LIFE
Genesis 46:1
 
"So Israel too his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac."
 
When Israel (Jacob) embarked on his journey to the land promised by Joseph and Pharaoh, there were two things that marked his decision. First was whole-hearted commitment, including all that he was and all that he had. When he left the old life, he took with him everything that was a part of his life. He was "all in" – leaving nothing behind. He did not leave a part of himself in the old land, as an escape plan in case this new life did not pan out as he wanted. Some people "try Jesus," like taking a job on a trial basis with the idea that if it doesn't work out, they can always go back. Jacob made a clean break with the old life in order to follow God. The second thing was worship, offering sacrifice to God as he went. God is seeking people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). I think these are the identifying attributes of a true Christian – total commitment and worship.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The marks of a truly committed Christian are forsaking all to follow Jesus, and  worshiping.
 
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Have a committed and worshiping day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE SPIRIT REVIVED

 THE SPIRIT REVIVED
Genesis 45:27-28
 
"But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, 'It is enough. I will go and see him before I die.' "
 
When the brothers told their father that Joseph was alive, the heart of Jacob stood still and he did not believe (vs. 26). Jacob was the man of the flesh, and the flesh lives in unbelief. But when he heard all the words and promises that Joseph had said, his spirit was revived and he could respond as a spiritual man – Israel. Sometimes my natural man fails at hearing the news around me, and I live in unbelief. But then I hear again the words of Jesus and my spirit is revived. Words like, "Lo, I am with you always," or "Fear not," or "Come unto me all you who are weary." What comfort, what encouragement, what joy, what renewal comes from hearing all the words of the Lord Jesus. "It is enough" to hear the word of God, because it trumps my fears.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Word of God revives the failing heart.
 
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Have a revived day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE UNTROUBLED HEART

 THE UNTROUBLED HEART
Genesis 42:24-26
 
"So he sent his brothers away, and they departed; and he said to them, 'See that you do not become troubled along the way.' Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they told him, saying, 'Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.' And Jacob's heart stood still because he did not believe them."
 
Joseph sent his brothers away to tell Jacob the good news that he was alive and wanted Jacob to come to live with him. He said, "Don't worry along the way." But when they told Jacob, he did not believe them. This sounds a lot like the Resurrection narrative. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled. I am going to prepare a place for you so that you can be where I am" (see John 14:1-3). Then on Resurrection morning, the women came to the tomb and discovered that He was gone. An angel said, "He is risen! Go and tell His disciples." But when they told the disciples the good news, they did not believe (Mark 16:6-11) – especially Thomas (John 20:24-25) – because they thought He was dead. I have heard the good news that Jesus is alive and that He has prepared a place for me in heaven, and He will bring me to be where He is. I can live with an untroubled heart as I journey to heaven because I believe God – I believe Jesus. There is no fear of death because Jesus is alive!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: We can live with an untroubled heart about life after death because Jesus is alive.
 
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Have an untroubled heart. Love you.