Wagons

O.T.#100  "Wagons"
August 6, 2013
Genesis 46-Part 1
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.  Genesis 45:2

LET IT GLOW

I had a red wagon that I received for my fifth birthday. It was like the one in the Dick and Jane reading series back in the 60's. Anyone remember? I would haul all sorts of things around the yard in it, from baby dolls to sticks. Sometimes my brother would pull me, I think I remember that, or do I? It's been too many years. Did you have a wagon, too?

Shall we see who else rode in a wagon?

Jacob, now called Israel, and his family loaded up and moved 'um out. They stopped off at Beersheba, where Abraham and Isaac, his father and grandfather, had erected altars there. This must have motivated Israel to do the same.

God spoke to Israel that night in visions with some promises:

• God identified himself as the God of Israel's father. (verse 3)
• Don't be afraid to go down to Egypt. Abraham had a bad experience there (12:10-20), and Isaac had been forbidden to even go there (26:2). (verse 3)
• God promised to make Israel a great nation in Egypt. (verse 3)
• God would go down to Egypt with Israel. (verse 4)
• God would surely bring him back again, refers to the nations, not Jacob. (verse 4)
• Joseph's own hand would close Israel's eyes when he died. (verse 4)                             [Resource: Liberty Bible Commentary]

God's chosen family remained in Egypt for 430 years (Ex. 12:40) until the Exodus in 1445 B.C.  (MacArthur)

God kept his promises to Israel. Of course, we can read the rest of the story.
Do we know any of God's promises to us as His children?

                             
LET IT GROW

The whole clan of Jacob's traveled onto Egypt in the wagons which Pharaoh had provided for them. they took their cattle and their goods obtained in Canaan.

The total was 66, besides Jacob's sons' wives (verse 26), to which Moses added Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph's 2 sons to make 70. (Falwell)
The number 75 probably includes 5 later descendants of Joseph. (Davis)

Verse 8 is the first mention of the phrase the children of Israel, which is the first time reference of the family as a whole. that was quite a family to move next door and feed.

Can you count your grandparents' descendants? How has God blessed your family?

LET IT GO

Stay close to God.

Keep faith in Jesus.

Go with God wherever He leads me.