Genesis 45-46
Doing the right thing is often not the popular thing. Have you ever done something that was against the popular opinion, but you just knew in your soul that it was the right thing to do?
Jacob went to Egypt. His entire life he has heard about the blessing which God promised to the descendants of his grandfather, Abraham. This blessing is actually a promise to make from the descendants of Abraham a mighty nation as numerous as the stars that will one day inhabit the land of Canaan--the promised land. God has spoken to Jacob and assured him that this blessing was his. God even sealed it with him by renaming him Israel. God showed his grandfather Abraham a vision of the promised land. His grandparents and his parents are all buried in the promised land as a sign of the family's faith that this dream of God will one day come to fulfillment. All of Jacob's family, his servants, and everyone in his clan; they were all surely aware that they were meant to dwell in the promised land where God would bless them with prosperity and fruitfulness as their numbers grew. When Jacob's son, Joseph, invites him to bring his clan and settle in Egypt where there will be plenty of food and security, this presented a dilemma. Should he leave the promised land, or stay? Surely the popular opinion would have been for him to stay. Everything he has known to be right and proper has been associated with remaining in the land of his father's father. But, on the other hand, his beloved son, Joseph, was in Egypt. In his confusion, Jacob finds the comfort he needs from God's Word. God speaks to Jacob and tells him that He will go with him to Egypt, and that there in Egypt God will make the Israelites prosper until the time is right to leave. Jacob went to Egypt, because God promised to remain with him.
God is not limited by geography. Many people in Jacob's period of time thought that gods' powers were limited to certain locations. God tells Jacob that He is not like these other Gods; He is not limited to certain locations. God is also not bound by the limits of our world. God is not bound by anything that forms our cultural popular popular opinion. God is not a Republican, or a Democrat. He is not a conservative or a liberal. God is not even, dare I say it, a Christian. God is not by any of our popular opinions. God is God.
The blessing for all of us in this, is that God is capable of being with us, "Emmanuel", wherever we are and calling us toward the fulfillment of His dream rather than the fulfillment of the popular dream. Whether we are embroiled in a political dilemma over healthcare, or we're struggling to make sense of our teenager's choice of music, God is able to be with us, and at the same time transcend all of it for us.
When we are faced with difficult decisions, decisions that are not popular, we can cal upon God in prayer, listen for God's Word in Scripture and worship, and find the comfort and shelter we seek from God to do what we believe is right. If you're worn out from trying to satisfy the popular opinions all around you, maybe today is a good day to turn back to God for the comfort to do what is right.
Oh God, you are an awesome God! You are able to be with me in everything, but you are also able to remain above it all so that you might continue to guide me toward you. Thank You for promising to me that I will one day join you in the promised land of your eternal kingdom. Until then, watch over all of my days. Lead me, guide me, and and encourage me to do what is right in your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen
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