Jacob and his adult children and their children and all they had were now embarking on a journey to Egypt during a famine in the land that would last five more years. So much had happened, so many surprises. Joseph was alive and sending for him. And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “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. 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.” Genesis 46:2-4.

No matter what circumstances we face we are not alone. Have you ever experienced a nudge from God? Have you ever said a quick prayer for help or thankfulness when you knew you were protected and not by yourself?

Last night we watched a movie that was about a hijacking of an airplane. There was a lot of senseless violence and when I went to bed I knew that what I needed most was God. So I prayed just be with me, let me just be with you in quiet nearness. I realized that our lives are filled with words…all the time…our own thoughts, others opinions…words. I have dialogues in my mind all the time and I realized those dialogues form my “reality” of what is. Do you experience that? So I lay there quietly knowing He was there and I felt peace. I knew He would be there and it was such a blessing…no words…His peace and comfort filling me.

Jacob had the incredible blessing of knowing God was with him. Do not be afraid…I will go with you…God even assured Jacob that it would be Joseph’s own hand that would close his eyes at the end. We can’t know our beginning from our end but God does. I take such comfort in that because God is faithful. He knows our future and He is here with us in our present. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10.

Both of those verses we heard in the sermon yesterday. God’s very real Presence comforted Jacob and reassured him God was with him and this journey was a good work begun by God and prepared in advance for Jacob to walk in. He wasn’t doing it alone; He had God with him; what a comfort! I am comforted knowing that I am saved by faith that is not from me…it is the gift of God….God provides! I’m not saved by my works. Jacob wasn’t reassured by “his” works…he was reassured by God being with him. We are God’s handiwork. He is the One who goes with us. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13.

In this world there are never ending words. There are pressures and deadlines. There is so much to fill our days to overflowing. In that busyness it’s hard to hear anything but our own internal dialogue vying for understanding and control amidst the noise. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:10-11. Be still. When I am still with God beside me, I know His peace and love. I know He is the One leading me closer to Him and there is joy there and home. This morning He asked me Do you think I don’t sing songs of praise? Are you surprised I feel joy? There is so much to be thankful for and rejoice in. Let your heart be glad and rejoice with me this day. The Lord Almighty, the God of Jacob is our fortress and He loves you….it is His faith He will give you.