Embracing God’s Detours: Jacob’s Journey to Egypt and the Faithfulness of Promise
Genesis 46
2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”
Talk about a shock!
Jacob, a man of promise, had inherited the covenantal blessings bestowed upon Abraham and Isaac. The heart of that blessing was the promise of land—a land filled with descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.
But even in the midst of that promise, a severe famine struck the land. With dwindling food supplies and an inability to care for his livestock, Jacob must have questioned the circumstances. It’s not hard to imagine the doubts that filled his mind. Where was the God of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac? Jacob must have wrestled with that word, feeling the gnawing hunger both in his belly and in his soul. Should he leave behind the promised land in search of sustenance and provision?
In the dark of the night, as Jacob slumbered, the Lord appeared to him in visions. God met him and reassured him, redirecting his steps. Jacob was called to journey to Egypt, the land of abundance and provision. But the assurance did not end there. God promised to accompany Jacob on his journey, never leaving his side. Furthermore, it would be Joseph, his beloved son, who would be present to close his eyes in death.
Talk about an unexpected detour! It must have been bewildering for this family of promise to leave their homeland. It may have felt as if they were abandoning the very essence of the divine promise. Little did they know that their sojourn in Egypt would span four centuries. That’s a long time to hold onto a promise.
As we strive to hold fast to God’s promises, we often encounter delays and unexpected paths that lead us astray from our interpretation of the word we carry. Yet, amidst the uncertainty, the Lord assures us that He is still at work. He leads us in ways we could never predict, fulfilling His plans and purposes.
Perhaps you find yourself in the midst of a detour right now, wondering how you ended up in this place. Take heart, for as long as the Lord is with you, know that this detour is not a deviation from His plan—it is His plan A. Embrace it with trust and confidence.
Do not despair. Do not lose heart. Our God is faithful, and He will never abandon or forsake us. If He is leading you beyond the borders of your comfort, follow Him anyway. Anywhere with Him is plan A. He is our plan A.
