Uncharted Waters

Daily Devotional: Day 87

“Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.” 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” (Genesis 46:2-4, NKJV).

When God is about to do something big in your life, sometimes He takes you through unfamiliar territory. The Lord can make you great in the most uninspiring of circumstances. He can increase you anywhere, anytime. Due to the famine in the land of Canaan, Israel, i.e. Jacob, had to migrate with his entire family to Egypt where his son, Joseph, was a high-ranking government official. This was a new experience for Israel, so the Lord spoke to him in a vision, assuring him of His unfailing love. Israel went to Egypt as an individual; but he returned from Egypt as a nation. This speaks to God’s unlimited ability to transform you and turn your fortunes around. If you know that God is with you, you will also know that all things will work together for good for those who love God (cf. Romans 8:28).

Keep in mind that Israel died in Egypt. Yet God had promised that he would bring him up again from Egypt. Something is missing here, isn’t it? Not at all. True, as an individual, Israel died; but he lived, so to speak, through his descendants who became the nation called Israel. Israel died as an individual person, but he lived as a nation. It takes a miracle to transform an individual into a nation. And that’s the God we serve. Nothing is too hard for Him. Today, know that no matter where God takes you, He will glorify His name through you. He has not forgotten you.

What seems irredeemable in your sight, is redeemable in His sight. Where you don’t expect breakthrough, God will provide breakthrough. From California to Ethiopia, the Lord is God. He can bless and prosper you even in the darkest valley, in the strangest of places. He can make you shine where everyone thought you couldn’t shine. I’m young, but time and time again I’ve seen God’s power turn things around for me when all hope seemed lost. Sometimes you must make decisions that are necessary yet frightening. Fear not. The God of Israel shall give you victory where victory seems unlikely.

Prayer:

My Father and my God, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. You will prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. And your goodness and mercies shall follow me all the days of my life. Halleluiah! Amen.

For further study: Matthew 2:1-15