Genesis 46:1-30

Brothers and sisters, today we stand in awe of a truth that stretches beyond our lifetimes—a truth that reaches across generations, weaving together a story far greater than we can imagine. It is the truth of God’s providence in every season.

From the beginning, God had a plan. Before Joseph was thrown into the pit, before he was sold into slavery, before the famine struck the land, God was already at work.

And now, after years of separation, after decades of sorrow and uncertainty, the story comes full circle.

The Bible tells us that Jacob, the father of Israel, stood at a crossroads. His sons had returned from Egypt with news that Joseph—his beloved son, whom he thought was dead—was alive! Not only alive, but ruling in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. And not only ruling, but extending an invitation:

“Come to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come.”

Oh, what a moment! Imagine Jacob, an old man now, weary from years of grief. Could this be true? Was this truly God’s plan all along?

The Bible says Jacob set out on his journey to Egypt, but before he took another step, he stopped at Beersheba and offered sacrifices to God.

Oh, church, hear me—before we move into a new season, we must seek the Lord.

Jacob was not just following the call of his son—he needed to hear from his Father in heaven.

And that very night, God spoke to him in a vision.

“Jacob, Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

And the Lord 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. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again.”

Oh, what a promise!

Jacob had spent his life hearing the covenant promises passed down from Abraham and Isaac—the promise that his descendants would become a great nation. And now, God was telling him that the journey to Egypt was not a detour, but a divine step forward.

Church, sometimes God leads us into places we never expected.

Egypt was a land of exile, a land of foreign gods, a land where Jacob’s people did not belong. Yet, God was saying, “I will go with you.”

Oh, let me tell you today—where God sends you, He goes before you!

Jacob did not understand every detail. He did not know what lay ahead. But he knew one thing: God was with him. And so, he went.

And then came the moment—one of the most beautiful reunions in all of Scripture.

The Bible says that as Jacob and his family entered the land of Egypt, Joseph prepared his chariot and went to meet his father.

Now, I want you to picture this—Joseph, the ruler of Egypt, adorned in royal garments, leading a procession. But on this day, he was not coming to issue decrees or oversee grain distribution. No, on this day, he was coming to embrace his father.

And when he saw Jacob, he fell on his neck and wept for a long time.

Oh, what a moment! Years of pain, of separation, of questions—all washed away in a flood of tears.

And then Jacob, this man who had known heartbreak, who had spent years thinking his son was dead, simply said:

“Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Church, when we see the fulfillment of God’s promises, we can rest in peace.

Jacob had feared his days would end in sorrow, but instead, they ended in reunion.

Because God’s plans unfold across generations.

What seemed like loss was actually preparation. What seemed like delay was actually divine alignment. What seemed like tragedy was actually the hand of God at work.

And so, I say to you today—trust Him in every season.

You may not see the full picture. You may be in a place of waiting, a place of wondering, a place where the promise still seems far off. But let me remind you—God is still writing the story.

The same God who led Jacob, who reunited a broken family, who preserved a people in the midst of famine—He is leading you today.

Hold fast to Him. Seek Him in every step. And know that one day, when the time is right, you too will look back and see His hand in every moment.

Amen.