Why did God have to tell Jacob not to be afraid to go down to Egypt? After all, he was about to receive the greatest blessing he could imagine – to see his long-lost son Joseph again. So, why would he be afraid to experience something so joyful?

Well, isn’t it true that even good changes in our lives can be scary? High school seniors are often a bit fearful when they go off to college. Teachers and students alike get a few butterflies on the first day of class. And how many brides and grooms have been nervous on their wedding day? Whenever we start a new chapter in life, it’s only natural to wonder what awaits us as we turn the page.

But the good news that we find in today’s passage is that God will be with us in the good times as well as the bad. Just as God promised to go with Jacob down into Egypt (Genesis 46:4), Jesus has promised to be with all of us, enabling us to serve Him until the end of time (Matthew 28:20). So, no matter what apprehensions we may have, we can be sure that we will not have to face them alone.

For that’s another wonderful truth that we find here: God keeps His promises. For if 70 members of Jacob’s family went down to Egypt (Genesis 46:27), then a great multitude came up from there in the days of Moses – 600,000 men in addition to countless women and children (Exodus 12:37-38). Everything happened just as God told Jacob it would (Genesis 46:3).

And we can be sure that God will keep His promises to us as well, promises of forgiveness and welcome for all who trust in Christ, promises to bless us and protect us, no matter what the future may hold. So let’s step out in faith. No matter what joys or sorrows this day may hold, God will be with us.

Genesis 46:1-4 (ESV)

So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
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.”