Genesis-142 – Know This for Certain

Genesis 46:1–6

 

“Israel set out with all he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 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. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you up again; and Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes.” Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went down to Egypt.” Amen.

 

The Visible Reality and the Invisible Truth of God

Today's passage records the scene of Jacob and all his family going down to Egypt.

 

Since hearing the news that Joseph was alive, Jacob's heart began to regain its vitality. Jacob's expression, saying, "I must go and see my son," would have been filled with such joy and enthusiasm that we would have leaped up had we been there. Jacob, who had lived a somber, gray life in dejection for long years after losing Joseph, was unable to enjoy true joy until he finally gained great strength upon hearing news of his son.

 

However, perhaps because we live in an Eastern culture, or perhaps because of the Korean sentiment, one might raise the question: If Joseph had risen to such a high position in Egypt, wouldn't it have been more natural for the son to visit his father? Of course, this might be a somewhat Oriental perspective. While the Bible does not explain it in detail, passages throughout the Scripture show Jacob and Isaac both seeking out and greeting their fathers. Yet, Joseph does not come himself but instead asks his father to come to him.

 

The Beginning of Salvation History

Looking only at the visible facts, this was because there was a severe famine in the land of Canaan, making survival impossible. It is superficially a highly reasonable fact that they went down to Egypt for survival due to the famine. However, dear readers, you are already familiar with not only Genesis but also Exodus. Was the reason, then, merely the famine?

 

It was precisely the way God's history of salvation began. As mentioned before, while there is a visible reality (fact), simultaneously, there is an invisible truth of God that penetrates that reality.

The visible reality was that there was a famine and difficulties had struck. Thus, Joseph's request, "Father, come down to Egypt. We will ensure you live well in the land of Goshen," was an actual occurrence.

 

But what was the truth lying behind it? It was that through this event, God was enabling the Israelites to become a great nation in Egypt and was bringing about the history of salvation in the form of the Exodus.

 

Ultimately, their descent into Egypt was not merely a migration for survival. They were in the midst of a providential process of fulfilling God's history of salvation.

 

Beersheba, the Well of the Oath

Jacob departed from Hebron and, on his journey toward Egypt, first turned his steps toward a place called Beersheba. Hebron is located in an area not far from the Dead Sea.

 

'Beersheba' is a compound word meaning 'well' and 'oath,' which literally means 'Well of the Oath.' Since 'sheba' also signifies the number seven, some interpret it as the 'Seven Wells.'

 

Beersheba is an extremely important place in Jacob's life. Although Jacob is now leaving the land of Canaan to go down to Egypt, this is actually not the first time he has left Canaan. He had left once before. Where did he go then? It was to Haran, the land of Paddan Aram. Why did he go there? He fled in fear of losing his life, being pursued by his brother Esau, and his maternal relatives lived there. This was a long time ago.

 

Do you remember where Jacob started his flight north to Haran? Since I've given many hints through today's message, those who are quick-witted may guess.

 

The place Jacob first departed from when he fled north was Beersheba, where Isaac lived. And now, as he leaves the land of Canaan again to go to Egypt, he returns to Beersheba. By now, one can understand how profound and momentous a meaning Beersheba holds for Jacob.

 

There is one more crucial significance contained here. When the Bible speaks of the boundaries of the land God promised to Israel, the extent of that territory is usually expressed as 'from Dan to Beersheba.' Dan is the northernmost point, and Beersheba is the southernmost. Therefore, Beersheba is the southernmost boundary of the Promised Land. Just before leaving the Promised Land, Jacob visited Beersheba, the border line. This is an action with a considerable significance that is by no means trivial.

 

And what was the very first thing Jacob did there? It was offering a sacrifice.

 

The Sacrifice at Beersheba

The fact that Jacob offered a sacrifice at Beersheba may seem natural, but by reading the Old Testament, we can discern that there is a certain pattern to sacrifices. For instance, when Abraham arrived in the land of Canaan from the distant land of Haran, what did he do in Shechem or other places? He offered a sacrifice and built an altar. Scenes of building altars to offer sacrifices to God are recorded in many places.

 

And when are sacrifices usually offered? It is customary to offer a sacrifice as a response after God has spoken to Abraham in a certain way or after God has performed some act. That is, the dominant pattern is that God speaks first, and Abraham responds to the word by building an altar and offering a sacrifice.

 

However, the sacrifice of Jacob recorded in today's passage appears somewhat unexpected. This is because, immediately after the sacrifice, God's word immediately follows, just as we read in the text. The order is reversed. Originally, God should have spoken first, and Jacob should have built the altar, saying, "Thank you for your word, God." But this time, Jacob's sacrifice comes first.

 

Jacob's Reason for Sacrifice: Gratitude and Fellowship

Why, then, did Jacob offer a sacrifice before God's word?

 

While the Korean Bible translates this as 'burnt offering' (희생제사), the Hebrew word used here, 'zebah' ($zebah$), is actually a broad term that includes not only burnt offerings but also general sacrifices, particularly the fellowship offering (or peace offering). Interestingly, this word appears only twice in Genesis chapters 12 through 50, distinguishing it from other words referring to sacrifice.

 

One instance appears in today's passage (Gen 46:1), and the other is recorded in Genesis 31:

“Then Jacob offered a sacrifice ($zebah$) on the mountain and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.” (Gen 31:54)

 

This sacrifice is in the form of the fellowship offering (or peace offering), with which you are familiar. Its characteristic feature is sharing the offering after the sacrifice is complete. The fellowship offering strongly embodies the meaning of communion with God, peace, and gratitude.

 

While there is no specific mention of sharing bread in today's passage, Old Testament scholars like Wenham and Hamilton analyze that in this context, gratitude for the fact that Joseph is alive and thanksgiving to God for preserving them even amidst the famine are much more prominent than the meaning of sacrifice for sin or atonement.

 

There are three types of fellowship offerings in the Old Testament. First, the votive offering (or offering of vows) is made to God as a vow; second, the thanksgiving offering (or offering of thanks); and third, the fellowship offering (or peace offering) for communion, joy, and fellowship. None of these three offerings centers on propitiation or substitutionary atonement; they are all sacrifices offered as an expression of our joy and gratitude for what God has done for us.

 

Therefore, we can understand from today's passage that Jacob is offering this sacrifice out of gratitude to the God who saved Joseph and the God who delivered them from the famine. This is precisely the reason why Jacob offered a sacrifice at Beersheba just before departing for Egypt.

 

The God of Your Father Isaac

If we examine Jacob's sacrifice in depth, we can see that its meaning is not limited merely to gratitude. Let us look again at the end of Genesis 46:1, which we read. When Jacob offers the sacrifice, the Bible records the recipient as: “He offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.” This is truly peculiar. If Jacob is offering the sacrifice, it should rightly say, "the God of Jacob." Yet, it deliberately mentions the God of "his father Isaac."

 

What is even more surprising is that God speaks identically. That night, God appeared to Jacob and said the following in Genesis 46:3:

“And God said, ‘I am God, the God of your father...’”

 

God also mentions "your father" identically. The 'your father' mentioned here, of course, refers to Isaac. There is a clear intention contained in God's deliberate mention of the God of Isaac when responding to Jacob's sacrifice. Why did He specifically mention the God of Isaac?

 

Jacob's Fear: Concern about Leaving the Promised Land

God then continues to speak:

“I am the God of your father... Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.”

 

Through these words, we can surmise Jacob's state of mind. Jacob is not at peace right now, but is filled with fear. What is he afraid of? He is afraid of going down to Egypt.

 

Migration—the necessity of going to a foreign land—is a heavy burden. All of us know this well, having experienced immigration. On the night before immigrating, there may be excitement, but patriarchs responsible for their families spend sleepless nights with countless worries about how they will live there and what they should prepare. Jacob, too, must have felt immense anxiety and fear before his migration to Egypt.

 

Isaac's Experience, and the Meaning of Beersheba

But did God merely say, "Do not be afraid" because of the fear of going to a strange foreign land? Let us now trace the reason why the person Isaac was mentioned.

 

Isaac also experienced a time when famine forced him to leave the land of Canaan. His father, Abraham, also had the experience of going to Egypt to escape famine. But let us read from Genesis 26 what happened when Isaac encountered a famine.

 

“Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech, king of the Philistines... But the LORD appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt.’” (Gen 26:1–2, summarized)

 

Isaac encountered a famine, but God distinctly commanded him not to go down to Egypt. Isaac never went to Egypt. And the place where he received this revelation, Gerar, is located in the vicinity connected to Beersheba.

 

Jacob is now at Beersheba, where Isaac and Abraham had built altars, and he is offering a sacrifice. The Bible emphasizes that this sacrifice was offered to the God of your father Isaac.

 

God's intentional mention of the God of Isaac while saying, “Do not be afraid,” to Jacob, who is on his way down to Egypt, suggests that Jacob's fear was likely not the simple fear of going to a strange foreign land that we might assume. His fear may have been a spiritual concern that he might be disobeying the command God gave his father Isaac: ‘Do not go down to Egypt.’

 

The Fear of Leaving the Promised Land

The evidence that Jacob's fear was not merely anxiety about migration is even clearer. While Abraham or Isaac might have felt anxiety and fear because they had to go to a strange land for survival, Jacob's situation was completely different. Who was waiting for Jacob in Egypt? It was Joseph. Pharaoh himself sent carriages, and Jacob received tremendous gifts. As the father of the Viceroy, the second most powerful man in Egypt, he would receive the highest possible respect, and was even promised Goshen, one of the very best parts of the land.

 

This is what we would call 'shooting fish in a barrel.' Jacob had absolutely no reason to worry about his livelihood or survival like Abraham or Isaac. From this pragmatic perspective, there could be no fear about going to Egypt.

 

Nevertheless, Jacob was afraid. What was the reason?

 

It was because of the God who told Isaac 'not to go.' God had clearly prevented his father Isaac from going to Egypt. Why did He prevent him? It was because Canaan was the Promised Land. But now, the fact that God was leading him to Egypt caused him to agonize deeply.

 

Therefore, Jacob's fear was not a vague fear of the unknown land he was entering for the first time, but rather a fear that stemmed from the promise given by God.

 

 

Can the Promise Be Abandoned?

Jacob is now 130 years old. He spent nearly half of his long life suffering due to his brother Esau, and the rest of it living in a gray age after losing Joseph. But what was it that he never let go of and clung to throughout all his suffering and hardship?

 

His entire life began from the moment he sought to obtain the birthright. Why did he want the birthright? It was because God had granted the Promised Land and bestowed its rich blessings upon the firstborn. Jacob wanted to receive that blessing. For most of Jacob's 130 years, his life's purpose was hinged on that Promised Land, Canaan.

 

But now he was faced with the situation of having to leave that Promised Land. In Bethel, God had promised, "I will give this land to you and make a nation out of you." Having received that promise, and now having to leave the land, he was deeply contemplating. 'Is it permissible to leave this Promised Land? This was the goal on which I staked my entire life; can I abandon it? God clearly told my father Isaac not to go; is this path I am taking truly the right one?' Although he had heard all the details from Joseph, he was wrestling with a fundamental dilemma.

 

Jacob was originally a man who lived according to his own will. He was a person who tried to manipulate and keep God's promises in his own way through his own strength. Yet, astonishingly, he is now asking God for direction.

 

“God, is this path to Egypt truly the path you desire? If I leave this place, what will happen to the promise you gave me? My entire life was lived looking toward that promise; what will remain for me if I must leave Canaan?”

 

Consider this from Jacob's perspective. This was not something he could lightly say, 'Oh, fine,' and go, just because Joseph called him. It was a decision that involved his entire 130 years of life. He was hesitating and waiting for an answer, saying, "God, may I abandon your promise and go?"

 

Jacob, Jacob

That night, God appeared to Jacob, and something uncommon in the Bible occurs:

“Jacob, Jacob.”

 

God called his name twice. Do you remember when God urgently called a name twice like this before? It was when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. At that moment, God said, “Abraham, Abraham, do not lay a hand on the boy,” stopping human plans and unfolding God's will. Calling a name twice like this signifies the urgency of the matter and a moment when the most important message is about to be delivered. It was the God who proclaimed Jehovah Jireh—'I have prepared something for you.'

 

Again, after calling "Jacob, Jacob," God says this:

“I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.”

 

God very clearly alleviates Jacob's fear.

“I know what you are worried about, what makes you anxious. You may be anxious about going down to Egypt, but you are even more anxious because of your father Isaac. Do not worry.”

 

Contrary to what we generally assume, Jacob was not afraid of going to Egypt for pragmatic reasons. Consider the cases of Abraham and Isaac. God told Abraham to go down to Egypt during a famine, but He told Isaac not to go, even though he faced the same famine. This shows that the issue of location—whether to go to Egypt or not—was not the most essential matter.

 

What is the Idol in My Heart?

Why, then, did God sometimes command Abraham and Isaac not to go to Egypt, and yet command Jacob to go down?

 

It was because the core issue God presented was distinct. There was something more crucial than the outcome of their choice—whether they went to Egypt, stayed in Canaan, or went to another country. God desired to train something within their lives and character during the process of making that decision.

 

Abraham and Isaac, when encountering famine and going elsewhere, both made the mistake of lying that their wives were their sisters. Why did they do that? They feared that people might kill them there—that is, they feared people.

 

This demonstrates that their fear of people harming them was far greater than the promise God gave, "I will be with you."

 

God's question is different from ours. Our question is usually this: 'What should I do?' When faced with a choice, we always ask, 'God, what would be best?' Hidden beneath this is actually this meaning: 'God, what should I do so that it benefits me more, is more profitable to me, and leaves me with more gains?' Our question is always the same: 'Will something better happen if I do this? Will the way be wide open ahead? Will this put me on the high road?' We ask about immediate gain and success.

 

While the path you choose is certainly important to God, God desires us to ask this question and asks it of us: “Where is your heart?”

 

To rephrase this using various biblical terms: “What is your idol? What do you consider the most important thing in your life right now?” God seeks to expose this very core and train them in it. The same idol of 'fearing people' was revealed in Abraham and Isaac, and God trained them through it.

 

We ask, 'Which path should I take?' or 'What should I do?' These are important questions too. But again, I repeat. God's word asks, “Where is your heart, what is your idol, is your promise with the Lord more important, or are the people visible to you more important?”

 

From this perspective, Jacob had a slightly different challenge. This was because he had few practical things to fear. Joseph was there, and Pharaoh welcomed him, so he had no worries about settling down and making a living immediately.

 

The Idol of Trusting People

But dear friends, a situation with no pragmatic worries was paradoxically an even more difficult challenge for Jacob. In fact, God presented the same essential problem: ‘Will you fear people, or will you trust people? More than God's promise.’ The problem of fearing people and the problem of trusting people were both of the same nature—seeing something other than God as greater.

 

The problem of relying on people is actually harder than the problem of fearing them. The issue for Jacob was whether he would go to Egypt by relying on Joseph or by relying on Pharaoh's favor. To think, 'Everything is prepared for me there, they are making arrangements for my arrival and will resolve all my needs, so I have no problem,' and proceed down that path, also constitutes setting up another idol. God does not back down from this issue at all.

 

God tells Jacob, “Look not to Joseph, but to Me who saved Joseph.” The clear message from God was: Remember Me, who is actually preparing all these things for you and is guiding you, rather than Joseph, who is merely arranging everything for your benefit.

 

That is why Genesis 46:4 begins as follows:

“I will go down to Egypt with you…”

 

This is God's answer. If Joseph is there, what does it matter if God is far away? If Joseph is preparing everything, does God need to come close? There would be no worries about food, and Jacob would live well.

 

To reflect this on our reality, imagine immigrating to America where all your close family members are there, securing a job and handling everything for you. Then you can leave with confidence, thinking, 'I'll be fine once I get there.' But what happens if you arrive and find that everyone is too busy and no one looks after you? That is when resentment and conflict can arise among family members. "How could you do this when I came here trusting you?" Many people may have learned this through such experiences.

 

Dear friends, all these events that happened to Jacob were actually intended by God to show, “What do you trust, and what is your idol?” Indeed, the real reason God commanded Jacob to go down to Egypt was precisely this: “Because I will go with you. Therefore, you may go to Egypt.”

 

It doesn't matter where that place is. It's fine if it's in a flood of tears, even if you fall into an unavoidable pit of despair, even in the valley of the shadow of death, even if you are in pain and struggle due to too many wounds, the core message is: “I will go down with you.”

 

In our lives, whatever choices you and I make as we live, whatever crossroads we stand at, whatever decisions we reach, the most important thing is not first: 'What are the circumstances, how well can I do there, how much profit will I gain from it, and how well will I live in the future?' The first criterion is: “God is going down with me.” Before asking, 'What should I do?' we must first ask, ‘Where is my heart, and what is my idol?’

 

God Reveals Our Idols

Dear friends, we often find ourselves at difficult crossroads of choice. What do you ask about then? "Will I gain a house if I do this? Will I get better treatment at work if I do this? How much will I be able to possess if I do this?" Is this the most important standard in your decisions? Or do you make decisions with faith in the God who is with you in any path?

 

Let me share a passage from an American pastor's writing. This pastor was a parent with several children. He recorded the following:

“My wife and I, with young children, had to make a very important decision regarding our children's education. We agonized over whether to send our children to public school, private school, or whether to homeschool. As we wrestled with that decision, God began to reveal a crucial truth to my wife and me. We thought we were struggling with the problem of choosing a school, but in reality, we failed to realize that we were wrestling with the idol of educational achievement as a means to worldly success, that is, 'How can my child succeed?' regardless of the choice we made.”

 

To put this more simply, no matter which school was chosen, the underlying most important principle deeply rooted in their hearts was ensuring the child studied well to secure a good job and a good future.

 

Furthermore, the pastor said that he also had the idol of arrogance—'I want to make a choice different from what others think is the obvious answer'—and even the idol of laziness—'The Christian school is right across the street, so commuting will be convenient.' And he realized he had the idol of materialism—'Public school is free, so it will be financially advantageous for me.' During this decision-making process, God exposed the idols hidden within them one by one. The decision was not merely 'the problem of choosing a school'; it was a much larger plan that God had prepared for them, and God was training them by revealing the idols of their hearts.

 

Dear friends, what about you? When you stand at a crossroads of choice, or when you discipline your children, or talk with your spouse, or work in the church, or live in your workplace—what is in your heart as you do these things? What is your idol? Shouldn't we first examine what is truly important to us?

 

For those with children, the previous story may resonate, but for those who have already raised their children, it might not hit home deeply. So, let me share a story that may resonate more universally.

 

How about shopping? We all learned from childhood that impulse buying is bad and wastefulness is wrong, and we naturally believe we should abide by that. We still believe that living thriftily is important, and we teach our children, “Don't buy unnecessary things.” But dear friends, are you aware that we can commit idolatry even while being thrifty?

 

In buying things, our concerns are usually this: First, is it necessary for me? Second, does it fit within my budget or not? If we have a lot of money, we buy; if we don't, we don't buy. Most shopping is done this way. Then what becomes the most important thing? It is money. Friends, if 'whether I have money or not' becomes the most important standard in purchasing items, then money remains your idol.

 

Where is the glory of God? Where is the pleasing of God? Did you not confess that everything you possess belongs to the Lord? We confess with our mouths that everything belongs to the Lord, but when we actually use it, we think it is all ours. Shouldn't we reconsider this attitude?

 

The Assurance That God is With Us

I am confident that I am among the happiest 1% of pastors in the world. This is because God has given great grace, allowing many of those with whom I have shared faith to show me 'what God's grace is,' and I am always grateful for that.

 

Consequently, there are many things to be thankful for. It is the same when discussing church finances. When discussing finances, there is a risk that money can easily become an idol. Finances are always insufficient. In fact, an abundance of resources is the problem, while a lack is not. Abundance is a problem because disputes arise over the surplus money. But what do we do when there is a lack? We pray. Insufficient finances often become a means to experience God's grace, so they are often lacking. In such times, it is truly a happy thing to be able to minister alongside elders, deacons, and church officers who are well aware of financial struggles and human weaknesses, as we consider, "What will please God?"

 

I am grateful. That is why I said I am in the 1%. This conviction becomes even clearer when I recall the many people with whom I have shared faith, those who have returned to Korea, and those who have labored together for the Word of God. We made many mistakes, underwent many hardships, and were truly foolish and weak in many aspects, but God has been faithful, and He is still firmly establishing this church as His own. We often become lazy, frequently get frustrated, disappoint one another, suffer from wounds, and sometimes rejoice over trivial things, patting ourselves on the back, saying, 'We are doing well.' However, God is establishing this church as a holy temple through all those events. Every time I see His hand at work, I am filled with deep gratitude. “Ah, this is the work of God.”

 

I Will Go Down to Egypt With You

Dear friends, Joseph could easily become an idol for Jacob. The moment Jacob relies on Joseph, he becomes an idol, and later, that very Joseph could become the source of Jacob's anxiety and worry. Indeed, doesn't that happen later on? What happens if Joseph is gone? What happens if Pharaoh's heart changes? Everything the Israelites relied on was something without substance that could collapse in an instant.

 

We know well that an abundance of food, clothing, or comfort does not truly reassure us. Nevertheless, we are constantly more drawn to these worldly things, and even while proclaiming, "No, it's God," in our minds, we experience our footsteps being continually pulled in that secular direction.

 

However, the Lord is now giving Jacob a firm promise: "I will go with you, wherever you go."

 

Whatever the situation, whatever the circumstances, whatever your emotional state, it does not matter. Whether you enter deep sorrow, are in great joy, or are overwhelmed with despair, or if you are depressed and powerless, crying out distressfully, “Lord, what on earth should I do?” or if you are financially dark and unable to do anything, or are helpless due to physical weakness, even if all your efforts crumble and you think, "Ah, is my life over here…," the Lord says:

“I will go with you even to that point. I will go with you even to that place.”

 

Wherever that place may be, that is the most powerful and eternally unchanging promise the Lord has given us.

 

I Will Surely Bring You Up Again

Now, finally, I want to share with you the word of God that the Lord spoke, a word I have cherished and treasured. It is the latter part of today's passage, verse 4. Let us read verse 4 together.

 

“I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” (Gen 46:4)

 

Dear friends, this promise has an original source (original covenant). I will read that source for you; see where this word originated.

 

“Then the LORD said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward your descendants will come out with great possessions.’” (Gen 15:13–14, summarized)

 

Friends, Jacob's descent into Egypt is not an act that breaks the promise of Canaan given by God. Rather, it is becoming a providential process of fulfilling that promise of Canaan. God confirms, "I will go down and surely come up with you."

 

Therefore, what Jacob had to fear was not the current situation. It was not his emotional fluctuations. It was not really the result of his personal judgment of like or dislike. It was not his mood that changed with the weather, nor his worries and anxieties that changed every hour. Rather, the Lord was saying:

“I will go down even with your anxiety. I will go down with you even into the darkest part of your life that you cannot share even with others. I will save you, make you complete, and glorify you. I will surely return with you.”

 

There were treasures in Egypt, Joseph made a promise, and Pharaoh sent carriages. But those things could not be everything to Jacob. They could not be Jacob's true concern. God deals with Jacob with just this one statement: “I will be with you.”

 

The Promise Given to the First Readers, the Israelites

Dear friends, while we learn many things as we read the Bible, there is one thing we must always consider. That is, who were the first readers of this word? When Moses wrote Genesis, the first people who read it were the Israelites who had just come out of Egypt.

 

In fact, this Genesis contains many things for those who were experiencing the Exodus. The Israelites, who crossed the Red Sea and came out into the wilderness, heard the message of Genesis first, not Exodus. They are now in the wilderness and do not know where they should go.

 

Dear friends, even Moses did not know. Even though Moses was the leader. I think it would be good for all of you to experience being a pastor sometime. It is truly astonishing; even the pastor does not know what to do or what should be done. What do I know? But the thing is, we have the Lord.

 

The Israelites were people who followed only the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire, not knowing where to go. How anxious must they have been? They were hardly sure of God's guidance. No one said, “Lord, if You speak, we will go!” with great faith. Did Moses, perhaps? What about Aaron? No one had such assurance.

 

But God is now speaking through Genesis: “Did I not promise Jacob? I will go down with you and surely come up with you.” And they are now personally experiencing the fulfillment of that word. Are the Israelites not currently enjoying that very promise?

 

Jesus Christ Who Ascends With Us

Now, let us turn to ourselves.

 

The Bible states in Ephesians: “If He who ascended and was glorified there is Jesus Christ, shouldn't He have descended first to ascend?” This means He clearly had descended to this earth. What did He do when He descended?

 

He saved you and ascended with you to that eternal fullness, did He not?

 

The Israelites who were leaving Egypt were astonished and joyful upon hearing this message, and they gained strength, saying, "God is ascending with us!" Indeed, when they were hungry, heaven opened and manna descended; when there was no water, the rock was struck and water gushed out; and when they desired meat, quails gathered. God provided everything, and they experienced it practically.

 

Why would it not be the same for us? Why can we say that we cannot see this clear evidence shown by Christ?

 

Christ came to this earth. He descended with you to every part of your life. He descended into your tears, into your sin, and into your pain, wounds, and the darkest places you could not speak of to anyone.

 

And according to the promise, “I will surely ascend,” He is leading you to the Kingdom of God, to the Kingdom where He said, "I dwell with you in heaven."

 

We are the people who see and experience this. You are not ordinary people. You are witnesses to this work of salvation and are the people experiencing it together. Therefore, I ask you one final question:

 

Where are you standing now?

 

You might think to yourself:

·       'I feel so powerless these days; nothing good is happening, and my heart feels endlessly heavy!' The Lord is with you.

 

·       Or do you feel, 'Everything is going well these days, and every word is a grace when I read the Bible!' The Lord is with you.

 

No matter what circumstances you are in, the Lord is advancing with you. And the one who will lead you back to the astonishing Kingdom of God's glory is also Jesus Christ. If, then, Jesus Christ is the one who descends with you and ascends with you, shouldn't you not deny the Lord, but deny yourself and follow Him as is right and proper?

 

Let Us Pray.

Lord, since You came down with us into our tears and wounds, we believe that You will also lead us to the astonishing Kingdom of Your glory, clothing us with joy instead of tears, and a garment of praise instead of anguish.

 

Lord, You know our pain; You will also oversee our healing and recovery, so guide us according to Your good will.

 

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.