A Personal Relationship with the Living God

Summary of Genesis 46 – Jacob and his entire family set out to Egypt. By way of Beersheba Jacob offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Jacob in a vision. He assured him of his presence and told him not to fear the change. After this, the entire family continued to Egypt. The entire lineage of Jacob and his descendants are listed. Jacob sent Judah ahead to get directions to Goshen. Joseph met them in Goshen. Joseph hugged his father and wept for a
long time. Jacob said that he is now ready to die because he now knows that Joseph is still alive. Joseph informed them what he would go to the Pharaoh and say explaining that they are shepherds and have brought all of their animals and everything they own. Joseph told them what to say when the Pharaoh summons them so that they will be granted permission to settle in the region of Goshen.

Takeaways

•  Jacob lives and Canaan and has been blessed his whole life there. Now Joseph is asking him to move to Egypt. Previously, Jacob has been told to stay
  away from there. Because he has a relationship with God, he decides to go to Beersheba, the location of his father Isaac’s altar where he has witnessed
  God before, and asks God what he should do. Jacob decides not to live through a fixed set of rules about God, but through his relationship with God.
• A relationship with his children is the heart of our God. This relationship is how He reveals himself to us.
• God wants you to hear his voice and follow his direction. God speaks through his word and through the Holy Spirit. Ask. Seek. Knock. As long as we step
  up in obedience, He will do all of the work.
• “Hesitate, my dear friend, while you are not sure that it is God’s will; but when, once you are certain that it is according to the Lord’s mind, it will be unfaithfulness to God to have any kind of fear. Steam straight ahead, for that way lies your haven.” (Spurgeon)

One Couldn’t Help But Ask…

1. Egypt was a major change for Jacob and his family (once called to stay away and now be called toward). Has God ever called you to your own “Egypt” in your life?
2. Jacob searched out his father Isaac’s alter in Beersheba to hear from God. Do you have a particular place to go and pray and hear from God? Do you even
   need a place?
3. How do you know when it is God who is speaking into your life? What is an appropriate reaction when you are seeking an answer from God?
4. What does it look like to be in/How can you have—a personal relationship with God where you feel his presence?