Slices
Prepare
Is there anywhere that you have to go in the next week that you are not looking forward to? Talk to God about it.
Bible passage
Jacob goes to Egypt
46 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’
‘Here I am,’ he replied.
3 ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.’
5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters – all his offspring.
Genesis 46:28-34
28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.
30 Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.’
31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, ‘I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, “My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.” 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, “What is your occupation?” 34 you should answer, “Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.” Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.’
Explore
This is a historic moment. Israel (Jacob) is about to leave Canaan, the land of God’s promise (v 1). The unexpected emigration doesn’t catch God by surprise. Years earlier, he had forewarned Abraham that there would come a time when his descendants would migrate to a foreign land (Genesis 15:13), and now we know that land would be Egypt and God would again fulfil his promises (v 3).
Understandably, Jacob appears overwhelmed by the scale of the move: but see how tenderly God speaks to him. Calling him personally, by name (v 2), God anticipates and addresses his fears at the upheaval (vs 3,4). He treats Jacob as a person, not as a powerless pawn in his global game. Jacob is assured that, whatever else he has lost, he is not about to lose God because, amazingly, God too is on the move (v 4)! He will be as close to Jacob in Egypt as he has been in Canaan.
Jacob and Joseph are finally reunited (v 30) and the family settles in Goshen (v 28), where they will learn that there are no God-forsaken places because God’s care and power know no boundaries.
Respond
Do you know anyone who is facing the challenge of unsought change? Is there anything in today’s reflection that you could use to offer them comfort and hope? Ask for God’s wisdom to know what to do.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Leviticus 17,18; Acts 10
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Enabler Neil Jackson as he encourages Faith Guides and others in the Teesside area to connect with each other and support and pray for one other in the development of simple summer outreach activities. Pray that this project started last year will gain momentum in 2026.
