Friday, January 29, 2016

All Things New: Israel, the Resurrection Road, Part 1

Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi.

Israel had sent all of his sons off to Egypt...and, to be honest, he did not know if he would see them again.  Aside from the dangers of thieves and bandits on the journey...and they were carrying a fair amount of money...there was the question of how they would be perceived when they got to Egypt.  Would their story be believed?  Would they all be released to come home?

He had no way of knowing how the journey went.  I'm sure that, by the time the small caravan of donkeys, carts and men arrived he had been anxiously watching the road for them for several days.

He had to have been astonished at the provisions...and puzzled by the empty carts as they rolled into the camp.  But he would also have counted the men as they approached, and his relief at seeing all eleven could easily have brought him to tears.

But the news they brought with them was so fantastic, so unexpected, so beyond understanding that they had to repeat it to him , and show him the proof of their news...Joseph was living!  And HE was the man they'd been dealing with in Egypt all along!  And he wanted them all to come and live close to him!  Look...he sent carts and provisions so the whole household could make the trip!

Israel limped up and down the line of carts and goods, accompanied by his exuberant sons, who were all talking at once, pointing out the care that Joseph and Pharaoh had taken to make sure they could make the trip.

Suddenly, Israel stopped.  Genesis 45: 27 reports that  the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

Imagine.  Twenty years of grief, of mourning, of regret for sending Joseph out to a horrible death, all lifted.  Joseph...his beloved son Joseph...had NOT been torn apart by animals as a young boy!  He was alive! And.. Israel could actually see him again.

Hope was reborn in Israel that day.

'I'm convinced!  My son Joseph is still alive.  I will go and see him before I die."

Israel had been living out his days in endurance...Rachel was gone, Leah was gone, Joseph was gone; he had no idea that God had a whole new road for him to walk.  He loaded up all his goods and began the journey.

When they arrived at Beersheba, they stopped for a bit and Israel offered sacrifices to God.  And that night, he had a vision.  God had not forgotten him all these years; he had another prophecy.

I am God, the God of your father.  Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.  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. (Gen 46:3- 4)

Israel was guaranteed that he would not die until he saw his son Joseph again, and he had God's promise that the great nation would come out of Egypt by God's hand.

No wonder his spirit revived; it was truly a resurrection.  He would see Joseph again.

Dare I hope that the dreams I have given up on could be revived?  Or is it better to reckon them as dead and gone, knowing that God would revive them if it suited His purpose?  

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