Bible in a Year January 16: Gen 45:16 – 48:7

 January 16: Gen 45:16 – 48:7

In these passages Jacob and his family leave Canaan and relocate to Egypt. It is interesting that the patriarch of the family is alternately called Jacob and Israel. I don’t know the significance of the back and forth references to him, but I did notice that God called him Jacob (verse 46:2) after he had renamed him back in verse 32:28.

Jacob/Israel had decided to make the move, and when he reached Beersheba (about 30 miles away from home) he offered sacrifices to God (verse 46:1). God spoke to him here in a vision at night and, after telling him not to be afraid, he confirmed that this trip to Egypt was what he should do. Don’t you wish God you come to you in a vision and tell you the path you are on was the right one?

The place of Beersheba sounded familiar to me so I went back to see why. It turns out this is a significant place! We first hear of it when Hagar and Ishmael are near death in the desert after Abraham sent them away for good. (Gen 21:14). Here God tells Hagar not to be afraid, states that he will make Ishmael into a great nation, and he creates a well of water to sustain and refresh them.

Later in the same chapter we see that Abraham makes a treaty with Abimelech here at Beersheba and he plants a tamarisk tree. He calls on the name of the Lord and refers to him as ‘the Eternal God.’ He stays in the area for a long time. (verses 32 – 34)

Then later in verses 26:23 – 33 Isaac relocates to the area of Beersheba, where God appears to hem and says “Do not be afraid, for I am with you,” and again reminds him of the promise of the future. Isaac built an altar there and creates a new treaty with Abimelech (probably the son of the one who made a treaty with his father).That same day his servants dig a well and find water.

So once more God meets his people in this place, Jacob this time, and again reminds them not to be afraid and confirms the future. Don’t you wonder if Jacob drank from the well his father had built?

Today Beersheba (also called Beersheva) is one of the largest cities in the Negev desert of South Israel. We shall hear more about it as we go through the Bible, but I’m curious to know if this place continues to be a holy place to meet God.

TOMORROW’S TEXT:  Gen 48:8 – Exodus 1:22