Prayer: Father, thank You for giving night visions which give me insight and assurance into Your plans and provision for me. Amen.
Reading: Genesis 46 key: vs. 1-4
So Israel set out, along with everything that belonged to him. When he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 In visions of the night God said to Israel, “Jacob, Jacob.”
“Hineni,” he said.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,” He said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will turn you into a great nation there. 4 I Myself will go down with you to Egypt and I Myself will also most certainly bring you up. Joseph will put his hands on your eyes.”
Attention: Have you ever had one of those days when you receive the best news of your life? Your doctor told you that you are cancer-free. You have been unable to conceive and now confirmation comes that you are pregnant. Now you anxiously await nine months to hold your baby. You receive a not guilty verdict from the judge. Or, maybe like Israel, you are told that your son is alive! What better news could there be?
What would you do? Do you go out and celebrate at your favorite restaurant or brewery, throw a party? Did you notice what Israel did? “He offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.” He worshiped Adonai. He gave the One who had returned his son praise and glory. And God in response gave Jacob/Israel, night visions giving assurance of His presence and courage to make the trip. Twice Adonai repeats, “I Myself” will go down with you to Egypt ….and will bring you up. And He assures him, “I will make you a great nation there.”
What can we learn from Israel? God delights in having first place in your heart. In the book of Exodus, He gives Moses the commandments, in which He demands to be the only God (Exodus 20).
Have you given God an exclusive to your heart? Does Adonai have first place in your heart and life? Our actions tell our family and friends who has the priority in our life. I encourage you today, to consider how you start your day. Does your routine tell others who has priority in your life? Who do you thank first when good news comes your way? Do you talk freely about your relationship with God?
Action: When good news comes, Adonai will be the first to receive the glory and praise!
Yield: When my life is yielded, my heart is yielded and in the right position to worship Him.
Engage: Worship engages God.
Relationship: I am in relationship with God when I give Him vertical praise.
Prayer: Father, may I always give You first place in everything! The attitude of my heart affects the altitude of my praise! Amen.
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:18
18 He is the head of the body, His community.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead—
so that He might come to have first place in all things.
Music Video: Phillips, Craig & Dean—You are God alone https://youtu.be/ZOargNFiDd4
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”