Genesis 46:1-4 – The Dreamer’s Last Vision

Jacob has had many dreams throughout his life where God speaks to him, giving him instructions or encouragement. Usually Jacob has these dreams while travelling about from place to place. Now, on this last journey, God comes to him in a vision one more time. Jacob probably thought he would live and die in Canaan, but here he is trying to decide if he should move his entire family to Egypt. Proverbs 3:6 says, “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” In these verses we see Jacob acknowledging God, and God making his paths straight.

Jacob acknowledges God by offering sacrifices in Beersheba, remembering that his father and grandfather worshiped there. He knows that God is in a covenant with him, as He was with Isaac, Jacob’s father. These sacrifices are probably sacrifices of thanksgiving for the wonderful news of Joseph being alive and for the hope he has of seeing him. They are sacrifices asking for forgiveness of sins and requesting God’s presence to go with Jacob to Egypt. Finally, there will be sacrifices asking God what is the right thing to do. We offer sacrifices to God in our prayers, and they should be full of thanksgiving, confession of sin, requests for God’s presence with us, and His guidance in all we do.

If we speak to God as we should, He will not fail to speak to us. He comes to Jacob and directs his paths. God renews the covenant with Jacob. He encourages him to go to Egypt, promising him that he will multiply, that God will be with him, that his family will not be lost in Egypt, and that in life and death Joseph will be a comfort to him. We may go safely into the Egypts of this world if God goes with us, and we can be sure that He will bring us out again.