God's Direction Brings Assurance

Genesis 46:3-4, "...I am God, the god of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes."

Knowing the will of the Lord is important for many reasons.  One of which is to have God's hand of blessing upon that which we are doing.  The Lord revealed to Jacob that it was alright for him to go into Egypt.  God spoke of how he would bless Jacob and his family while in Egypt.  He would be present with them, and would give him a special blessing of being reunited with his son, Joseph, whom he thought was dead ("Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.")
Is there any one thing that you can think of that would surpass the blessing of being reunited with a son that you thought had died?  This is the "icing on the cake" as it were. The most important thing is to know God's eternal presence, to experience His power, to know His blessing upon our lives, but to have all of these things and to be reunited with your son, how special are these words to Jacob.

It is important that we live our lives with the assurance that we are doing the will of the Lord.  If not, life is futile, because we are struggling to make something of life in the power of the flesh.  Blessing, contentment, and strength are not found in the flesh, but in the presence and blessing of Almighty God.

I hope you are living with the assurance that you are in the center of God's will.  There is no other place that I want to be.  "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." (Ephesians 5:17)

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1.  Why is life futile when lived outside the realm of God's will?

2.  Name at least two advantages to knowing the will of God?

3.  Do you seek the will of the Lord regularly?  How would you go about seeking and knowing His will?

4.  Are you living your life with the assurance that you are pleasing God?  If not, what is hindering you?

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott