THROUGH IT ALL

Genesis 48:1-14< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

ÒThen they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. 17 Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, ÒDo not fear; you will have this son also.Ó 18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).Ó (Genesis 35:16-19) Before Laban, the father of both Leah and Rachel, plugged Leah, the sister of Rachel, onto Jacob, Rachel was the actual woman that Jacob initially wanted as a wife. Rachel was the favorite of Jacob; she was the mother of Joseph, the most beloved of all the children of Jacob. Joseph was sold to slavery and later framed by brothers as if wild animals devoured him. It was pain and agony to Jacob thinking and accepting there would be no way of seeing Joseph again. Life can indeed be difficult and challenging and everything can seem to be impossible, but Òwith God all things are possible.Ó (Matthew 19:26) JacobÕs most beloved wife died a painful death and now Joseph, the most beloved among all his children, is assumed to be dead from wild animals. Jacob was a first hand witness to how life is full of ups and downs. Have you lost anything or anyone so dear and you have thought there is no hope? It is important that we be careful of negative confession. In the midst of all kinds of agonizing challenges in our way, we can always and it is better to be confessing: ÒIt is wellÓ. Jacob thought it was over until he was able to see Joseph. He then testified, ÒAnd Israel said to Joseph, ÒI had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!Ó (Genesis 48:11) Have you been giving up to all that has been giving you up to pain, groaning, and mockery? It is not time for you to give up, but it is rather time for you not to give up because when there is life there is hope. Also, it is the wrong time to give up because the same God that answered in the name of Jacob has not given up in His business of doing well for His children. God is not a partial God, but a faithful and merciful God. Jacob did not just see Joseph, but he eventually saw Joseph and the children of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh). Again, if you will cast your entire care and burden on Him, He is able to see you through and He will never fail. Jacob saw through by seeing Joseph and you will also see-through in Jesus name.