Faith Capsule: Unplanned journey can be exceedingly painful but often comes to a gainful end.
Genesis 28
Joseph’s errand of hours lasted for over thirteen years. Joseph’s journey began when Jacob (Israel) called on his beloved son Joseph, “And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.” Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.” (Genesis 37:13-14) The errand took Joseph away when he was at age of seventeen. What a journey? What a life? A very long and unplanned journey can be very challenging. Are you in any unplanned journey? The truth is, it can be exceedingly painful but it often comes to a gainful end. With Joseph, unplanned journey took him to the center of his divine assignment in life. By the time he came back into his father’s life, he was a man in the position of power. Joseph experienced change of story that delivered his whole family from the famine of his time and they could not suffer from the famine.
It is worthy to meditate on Joseph’s story in every journey of life.
After Jacob stole the blessings of Esau, there was no way of escape for Jacob from the wrath of his brother other than to run for his life. A time of running can lead to reposition man for a glorious ending. Jacob experienced unplanned journey. Jacob was directed by his mother to flee to her brother Laban in Haran. Rebekah said to Jacob to go, “And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away,” (Genesis 27:44) Jacob entered journey with no way of turning back. It was a journey which took him to center of divine assignment. Jacob, on the journey of his escape, came to a certain place, “Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:10-12) A certain place for Jacob was the particular place for his divine encounter; a place of God’s visitation and Gods assurance. Arriving at your certain place in the journey of life will place you in the center of God’s divine assignment for your life.
Prayer for today: Ask for the grace to keep you and not miss your certain place in the course of life journey.