Our Happy Home

Then Jacob said to Joseph,

“God Almighty appeared to me at Luz

in the land of Canaan

and blessed me,

and He said to me,

‘Behold, I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land

to your descendants after you

for an everlasting possession.’”

Genesis 48:3–4

Our journey through Genesis is drawing to a close. Jacob is on his deathbed. As he speaks with Joseph, he reminds him of the promise given by God to Abraham; the promise that includes the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and through Jacob.

This promise, this covenant, was and is an everlasting covenant. Jacob refers to God as God Almighty, El Shaddai, and he reminds Joseph that God is going to make their family a company of peoples and that the land promised them is in the land of Canaan. God let Jacob know that it would not be in his lifetime that the land would be in their possession, but in the lifetime of his descendants.

We know from history and from this present day that Israel has yet to fully possess her land, but we know that God’s Word is sure. He always keeps His word. One day El Shaddai will fulfill His word.

Behold, I will gather them

out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger,

in My wrath and in great indignation;

and I will bring them back to this place

and make them dwell in safety.

They shall be My people, and I will be their God;

and I will give them one heart and one way,

that they may fear Me always, for their own good,

and for the good of their children after them.

I will make an everlasting covenant with them

that I will not turn away from them, to do them good;

and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts

so that they will not turn away from Me.

I will rejoice over them to do them good

and will faithfully plant them in this land

with all My heart and with all My soul.

Jeremiah 32:37–41

I must admit that I eagerly anticipate that day, the day when Israel will occupy her land, the day when Jesus will reign as Lord of lords and King of kings. I long for the day when all the world will see that when God says forever, He means forever. I long for the day when the world will see that it is God who places the boundaries of the nations (Job 12:23). One day Jesus Christ will ride in on the clouds, clothed in all His brilliant majesty, and every eye will see and all will know that God is indeed El Shaddai.

Oh Father,

You are faithful and Your Word is true. Your purpose will be accomplished. How awesome it is to call You my God. My Jesus, thank You for the price You paid, the sacrifice You made, so that I might be included in and grafted into the covenant with Abraham. Oh Father, how I pray for the grafting in again of Your chosen nation (Romans 11:24), that those who are descendants according to the flesh might become descendants also according to faith. Oh Father, I pray for the day that all would see and know that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Oh Father, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

My Jesus, it is in Your name I pray,

Amen.