Familiar Places

With different experiences & the same God

“And God spoke to Jacob in a vision at night and said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.’ “

Genesis 46:2-4 NIV

Egypt. It was a place of slavery and captivity for Joseph.

Then, it became a place of position and provision and prosperity.

Which later extended to his brothers and his dad - where it became a place of reunion and reconciliation.

We know from Exodus 1-2 that the 70 members of Jacob’s family multiplied and prospered in Egypt.

Then, over time, the prosperity of these people became a threat to Pharaoh. So, Egypt became a place of slavery and captivity, just as it had been to Joseph.

Egypt morphed into a place of deep sorrow as Hebrew baby boys were murdered at Pharaoh’s command to reduce the threat of the growing number of Hebrews.

Egypt was a place of their captivity for 400 years.

Before God delivered them through Moses.

Later, when toddler Jesus was in danger from Herod, God told Mary and Joseph to take him to Egypt to find refuge from Herod’s edict, again calling for the death of Hebrew boys.

The exact same place can be a place of captivity, sorrow, and slavery. And, a place of provision, prosperity, refuge, and flourishing.

Because by God’s great power, he can change everything.

By his constant presence, we can find hope and strength for every moment spent in any place or circumstance.