Sometimes, the most desperate of times can lead to unknowingly stepping onto the path of God. We can stumble into obedience, not knowing we are walking straight into His plan.
“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” 2 He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.” 3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.” (Genesis 42 v 1-5)
Jacob holds his youngest son, Benjamin, back, the one remaining son of his beloved Rachel. After losing Joseph years before, grief is still shaping what he is willing to risk.
Famine had arrived, and the question came – ‘What are we going to do?’ Will we do nothing and die, or move to survive?
No one knew what chapter awaited them next. If they had not acted as they did, God’s plan for their lives would have taken a completely different turn. Obedience to God often happens in the state of no awareness. This is His grace.
Jacob didn’t have the full picture. His sons didn’t either. They went to Egypt to survive, not knowing they were about to encounter a brother they thought was gone forever, and that God had been arranging every detail long before the famine arrived. Trust the chapter you’re in. He’s already written the one you can’t see yet.
Missions Paul 