And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

Genesis 46:2-4

In Genesis 46, God has a big surprise for Jacob. The son Jacob thought was dead for the past 20 years is actually alive and the ruler of Egypt! In fact, God promises Jacob that he will see his son before he dies. Can you imagine how Jacob felt? He must have been so happy to go to Egypt to see Joseph.

We don’t always know God’s plan, but when He reveals it to us, it’s always amazing. Throughout this whole time, God didn’t tell Jacob that Joseph was alive. He could have, but He didn’t because it wasn’t the right timing in His plan.

Even Joseph himself says, that it was God that sent him to Egypt to prepare the way for his family. (Genesis 45:5) The famine was God’s way to force Jacob to move to Egypt. Way back in Genesis 15:13-14, God told Abraham that his descendants will be strangers and slaves in a foreign land. We now know that foreign land is Egypt.

God has a plan for you too. You might not know what it is, but you just need to trust and follow God. His plans are to ultimately bring Him glory which ultimately brings you great joy. You might not know what will happen right now, but live the part you know by faith.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6