How do you think Jacob felt as he made this journey? There has to be a parallel with the story of the father welcoming the prodigal home. Let’s pray for the prodigals we know.

Beersheba (v1) was significant as it marked the boundary of the Promised Land. As Jacob sets out, God responds to his sacrifices with assurance of blessing and of his people’s return to the Promised Land (v2-4).

As we set out in faith we need to realise that God has wonderful ways of bringing assurance to His people through His word particularly. God knows when we are vulnerable and need encouragement.

The family of Jacob is now listed (v8-27). Jacob is called Israel here (which means ‘God preserves’) and this small family will one day come out of Egypt over one million strong. God can preserve and bless His people more than we can ever imagine.

Jacob is reunited with Joseph all these years and his life feels complete (v29-30). It has been many years since Joseph was forcibly removed from his family but God remained faithful and has now reunited them. We need to persevere in trials realising that God’s time-scale is different from ours, and in the end He will be shown to be faithful.