The Story: Chapter 3 The Bible: Genesis 37
Genesis 37:1 But Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 37:12-17 When his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.” “I’m ready,” Joseph replied. So Jacob said to him, “Go now and check on the welfare of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word.” So Jacob sent him from the valley of Hebron. When Joseph reached Shechem, a man found him wandering in the field, so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?” He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they are grazing their flocks.” The man said, “They left this area, for I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
Our story begins in the land of Canaan, specifically the Valley of Hebron. Jacob has settled here which is understandable considering Hebron is only a mile or two south of the cave of Machpelah near the field of Mamre—the burial site of Jacob’s grandparents, Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 25:9-10) the family patriarchs.
However, the brothers are off grazing sheep near Shechem—some 60+ miles away. Shechem. Why Shechem? We recall earlier in Jacob’s story that following his parting with his brother Esau, Jacob left Esau’s land to settle in Shechem and build an altar there naming that altar, “The God of Israel is God.” So the brothers are off grazing sheep in land their father owns. All seems fairly simple and logical, except that’s not where the brothers were. They had traveled some 20 miles further north to Dothan.
Whether through the assistance of one of the LORD’s messengers or through the general help of a local from that area, Joseph is guided (v. 15, by a man) to Dothan to find his brothers. Dothan. Why Dothan? Perhaps because of God’s ultimate plan to use Joseph to save God’s people. For it was Dothan where the Ishmaelite caravans from Gilead passed through on their route to Egypt (v.25).
Now here is the twist: Today’s lesson is not so much intended to be a lesson in geography as it is a lesson in trusting God’s plans rather than our own. We may not understand in the moment all the tiny twists and turns that happen in our life, but we can trust in our Heavenly Father who has a plan and who prepares every step of the way.
Today’s Prayer Suggestion: After taking a moment to reflect on some of the twists and turns in your own life, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the ways in which God has marked out His plan for your life. Thank Him for His presence and care each step of the way.
The devotional Location, Location, Location appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright © 1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
General format for WFMH devotionals will follow the pattern of chapters outlined in The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, M. Lucado & R. Frazee, Zondervan, 2005, 2008, 2011.
No comments:
Post a Comment