Beginnings
GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy
Judges
JoshuaJudgesRuth
Kingdoms
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings
Chronicles
1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEsther
Poetry
JobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of Solomon
Prophets
IsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDaniel
Minor Prophets
HoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicah
NahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachi
Messiah
MatthewMarkLukeJohnActs
Paul's Letters
Romans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians
1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrews
General Letters
James1 Peter2 Peter1 John
2 John3 JohnJude
Revelation
Revelation
Kept for this visit
Notes, starred verses and bookmarks kept while signed out last until this visit ends. Create a free account and everything you keep here moves into it, saved for good.
Create an account Sign in

Morning and Evening

May 12, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again." — Genesis 46:3,4 · KJV

Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land where his fathers had lived and settling among foreigners. It was a new scene, and likely to be a trying one; who would go among the courtiers of a foreign monarch without anxiety? Yet the way was plainly appointed for him, and so he resolved to go. This is often the position of believers now. They are called to dangers and temptations they have never faced before. At such times let them follow Jacob's example by offering sacrifices of prayer to God and seeking His direction; let them not take a single step until they have waited on the Lord for His blessing. Then they will have Jacob's Companion as their friend and helper. How blessed to feel sure that the Lord is with us in all our ways and stoops to go down into our humiliations and exiles alongside us! Even beyond the ocean our Father's love shines like the sun at full strength. We need not hesitate to go where Yahweh promises His presence; even the valley of the shadow of death grows bright with the light of that assurance. Marching forward with faith in their God, believers will have Jacob's promise too. They will be brought up again, whether from the troubles of life or from the chambers of death. Jacob's descendants came out of Egypt at the appointed time, and just so all the faithful will pass unharmed through the tribulation of life and the terror of death. Let us exercise Jacob's confidence. "Fear not" is the Lord's command and His divine encouragement to those who at His bidding are launching out onto new seas; the divine presence and protection forbid even one unbelieving fear. Without our God we would be afraid to move; but when He tells us to go, it would be dangerous to linger. Reader, go forward, and fear not.