God’s Preservation: Trusting the God Who Goes With Us
From a sermon preached on Genesis 46:28–48:20
Have you ever come to a point in life when you thought, “I can’t keep going”? Maybe it was a season of chronic pain, financial strain, emotional weariness, or spiritual dryness. In moments like those, we often ask: How am I going to get through this? Genesis 46–48 reminds us of a truth we desperately need—God is not only present in our struggle, He is preserving us through it.
God Goes With Us (Genesis 46:28–47:31)
When Jacob is reunited with Joseph in Egypt, it is not just a heartwarming family reunion—it is the fulfillment of a promise. Back in Genesis 46:3–4, God assured Jacob, “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt… I myself will go down with you.” That promise shaped everything that followed.
God preserved Jacob and his family through famine, political transition, and relocation. Goshen, the land where they settled, was not just fertile—it was set apart. It was geographically and culturally isolated, and in that isolation, God protected their identity and kept them from being assimilated. Goshen became a picture of God’s wisdom and provision.
This same God often leads His people into unexpected places for their preservation and His purposes. Jacob may not have chosen Egypt, but God went with him there. And He will go with you too.
God Preserves His People (Genesis 47:13–27)
The contrast in this section is striking. While Egypt is consumed by famine and the people are forced to sell everything to survive, Israel thrives. Verse 27 says, *”Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.”
This is not merely agricultural success—it is covenant faithfulness. God is keeping His word to make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation. And He is doing it not in ideal circumstances, but in hardship.
This reminds us that our flourishing is not dependent on our environment, but on God’s presence and promises.
God Fulfills His Promises (Genesis 48:1–22)
As Jacob nears the end of his life, he passes on the covenant blessings to Joseph’s sons. But not as expected. He crosses his hands and blesses Ephraim, the younger, over Manasseh, the firstborn. Joseph objects, but Jacob is deliberate. Once again, God is not bound by human tradition.
God often chooses the unexpected to show that His grace, not human status, determines His blessing (1 Cor. 1:27).
Jacob also reflects on God’s faithfulness by recalling the name “El Shaddai” (“God Almighty”) in verse 3. This is the God who appeared to him at Luz and promised to make him fruitful. And now, in Egypt, Jacob sees those promises coming to life.
He asks not to be buried in Egypt, but in the land of promise. This isn’t nostalgia—it’s faith. He trusts that the God who has preserved him will fulfill the rest of His word. As Hebrews 11:13 tells us, Jacob died “not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.”
Jesus: The Fulfillment of God’s Preserving Grace
All of this points us forward to Jesus Christ. In Him, the promise to Abraham is fulfilled. Through Him, God grafts in those who were once outsiders (Rom. 11:17–24). In Him, we are justified, adopted, forgiven, sustained, and promised an eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:3–7).
Just as God preserved His people in Egypt, He preserves us in Christ. We are not promised ease, but we are promised endurance. As Jesus said in John 10:28–29, “No one will snatch them out of my hand.”
So What?
So whatever you are walking through today—know this: God goes with you. He provides for you. And He will bring you home.
Like Jacob, you may look back and say, “Few and evil have been the days of my life.” But you can also say, “God has walked with me, preserved me, and will fulfill every promise He has made.”
We trust God because He goes with us, preserves us, and fulfills His promises.
Take time this week to reflect on how God has preserved you. Share those stories with your children, your friends, or your small group. Let your life tell the story of God’s perseverance.
This post was adapted from a sermon preached at Knollwood Baptist Church by Pastor Nathan. Compiled with the help of AI-based writing tools for clarity and structure.