YISHARAL AFRAID TO LEAVE CANAAN (GEN 46)
So Yisharal set out for Egypt with all his family and possessions, leaving everything he knew and loved behind him and as they departed, he remembered the words that had been given to his grandfather Abraham about his family leaving the land that had been promised to them for generations and being slaves in a land that is not their own, and (despite the excitement of being reunited with is favourite son), Yisharal was getting very distressed at the thought of leaving the protection and influence of the promises given to him in this land, and he wasn’t sure if YAHUSHA would look after him and bless him in another country.
So when he came to Beersheba, to the stone-table (altar) where YAHUAH had communicated to his grandfather Abraham and father Isaac years before, Yisharal offered up sacrifices also, asking for guidance and protection on this huge undertaking, which was happening so late in his life.
And during the night YAHUAH came and spoke to him in a vision. “Jacob! Jacob!” He called.
“Yes I’m here,” Yisharal replied.
“I am the Alahim of your father, remember? Don’t stress or be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I have prepared a very special place for all of your family and they will become a great nation. I Myself Am going down with you to Egypt, and I Myself will bring you back out again to this promised land. You will die in Egypt, but your eyes will finally get to see your darling son again.”
So Yisharal left Beersheba much more confident in YAHUAH’S promises, and his sons took him to Egypt, carrying him and their little ones and their wives on the carts. And they also took all their livestock and all the belongings they had acquired in the land of Canaan (his wealth, possessions and people resembled a small city!) And Yisharal and his entire family went to Egypt: sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters, all his descendants and the total number of them was around 200 people (70 men).
