god moved
"Not only will I go down to Egypt with you; I will also bring you back here." —Genesis 46:4
Jacob needed a special revelation from the Lord to go to Egypt (Gn 46:2-3). Egypt was a pagan country, filled with idol worshippers. Egyptians bought Hebrews as their slaves. The Hebrews were the chosen people and were called to separate from the nations and not live with them. Nevertheless, the Lord gave Jacob a special revelation to go to Egypt.
This prefigures God's plan of salvation. The all-Holy, heavenly Father should have had nothing to do with this sinful world, yet He loved the world so much that He gave His Son (Jn 3:16). God became man (Jn 1:14). Jesus became sin in that He took on our sinful condition (2 Cor 5:21). The All-Holy Trinity moved to Egypt and lives not only with us, but within us (Jn 14:23; 17:23; 1 Cor 3:16).
God moved to Egypt to move Egypt to God. He chose us out of the world (Jn 15:19) to live in Him and with Him forever in heaven. He became man so we could share in His divine nature (2 Pt 1:4). He became sin that we might become the very holiness of God (2 Cor 5:21).
Prayer: Jesus, You reached out to me. Let me love the unlovable as You did.
Promise: "The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you." —Mt 10:20
Praise: God moved Jake to a new state to move him to a new state in his relationship with God.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Be Holy For I Am Holy.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 1, 2011
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