Genesis 46:2

Nature had acted in Jacob at Mamre, as soon as he believed the report about Joseph, and set him at once on the road to Egypt. But now the spiritual sensibilities have woken up, and are challenging the conclusions and ways of nature. This is very common. The saint is now feeling reserve, where the father had felt none. Jacob had not dealt with the Lord about this journey as he was beginning it. But the mind of Christ in him, his conscience in the Holy Spirit, so to speak, is now taking the lead. He reviews the judgment of nature, and reviews it in the light of the Lord... It was a mighty stir in Jacob's soul, and it was very acceptable to the Lord... so acceptable that He comes to him at once with words of comfort.

But Jacob seems to tremble a little at the thought of Egypt. There Abram had sinned, and there God had warned Isaac not to go. Jacob might say, "Joseph is still alive, I will go and see him before I die." But he seems to start his journey with some godly fear, because it was carrying him toward this Egypt. So when he reaches Beersheba, he pauses on his way and offers sacrifice to the God of his father. But now the hand of the God of his father will show itself to Jacob, to give him full confidence. He comes to him in a vision of the night, and adds His encouragement to that of Joseph's invitation and Pharaoh's desire.

Beersheba also belonged in a special way to his father Isaac, and Jacob's wanderings had begun from that spot — see Genesis 28:10. Jacob had now come full circle, if we may say so, and was back at the point of departure. So we find God Himself stepping in and dealing directly with him. Jacob had responded in faith. Yet God knew that the old Jacob nature was still strong in him, and He addressed him as such. The repetition of his name added emphasis to the revelation God gave.

But now God spoke to Israel in the vision of the night, after he had offered sacrifices to his father's God. He called him by his name of natural weakness, and told him to go down into Egypt without fear... God entered into the anxieties of His feeble servant and knew how to strengthen his tried heart.

God's greatness and majesty produced a striking response when He spoke in grace to saints of old. When He called, "Abraham, Abraham," the answer came at once: "Here am I." When He said, "Jacob, Jacob," the reply came at once too: "Here am I." To Moses He spoke, "Moses, Moses!" and Moses answered at once, "Here am I." When, however, the Lord Himself should come, Isaiah 52:6 says — more correctly translated — "I am THE SAME, that says, HERE AM I." Yes, indeed, He is "the same"... The same One is heard speaking as before, in the same manner, but as come down in lowly grace, "Martha, Martha!" and "Simon, Simon!"

And God has often used visions of the night. It is true that we have something far better. We have the vision of the day. We have the great vision of Christ shown in flesh. We have the vision of God showing Himself, speaking and acting for us in this world of sin and death.