turnipg11

                When Jacob finally let go of Benjamin and decided to trust, there was a period of time before he heard anything at all. Finally, after many days, the brothers returned and told him,

                " 'Joseph is still alive! In fact he is ruler of all Egypt.'" At first, Jacob did not believe them, but when he saw the evidence, we are told that "the spirit of their father Jacob revived." By letting down his wall, by letting Benjamin go, by deciding to trust; Jacob set in motion events that actually led to the restoration of him and his son Joseph. When Jacob first became aware of this, his spirit, (which had carried the terrible burden of grief for all those years), "revived" and came alive again.

                Later, when Jacob and his entire family went down to Egypt, Jacob came face to face with Joseph and they embraced "for a long time". Then Jacob says to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." (Genesis 46:30)

                Jacob had finally come to the place of healing and rest, not just because he had seen his son, but because he had let go of the wall and received what God had desired for him.

                We too can reach this place. When we lay down the walls that hinder us from fully devoting ourselves to God and trusting Him, we can reach the place of healing, the place of rest, and the place of revival. And within that place will be the glory of God.

                So what is this place? This place of healing? This place of rest? This place of revival? This place of glory?

                It is the place that Hebrews 11:6 and Matthew 11:28-30 speak of:

                "And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

                "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
              
                This place is none other than the presence of God.
              
                There is no other place to find the healing and the rest that will deliver us once and for all from all our fears, wounds, trials, and tribulations.

                So you can see why it is so important for us to lay down these walls. These walls keep us from believing God, but even worse, they also keep us distant from the very one who can give us the healing and the faith that we need to come to Him.

                Jesus said "Come". That is His first instruction with a promise: "I will give you rest". His next instruction is "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me" with a deeper promise: "You will find rest for your souls". And finally His overall promise: "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.