This was one of our fall sermons on visioning. I sort of liked the sermon, especially the illustration about the impala.
I'm not sure that Jacob was in as much of a decision-mode as the sermon suggest. I think he actually had already decided to take his family to Egypt and he stopped in Beersheba to prepare to live into the decision he had already made. But, it fit the sermon theme better to see this moment as a decision-making moment, so I did.
I have come to recognize that the phrase "do no be afraid" has many implications in the biblical story.
“God Speaks” Genesis 46: 1-4; Philippians 4: 1-9; St. Andrew Presbyterian Church; October 11, 2026; Fall 2026 Vision and Stewardship; Richard B. Culp
Genesis 46: 1-4: When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s own hand shall close your eyes.”
Introduction: As we continue reflecting on God’s vision for St. Andrew, we are reminded of how Israel,
Israel, the person, not the nation (although he was the patriarch of God’s people that we often call Israel)
how Israel, who we probably know as Jacob,
had visions in the night as he sought to discern what the next chapter for God’s people might be.
I’m not suggesting we should all be expecting to have visions in the night as part of our visioning process,
but Let’s see what we can learn from Jacob’s story.
Move 1: first of all, We notice that Jacob/Israel stops and turns to God as he seeks a vision for what the future might look like.
a. Here’s a little Background to this story
1. it Takes place in the middle of the Joseph saga
As you may recall, Joseph was Jacob/Israel’s son who had dreams and interpreted dreams
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers
Joseph Got into trouble and was sent to prison
he Got out of prison because he was good at interpreting dreams that spoke to the future and successfully did so for Pharaoh
Joseph Rose to favor with Pharaoh because he could interpret dreams correctly
by the time we read this part of the story, Joseph had become an important official in Egypt’s power structure
he had enacted policies that save Egypt when a time of extended drought hit Egypt
and he has revealed himself to his brothers and offered to provide for his family as they suffer from drought back in their homeland
So Israel/Jacob, must decide if he should move his family to Egypt or not!
a. A Big moment with significant consequences.
1. Maybe even Life and death for his people.
Do they stay where they are and probably starve,
or do they go to Egypt where they face an unknown future
but where they also might be saved from starvation.
2. moving to Egypt for God’s people, of course, has its own set of risks.
in fact, we who know the “rest of the story” know that sign to Egypt will one day lead to trouble for the God’s people.
But in this moment, Egypt appears to be the next best step for God’s people.
what should Jacob do?
and How does Jacob decide what to do?
b. Note that jacob does not leap at the first opportunity to go to Egypt.
1. Instead, he stops at Beersheba to consult with God and discern what God sees as the future for God’s people.
Beersheba has a long history with God’s people.
Beersheba is known as a place of covenant
Abraham, jacob’s grandfather, had worked out a dispute about ownership of a water well. with King Abimelech, king of Gerar, at Beersheba
at the time, Abraham offered seven ewe lambs to solidify his ownership of the well and established a peace treaty.
In fact, The site was named Be'er Sheva—which translates to both "Well of the Oath" (referencing their sworn covenant) and "Well of the Seven" (referencing the seven lambs).
a reminder that In this place, under God’s guidance and direction, Abraham made covenant with Abimelech.
God appeared to Isaac, Jacob’s father, at Beersheba, reassuring him of the covenant promises.
Isaac even built an altar there, pitched his tent, and his servants dug another well.
3. As Jacob faces a big decision, about the future of God’s people,
he heads to Beersheba,
a place where he knows God’s has guided previous leaders of God’s people before,
and he pauses,
he prays
and he seeks God’s guidance.
c. We are not in a crisis moment at St. Andrew.
1. Life and death for God’s people do not hang in the balance.
2. But, we are reflecting on what the future of St. Andrew might look like.
3. so the Session is inviting the whole congregation into a season of discernment.
Like Jacob, we are pausing
Turning to God,
praying
and seeking God’s guidance.
Move 2: We also notice in the story that God speaks to Jacob.
a. The first thing God says, is “Do not be afraid.”
1. Maybe that should not surprise us.
that phrase,
or a similar one,
is used 80 times in the biblical story.
2. In a couple of months we begin telling the stories of Advent and then the stories surrounding Christ’s birth.
In those stories, we hear again: Do not be afraid
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist hears those word;
Joseph, who will fulfill the role of Jesus’ father on earth, hears those words
Mary, the mother of Jesus hears those words,
the shepherds in the fields hear those words.
3. In the story we read today, Jacob hears those words: Do not be afraid.
as he imagines the future of his family and God’s people,
“do not be afraid.”
as he contemplates,plates uprooting his family,
do not be afraid.
as he makes a critical decision for God’s people,
do not be afraid.
4. hearing those words, reminds me of something I read about the African impala.
One of the most common and beautiful animals in Southern Africa is the Impala. Impala’s would be described in America as a type of gazelle that could reach about 3 feet tall and weigh anything from 88 – 168 pounds.
In full flight, the impala is a magnificent sight and can jump 13 feet high and 30 feet far. It’s a really tough animal to catch – even by a lion or cheetah.
Despite this incredible leaping and jumping ability, it is fairly easy to keep an impala cages at a zoo.
In the zoo, they are often kept in by a 3 foot wall or solid fence.
if it can jump 13 ft high and broad jump 30 feet, how in the world can a 3 ft solid fence contain an African impala?
it turn out that the Impala will not risk a jump if they cannot see where they will land.
if they cannot see over the 3 ft fence, they will not jump,
and they remain captive to where they are. (https://collegeplanningamerica.com/impala-behind-the-wall-why-we-avoid-that)
b. As we imagine and dream about the possibilities for St.Andrew, we hear God’s words: “do not be afraid.”
1. Dream and dream big - do not be afraid.
imagine how St. Andrew might look and do ministry in the ever-changing future - do not be afraid.
share you thoughts, even if they seem impossible in the moment - do not be afraid.
Dare to imagine amazing possibilities - do not be afraid.
We may not be able to see clearly yet where we are going, but do not be afraid.
As we move into a visioning process, we do not need to be afraid of what we will discern,
or what we might not discern,.
we are not limited by fear of what the future might hold,
or what we cannot fully see in the moment.
Because we trust in the God who speaks to us and will guide our vision for who God calls us to be and what God calls us to do.
do not be afraid!
b. In fact, we hear God tell Jacob that the reason Jacob does not need to fear is because, I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again,
1. If Jacob acts on the vision of God’s people moving into Egypt, God will be with him.
if they have problems along the way,
or the vision seems to have trouble materializing at times,
God will be with him.
God’s desire to save jacob and God’s believe will be part of what happens when the vision unfolds.
2. As we turn to God and seek God’s guidance,
we do so in the assurance that God will go with us.
the vision we have for St. Andrew will continue to be shaped by the God who goes with us,
the God who continues to be at work redeeming us and saving the world.
3. We stop,
we turn to God,
we pray and seek God’s guidance,
and God will be with us.
4. even if we make a mistake or two along the way,
God will be faithful to us and lead us back to where God desires us to be.
conclusion: So I invite you to be like Jacob,
seize the moment to seek God’s guidance
as we vision together about the next chapter in St.Andrew’s life.
Philippians 4: 1-9. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion,[a] help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice[b] in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.[c] 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about[d] these things. 9 As for the things that you have learned and received and heard and noticed in me, do them, and the God of peace will be with you.
