At times in our life we can become complacent or settled in and not really have the desire to pursue more in our walk with the Lord. We may not even realize that we have become “spiritually lazy” and that we need to take action at times and recognize that our best years are not necessarily behind us and that we may not have achieved the level God wants to take us to or experienced everything in our life quite yet that will help mold us and shape our character and integrity. Friends, this message serves as a reminder to anyone who may be in this category (and we all may find ourselves in this category sooner or later if we haven’t already). The Lord laid it upon heart today to tell anyone who will listen to “Get Up! …He Is Not Done With You Yet!”

Now, the story that inspired this message is the story found in the book of Genesis chapters 45 & 46. The person who I actually want to focus on this story is Jacob. Jacob, at this point, is on up in years and has become very weak and not far from death, but little does he know that God is about to give him possibly the greatest breakthrough of his life that will move him and give him happiness like he has never known.

Before we get into the story, let’s back track a little and refresh ourselves with where we are in this story and how we came to this point. Joseph, Jacob’s son, has now revealed his true identity to his other brothers during the 7 year famine that plagued them all. Even though Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery when he was younger and lied to their Father Jacob and told him that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal, Joseph forgave them all and told them that God had a reason for him going through all that he had went through. The reason was so that Joseph could be in a position to help everyone through the famine. Joseph was governor over the territory of Egypt and second in command behind the Pharoah. Because of his authority, Joseph was able to command that food be stored for 7 years before the famine ever happened because God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams and visions and Joseph interpreted a dream that the Pharoah had dreamed and realized God was warning him of a terrible famine that was to come. Joseph’s brothers came to get food like everyone else to take back to their families. There they realized their long, lost brother was alive and well and they were overcome with guilt yet filled with emotion and happiness to see him and great relief that Joseph had in fact forgiven them. Pharoah hears of this meeting between Joseph and his brothers and tells Joseph to tell his brothers to go and bring back their families, especially their Father Jacob. Jacob had mourned over the death of Joseph for years, but he was about to see that God had saved one of the greatest moments of his life for him to experience now. There are great times and great joy yet to be experienced in this Christian journey. No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been praying for something it can still happen, you can still witness it and experience it. No matter how long it’s been, we cannot lay down and give up, instead we must “get up” and realize that God is not done with us yet! Amen?

Pharoah had so much favor and appreciation for Joseph that he wanted to do something special for Joseph. What could be more special than reuniting him with his family, especially his Father? At this time the nation of Israel was just a large family tribe all descending from Jacob. I believe in my spirit from studying this scripture and meditating on this story that Pharoah realized how much Jacob must have missed Joseph all those years while he was away and believed to be dead. Pharoah wanted to rejoin this family and give Jacob the joy that he had from knowing Joseph, for had he not met Joseph, Pharoah’s kingdom and nation would have perished from the famine.

So, by the orders of Pharoah himself, Joseph’s brothers were on their way with the wagons that Joseph had given them to rescue and gather their families and tell their Father this incredible news. Oh, the emotions they must have felt on their journey back. They were happy to know Joseph was alive and well, not in slavery like they had left him. I’m sure they were relieved that Joseph had forgiven them for what they had done to him and happy to hear how God had used Joseph’s terrible situation to work for the good of so many people. I’m also sure they were so glad to be able to go back and tell their families that they were being saved from this famine, but I also believe they had to be so emotional about telling their Father that Joseph was alive and that he was the governor of Egypt! The brothers had watched for so long and realized how their Father had mourned over Joseph’s death and now they were about to give him news in his old age that would give him the strength to take him the last mile of his life. God was not done with Jacob yet despite how old he was, he had one more great joy for him to experience. God was working things out and making things right and that is always something we should rejoice over when it happens in our lives.

The brothers arrived back and told their Father the extraordinary news and Jacob could not believe it. Jacob was near death and was very weak, but all of a sudden he was filled with so many emotions: doubt, unbelief, shock and excitement. He saw the wagons that Joseph had given them and started to realize that what his sons were telling him was true. His spirit started to revive and awaken! His spirit started to override his weakened flesh. I believe he started to recall every tear he had cried, all the pain and sorrow he had ever felt and realized that he was on the verge of experiencing one of the happiest, most heart-warming times of his life. He realized this and believed it and was on his way to see it. He did not delay in reacting, he stopped doubting and “got up!”

Before Jacob would leave to go to Egypt with his family, the bible says he made a sacrifice and worshiped the Lord and sought God in prayer. He wanted to thank God for this wonderful news about Joseph and get direction and confirmation on whether or not this was God’s will for him to go to Egypt. We too must seek God in major decisions. We can ask for confirmation and God will give it to us to let us know that it is His will for us. He sought God and God called him and Jacob said “here I am.” God knew exactly where Jacob was, but He wanted Jacob to identify himself the same way he wants us to know that we need to realize where we are in our walk with Him. If God was to call you right now, would you know where you are spiritually? He did the same to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He knew where they were, but He wanted them to tell Him. God wants to see if we are ready to hear a word from Him, then see if we react to it, carry it out and follow the direction He gives us. Jacob was excited, but He wanted to first know God’s will no matter who was waiting on him. We too should put God’s will first before anything else in our lives