So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. Genesis 45:25-26
When the brothers told Jacob the news, he couldn’t believe it. It doesn’t say, “He did not believe them because his heart was numb.” It says, “His heart became numb, for he did not believe them.” He had no feeling because he did not believe his dearly loved son was alive.
How did he come to believe? “When they told him all the words of Joseph… and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived” (45:27). He needed a fuller explanation. He needed “all the words of Joseph,” the whole amazing story of God’s kindness and grace.
The same thing happened on the road to Emmaus. How did the disciples come to believe the good news that the dearly loved Son of God is alive? “Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:27). After they heard the whole story, they said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road?” (24:32). The numb heart becomes the burning heart as the larger picture of God’s amazing grace is unfolded to a person whose initial reaction was not to believe.
What about the wagons? Pharaoh sent wagons to bring Jacob to Egypt (45:19). Knowing your son is alive in a distant country is not much comfort if you have no hope of getting there to see him. But when Jacob saw the wagons—everything that was needed to get there—his heart revived. The wagons are the means God provides to bring a person to Jesus.
What were the wagons God provided to bring you to Jesus? A friend or family member who shared the gospel with you? Could you be a wagon for someone?
