Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. (Acts 7:11,12 ESV)
Motivation
I have a few things that I like to believe I would NEVER do. This has nothing to do with unrighteous things, or illegal things, or moral things. Merely things I do not appreciate, or like.
But I would probably actually do them, if push came to a shove.
Egypt, for Jacob and his family, was a place they would never want to visit.
At that point in history, Egypt was a rising power… and a fierce, unfriendly, extremely prejudiced land. They knew they had the best army, the most money, and the most fertile land around.
Foreigners were treated, usually, with disrespect, disregard, and disdain.
But a terrible famine caused Jacob to overcome his own prejudice, his fears, and his doubts.
Hunger, the lack of food, motivated him.
And God knew what God was doing. God wanted the Israelites in a corner in Egypt. They had things to forget, things to learn, and a dependance on God to develop.
It did not make sense, I expect, to Jacob. It was disappointing and shameful. It was dangerous, unsure, and difficult.
But hunger, the lack of food, motivated him.
Perhaps our present day lacks are part of a similar plan of God’s. He drives us to Him through the things we do not have, as much as the things we do have. He drives us to His Son through our inabilities, our shortcomings, and our personal droughts, as much as through our skills, our successes, and our bounty.
Jacob was motivated, and followed what ended up being clear was the leading of His God.
Look for what God is motivating you to do, rather than focus on the famines around you.