“His bow remained in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob: (Genesis 49:24)    

At the end of his life, Jacob gathers his family about him and prophesies, “God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers” (Genesis 48:21). He knew that God, through the many ups and downs of his life, was working the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, and yes, Jacob. A few years later, Joseph would also own the covenant: “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:22). 

 People who know God live in one world while longing for the next. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland” (Hebrews 11:13-14). Sometimes we don’t know the reason God allows us to suffer, but we know God is working His covenant, and we must own it. “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

 Joseph told his brothers why he was sold into slavery: “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). God grew the family of Israel from 75 persons into a nation of two million before returning them to the Promised Land. Today, Dear saint, God is still working His covenant for millions of saints. If you own the covenant, your hands can also be made strong by the Mighty God of Jacob.