“But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.” — Genesis 45:27 (ESV)
Jacob had lived for years under the crushing weight of sorrow, believing that Joseph, his beloved son, had died. This perceived loss had drained the joy from his life, leaving him resigned to despair. But then, in a single moment, everything changed. When he saw the wagons Joseph had sent from Egypt—proof of his son’s life and position—hope rushed back in, and his spirit was revived.
The Power of Hope Restored
Life has a way of depleting us. We carry wounds, disappointments, and prolonged seasons of grief that seem to drain our very spirit. Like Jacob, we may resign ourselves to a diminished existence, surviving rather than truly living. But the God of Jacob is the same today, and He still sends “wagons”—unexpected signs of His provision, care, and restoration.
Psalm 30:5 reminds us, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Jacob’s night of sorrow had lasted for decades, but God was not done with his story. Likewise, our own sorrow is never the final chapter. There is a divine morning of renewal waiting ahead.
Faith and the Unseen
Jacob was initially sceptical. His heart had been broken many times before, and hope can sometimes feel too dangerous to embrace again. Yet the evidence before him—the words of his sons, the abundance of Egypt’s provision—compelled him to believe. Hebrews 11:1 teaches, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Sometimes, God places before us tangible reminders of His faithfulness to strengthen our faltering faith.
The Importance of Hope
The scholar Walter Brueggemann writes, “Hope in biblical faith is not just a vague optimism but is grounded in the trustworthiness of God’s promises. Jacob’s renewed spirit is not merely the return of his vitality but a reawakening to the reality of God’s redemptive work in history and in his own life.” When God restores hope, He does more than lift our emotions—He realigns our vision to see His hand at work.
Similarly, Charles Spurgeon observed, “If our Heavenly Joseph has gone before us and reigns in the place of power, he will send wagons of grace to bring us safely to himself. He will not leave us in the famine of this world but will call us to the abundance of His kingdom.”
A Modern-Day “Wagons of Grace” Story
A remarkable modern story that mirrors Jacob’s experience is that of Louis Zamperini, the WWII soldier and Olympic athlete whose journey of despair turned into renewed hope.
Louis was a rebellious youth who became an Olympic runner, competing in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. When World War II broke out, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1943, his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean, and he survived 47 days adrift at sea, battling sharks, starvation, and sun exposure. Eventually, he was captured by the Japanese and endured two years of brutal torture in a Prisoners of War (POW) camp.
By the time he was freed at the war’s end, Louis was deeply broken. Nightmares of his captors tormented him, and he turned to alcohol to escape his pain. His spirit, much like Jacob’s, was depleted—he had lost all hope.
Then, in 1949, everything changed. His wife convinced him to attend a Billy Graham crusade. That night, he heard the message of Christ’s love and forgiveness. It was as if, like Jacob seeing the wagons from Joseph, a light had broken through the darkness. Louis gave his life to Christ, and his spirit was revived.
Immediately, his nightmares ceased. He found the strength to forgive his captors and even travelled back to Japan years later to personally offer forgiveness to the very men who had tortured him. Instead of remaining trapped in bitterness and despair, Louis lived a life full of joy, peace, and purpose—helping troubled youth find hope.
Like Jacob, Louis had been consumed by loss and pain. But when God’s grace broke through, his spirit was revived. Isaiah 61:3 says God gives “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Zamperini’s story is proof of that promise.
The Call to Trust Again
Perhaps you, like Jacob, have endured a season of loss so long that revival seems impossible. But God’s wagons of grace still come—through a timely word, an unexpected provision, a rekindled dream, or a deep assurance of His presence. When these moments come, let faith rise.
Isaiah 40:31 declares, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” God’s restoration does not merely return what was lost—it propels us into new strength and purpose.
May you see the “wagons” He sends in your own life. May your spirit revive as you recognize the faithfulness of the One who holds all things in His hands. And may you, like Jacob, rise again with renewed hope and expectation. Amen.
