Readings for Celebrating Advent

² And God spoke to Israel^(A) in a vision at night^(B) and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,”^(C) he replied.

³ “I am God, the God of your father,”^(D) he said. “Do not be afraid^(E) to go down to Egypt,^(F) for I will make you into a great nation^(G) there.^{(H) 4} I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.^(I) And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.^(J)”

⁵ Then Jacob left Beersheba,^(K) and Israel’s^(L) sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts^(M) that Pharaoh had sent to transport him.