Readings for Celebrating Advent

² God appeared to Israel in a vision during the night saying, “Jacob, Jacob.” He answered, “Here I am.”

³ He continued, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not fear to go down into Egypt, for down there I will make a great people of you. ⁴ I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will surely make you return. Joseph will close your eyes.”

⁵ Jacob left Beer-sheba, and the sons of Israel put their father, their children, and their wives into the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry them.