Genesis Ch46v28-Ch47v31 - In God's Hands

Well, good morning everyone. It's good to see you.

I heard one good morning. Thank you.

Two, three. Nice to know you're alive.

So Genesis 46 is where we're going to continue in our studies

as we look at the life of Joseph and his brothers and his father.

And we're going to start in chapter 46, verse 28.

We'll read God's word together.

Genesis 46, verse 28.

Genesis 46:28

Thank you, Adrian. Thank you very much.

Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen.

When they arrived in the region of Goshen,

Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel.

As soon as Joseph appeared before him,

he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.

Remember, it was over 22 years since he had seen his father.

Israel, or Jacob, said to Joseph,

Now I am ready to die since I have seen you for myself

and that you are still alive.

Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household,

I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him,

My brothers and my father's household who are living in the land of Canaan

have come to me.

The men are shepherds.

They tend livestock and they have brought their flocks and herds

and everything they own.

When Pharaoh calls you in and asks,

What is your occupation?

You should answer,

Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on,

just as our fathers did.

Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen,

for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.

Joseph went and told Pharaoh,

My father and brothers with their flocks and herds and everything they own

have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.

He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

Pharaoh asked the brothers,

What is your occupation?

Your servants are shepherds,

they replied to Pharaoh,

just as our fathers were.

They also said to him,

We have come to live here for a while

because the famine is severe in Canaan

and your servants' flocks have no pasture.

So now,

please let your servants settle in Goshen.

Pharaoh said to Joseph,

Your father and your brothers have come to you.

You and the land of Egypt is before you.

Settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land.

Let them live in Goshen.

And if you know of any among them,

with special ability,

put them in charge of my livestock.

Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in

and presented him before Pharaoh.

And after Jacob blessed Pharaoh,

Pharaoh asked him,

How old are you?

And Jacob said to Pharaoh,

The years of my pilgrimage age are a hundred and thirty.

My years have been few and difficult,

and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.

Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh

and went out from his presence.

So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt,

gave them property in the best part of the land,

the district of Ramesses,

as Pharaoh directed.

Joseph also provided his father and his brothers

and all his father's household with food,

according to the number of their children.

There was no food, however,

in the whole region,

because the famine was severe.

Both Egypt and Canaan wasted away

because of the famine.

Well, we're going to stop there.

We will be continuing the rest of chapter 47 as well,

but we're going to pray and ask for God's help.

Father God, thank you for these true accounts,

these stories of real people,

just like us.

people who you love,

people who you speak to.

And we pray that we might listen to your voice

through your word,

and that our lives may truly be blessed

because of it.

So help us now, we pray,

in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, over the last week,

we've had lots of different counsellors

called to the door.

And with great enthusiasm,

they offer their programme for Carragoline.

Promises to make everything better.

I've been told we're going to get new walkways,

we're going to have a new swimming pool,

a centre plaza,

affordable rent,

bus services,

vote for me,

and I will deliver.

That's their promise.

Well, I'm hugely thankful for counsellors

and all the work that they do,

and I do hope we get a new swimming pool.

However, their promises are nothing

compared to the promises of God.

Because in our text,

chapters 46 and 47,

we're going to see God's programme

for the nations.

His promise to renew our disordered world

and restore our broken lives.

It's God's promise to bring blessing

where there's curse.

It's a blessing that is going to be beyond

our wildest dreams.

Now, God's programme,

his plan,

is very simple.

It's been repeated through Genesis

with each new generation.

You remember what God said to Abraham?

I,

whoops,

will somebody fix that for me there?

Thank you.

I'll take a drink of water.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So these are the promises,

the plan God has.

And he first spoke to Abraham

and he said,

I will bless you

and all peoples on earth

will be blessed through you.

And then God repeated

that same promise

to Abraham's son,

Isaac.

He says,

and through your offspring,

all nations on the earth

will be blessed.

And that same promise

was confirmed then

to Isaac's son,

Jacob.

All peoples on earth

will be blessed through you

and your offspring.

This is God's programme.

And there's three parts to it

if you can look on the screen there.

It says,

I will bless you,

part one.

All the nations

will be blessed,

part two.

And the blessing will come,

part three,

through your offspring.

So I will bless you,

all the nations

will be blessed

and that will come

through your offspring.

Now this promise

spoken long ago

is alive and well

even today.

It's a promise

that is now

being delivered

in Carigaline,

across the nation

and around the world.

So we're going to look

at this promise of God

in these three

different sections.

First,

let's see God's

determination

salvation

to bless

his chosen family.

We learn just now

that God's promise

started

with a promise

to bless.

God intervened

into the life of Abraham

and said,

I'm going to bless you.

I'm going to bless

your family.

God's favour

is going to be

poured out on you.

Well,

within two generations,

God's family

are now

on the brink

of starvation.

A famine

has threatened

their very existence

and they're about

to be wiped out.

But as we've seen

in the story,

God in his sovereign plan

brings Jacob

and his sons

down to Egypt

where there's food.

And to their amazement,

Joseph is not dead,

he's alive

and he's in charge

of the food programme.

He's the one

who will distribute

food to people.

So a meeting

is set up

with Pharaoh

because they need

Pharaoh's approval

to live

in the land.

The plan is simple

and here's where

we'll pick it up now

in chapter 46

verse 33.

When Pharaoh

calls you in,

Joseph speaking

to his brothers

and he asks,

what's your occupation?

You should say,

we're shepherds.

This is what we did

since we were little.

This is what

our fathers did.

And you will be allowed

to settle

in the region

of Goshen.

And what's so special

about Goshen?

Well, it was

prime agricultural land.

It was great

for grazing.

And you would be able

to settle there

for all shepherds

are detestable

to the Egyptians.

I don't know why

they didn't like them.

Maybe they thought

shepherds were smelly

and dirty

or whatever it was,

but they didn't like them

so they could go

and live

in Goshen.

So five brothers

are selected

to present their case

before Pharaoh,

the ruler

of the land.

Look at verse 4,

chapter 47.

They say to Joseph,

we've come to,

to Pharaoh,

we've come to live

here for a while

because the famine

is severe

in Canaan

and your servants'

flocks

have no pasture.

Well,

what's going to be

the answer?

What's Pharaoh

going to say?

Well,

he is favourable

to them,

verse 5.

Pharaoh said to Joseph,

your father

and your brothers

have come to you

and the land

of Egypt

is before you.

Settle your father

and your brothers

in the best

part of the land.

Let them live

in Goshen.

You see,

God has not

forgotten

his promise.

God is blessing

his family.

They get the very

best of land,

the fields

down in Goshen.

That's like

the fertile lands

of West Cork,

as green as can be,

produces the best

dairy

and the finest

beef,

rich,

creamy yogurt

from Glenillan

Farm,

tender,

succulent

steaks.

This is what

Goshen provides.

And on top

of all of that,

look at the end

of verse 6.

And if you know

of any among

the brothers

with a special

ability,

put them in

charge of my

own livestock.

Well,

they were all

shepherds

and now they

get to work

for the ruler

of all Egypt,

employed

by Pharaoh.

And if that

isn't blessing

enough,

God's not done

yet.

There is an

outpouring of

blessing.

Look at verse 11.

Joseph settled

his father

and his brothers

in Egypt

and gave them

property in the

best part of the

land,

the district

of Ramesses.

Well,

this was

millionaire's

row.

This was,

you know,

the best of

houses with

the best of

views.

Joseph also

provided his

father and his

brothers and

all their

father's

household with

food,

according to

the number

of their

children.

Can you see

what's going

on?

They've been

given the

best of

land,

the best of

houses,

the best of

food.

God is

determined

to bless

his chosen

family.

He said,

I'm going

to bless

you.

And that's

what he's

doing.

In fact,

we're given

a taster

of God's

promise to

renew this

disordered

world,

aren't we?

The curse

of the

famine,

that

threatened

life,

has now

been replaced

by the

blessing of

God that

gives life.

They were

on the

brink of

being wiped

out,

no food.

And in

the space

of a

conversation

with the

ruler of

Egypt,

they have

everything

and much,

much more.

You see,

God is

determined

to bless

his chosen

family.

His promise

to reverse

the curse

is beginning

to take

shape.

Well,

that's great

for Jacob

and his

family,

isn't it?

But what

about us?

What about

you and I?

are we

going to

be blessed

too?

Well,

let's

keep going

and we'll

find out.

So first,

God's

blessing,

or promise

to bless

his chosen

family.

Second,

God's

commitment

to bless

all the

nations.

Now,

God's

family are

settled in

the land

and they're

enjoying

blessing,

but,

chapter 47,

verse 13,

there was

no food,

however,

in the

whole region

because the

famine was

severe.

Both Egypt

and Canaan

wasted away

because of

the famine.

So they

all came

to Joseph.

He was

the one

who was

in charge

of food

distribution

and all

was well

until their

money ran

out.

Verse 15,

when the

money of

the people

of Egypt

and Canaan

was gone,

all Egypt

came to

Joseph and

said,

give us

food.

Why should

we die

before our

eyes?

All our

money is

gone.

No more

money left

in the

bank.

Then bring

your livestock,

said Joseph,

and I will

sell you

food in

exchange for

all your

animals since

your money

is gone.

Well,

fair enough,

great plan.

So,

that was

good.

They get

food again,

but of

course the

same thing

happened.

Verse 18,

when that

year was

over,

they came

to Joseph

the following

year and

said,

we cannot

hide from

our Lord

the fact

that since

our money

is gone

and our

livestock,

all our

animals now

belong to

you,

there's

nothing left

from our

land except

our bodies

and our

land.

Why should

we perish?

we'll give

you our

land as

well.

Buy us

our land

in exchange

for food

and we

will have

our land

in bondage

to Pharaoh.

Give us

seed so

that we

may live

and not

die and

that the

land may

not become

desolate.

So,

they give

Joseph

their land,

they promise

to work for

Pharaoh and

in exchange

they get

food.

Now,

we can argue

over the

fairness of

Joseph's

ways.

We could

be saying,

well,

why did

Joseph do

that?

Why didn't

he just

give them

food?

Why did

he take

all their

money and

all their

animals and

all their

land?

Well,

let's not

miss the

point of

the text.

Here is a

nation,

we read in

verse 13,

who were

wasting away

and on the

verge of

dying and

now,

because of

Joseph's

ways.

Look at

verse 25,

they're

praising

Joseph,

you've

saved our

lives,

they said.

May we

find favour

in the

eyes of

our Lord,

we will

be in

bondage

to

Pharaoh.

Now,

whatever way

you look

at it,

this is

blessing.

As fresh

bread was

being baked

and the

smell of

it filtered

out to

hungry,

dying

children,

it was

everything

they needed.

Our

lives are

saved,

they said.

In

famine times,

food is

always a

blessing and

food is

what they

get.

You see,

God's

promise to

bless the

nations

was beginning

to take

effect.

His

longing

that the

blessings

enjoyed by

his chosen

family would

also overflow

to the

peoples around

them.

And that's

what Egypt

and I

think Canaan

as well,

to some

extent,

were enjoying

the food.

Now,

what is

remarkable

about all

of this,

Egypt was

a pagan

country.

They didn't

serve the

true creator

God.

They had

their own

gods,

but this

wasn't going

to be a

barrier to

God.

His

program and

plan was to

bless the

nations.

And it

seems that

people who

were outside

of God's

chosen family,

well,

they get a

look in

too.

There's an

overflow of

blessing no

matter who

you are or

where you

come from.

Blessing is

being poured

out.

You see,

God is

committed to

bless all

the nations.

In fact,

it's a

blessing that

is also

reached to

us.

Because

people like

you and

me,

no matter

what our

nationality,

our culture,

whatever our

background is,

we can also

share in the

overflow of

God's blessing.

Just as

Joseph's family

were blessed

and the

nations were

blessed,

so we can

share in

that overflow

of blessing.

Well,

you say,

how is that

going to

happen?

Well,

let's keep

going.

we are

going to

get there.

So,

third,

God's

promise to

bless through

his offspring.

He's been

determined to

bless his

chosen family.

He's done

that.

He's committed

to blessing

all the

nations and

he's beginning

to do that.

But did you

notice how it

all happens?

The blessing

would come

through the

offspring or

seed of God's

chosen family.

Now,

if we don't

get that,

we're not

going to be

able to

understand the

rest of our

Bible story.

God's

program,

God's

promise,

God's plan

is to

bless all

the nations,

all peoples

of the world

through the

seed,

through an

offspring of

his chosen

family.

family.

And that's

what we see

happening here.

Three things

are going to

help us see

this.

First,

notice the

word of

the Father.

We missed

out a little

bit in the

middle, but

here's where

we get to

it.

God's

chosen family

under Jacob

are in

Egypt.

Now look

at chapter

47,

verse 7.

Then

Joseph

brought his

father Jacob

in and

presented him

before Pharaoh.

Now the

scene that

follows is

quite comical,

if not

strange.

We've got a

meeting of

two men.

That's not

funny.

Men do

meet together,

that's all

right.

Pharaoh,

on the one

hand,

the ruler

of all

Egypt,

the greatest

nation and

the greatest

power at

the time,

is sat

there before

Jacob.

Then Jacob

enters in,

a wizened

old man,

hobbling

along.

Even

Pharaoh is

struck by

how he

looks.

Look at

verse 8,

he says,

Pharaoh

asked,

how old

are you?

I don't

think he'd

seen so

many wrinkles

in his

life.

And then

it comes,

the father's

word,

verse 10.

Jacob blessed

Pharaoh and

went out of

his presence.

You could

imagine the

look on

Pharaoh's

face,

couldn't

you?

You?

Old man?

Bless me?

I mean,

I'm Pharaoh,

I'm the

greatest power,

the ruler of

this whole

land.

And you

are going

to bless

me?

It's

almost

laughable.

Here's

Jacob,

surrounded

by his

broken,

dysfunctional

sons,

worn out

by years

of famine,

at the

mercy of

the most

powerful

ruler in

the world,

and Jacob

says,

bless you.

Why would

he do

that?

Well,

either he's

plain delusional,

or he's

speaking in

faith what

God said

he would

do.

I will

bless you

and all

the nations

of the

earth will

be blessed

through you.

You see,

blessing

someone was

not saying

all the

best,

or I

wish you

luck and

hope everything

goes well

for you.

No,

blessing

Pharaoh was

a declaration

of what

God said

he would

do.

So would

Pharaoh

believe him?

Would this

blessing that

Jacob set

upon Pharaoh

come true?

How would

he ever

know if

what Jacob

said was

going to

happen?

Well,

all Pharaoh

needed to

do was

to look

at the

father's

son,

in this

case,

Jacob's

son,

Joseph.

So we

have the

word of

the

father to

bless,

and then

we have

the work

of the

son to

bless.

You see,

the only

reason why

Pharaoh had

food stored

up was

because of

Joseph.

God had

told Joseph

there would

be seven

years of

harvest,

and then

there would

be seven

years of

famine.

So Joseph

put in a

plan to

store up

food for

the good

times,

so that

there would

be food

in the

bad

times.

And all

of this

was down

to the

work of

Jacob's

son,

Joseph.

In fact,

through

Joseph's

work,

Pharaoh

would be

blessed

beyond

measure.

Look at

what happened

when the

nations came

looking to

Joseph for

food.

Look at

verse 14,

chapter 47,

verse 14.

Joseph

collected all

the money

that was

to be

found in

Egypt and

Canaan in

payment for

the grain

they were

buying,

and who

did he

give it

to?

He brought

it to

Pharaoh's

palace.

And it

was the

same for

the livestock

and the

land as

well.

Look at

verse 20.

The land

became

Pharaoh's.

In fact,

when the

people were

able to

grow crops

again and

they were

given grain,

look down

at verse

24.

When the

crop comes

in,

give a

fifth of

it to

Pharaoh.

You see,

Pharaoh was

being blessed

beyond his

wildest dreams.

All the

money that

was collected

to Pharaoh.

All the

livestock that

was collected

to Pharaoh.

A fifth of

everything that

was grown

to Pharaoh.

the

blessing

declared

by the

Father

was made

a reality

through the

work of

the Son.

Now I

wonder,

does that

make you

think of

something?

Does it

sound familiar

to you?

Another

father?

Another

son?

Well,

God was

doing what

he said he

would do.

through the

seed,

through the

Son,

blessing

would come

to the

nations.

You see,

this is how

God works.

This is

the pattern.

The

Father

speaks the

word,

and the

Son does

the Father's

work,

and the

nations

are being

blessed.

Look what

they cried

out in

verse 19.

End of

verse 19.

Give us

seed so

that we

may live

and not

die.

And

Joseph

gives them

the seed,

and with

full bellies

they come

back and

they praise

Joseph.

Verse 25.

You,

Joseph,

you have

saved our

lives.

Through the

Son comes

life.

Through the

Son comes

salvation.

But here's

the problem.

The only

seed that

Joseph can

provide,

the only

blessing that

he can

give,

is food

for the

table.

It's good,

but it's

not going

to last.

It's

temporary.

It satisfies

for a

moment,

but hunger

is going

to return.

What they

and the

people need

is the

true

seed.

Not

seed for

food,

but the

promised

seed.

The

promised

son who

is going

to come

and renew

this broken

world and

restore our

disordered

lives.

The seed

who is

going to

reverse the

curse and

bring blessing

to all

nations.

You see,

the story of

Jacob and

of Joseph

is preparing

us and

priming us

for who?

Thank you.

God's

ultimate son,

Jesus

Christ.

You see,

the blessings

that Jesus

offers are

beyond our

wildest

dreams.

Go with

me,

please,

to Matthew's

Gospel,

chapter 1.

Matthew's

Gospel,

chapter 1.

And here

we see

how Jesus

comes.

Matthew's

Gospel starts

with a

genealogy,

a list of

names tracing

the family

line all

the way

down to

Jesus.

So,

verse 2.

Remember how

we started?

Abraham was

the father

of Isaac,

and Isaac

was the

father of

Jacob.

And it

works all

the way

down through

the generations,

through the

history of

time,

and then we

come to

verse 16.

And to

Jacob,

the father

of Joseph,

the husband

of Mary,

and Mary

who was the

mother of

Jesus,

who is

called

the Messiah.

Now,

do you see

how verse

16 starts?

Jacob,

the father

of Joseph.

Yes,

it was a

different Jacob

and a

different Joseph,

but Matthew

is recording

the names

in an order

to help us

to remember,

remember the

promise made?

The father

spoke,

Jacob spoke

a blessing,

and Joseph

the son

fulfilled it?

Well,

here again,

the father

God,

the creator

God,

speaks again

and fulfills

his promise

in bringing

Jesus.

This is

the seed,

the promised

seed from

God's chosen

family,

the Messiah,

the saviour

of the world.

Now,

listen to

what the

father says

about the

son.

Look at

Matthew

Matthew 3:17

chapter 3

verse 17.

Jesus

is just

about to

start his

ministry on

earth,

and at

his baptism,

verse 17,

there is

a voice

from heaven,

a loud,

audible voice,

and God

the father

speaks to

God the

son.

This is

my son

whom I

love.

With him

I am

well pleased.

This is

my son

who is

blessed.

And if

you listen

to him,

and if

you pay

attention

to him,

you too

are going

to be

blessed.

The

father

speaks his

word

to his

son,

and the

son goes

and does

the father's

work.

Jesus,

who is

blessed,

now goes

and blesses

those around

him.

Look at

chapter 5.

Because

here we

see the

blessings

that Jesus

gives to

all who

come to

him.

Now the

way we

are to

receive,

do you

see at

the beginning

of chapter

5,

verses 3

to 10?

The way

to receive

these blessings

is to see

that we

are spiritually

poor.

Look at

verse 3.

blessed

are the

poor in

spirit,

those who

know they

are empty

and have

nothing to

give.

Just like

the Egyptians

in their

desperation

and emptiness

cried out

to Joseph,

give us

food or

we will

die.

So in

our

hopelessness

and helplessness

we cry

out to

Jesus,

bless us

or we're

going to

die.

we come

poor in

spirit and

look at the

blessings that

he pours out

upon his

people.

Let's read

them,

verse 3.

Notice how

blessed we

are.

Blessed are

the poor in

spirit for

theirs is the

kingdom of

heaven.

That's right,

the kingdom of

heaven now

belongs to

you if you

trust in

him.

Blessed are

those who

mourn.

for they

will be

comforted.

Blessed are

the meek

or the

humble for

they will

inherit the

earth.

Forget a

little piece

of land in

Goshen,

you'll

inherit the

world.

Blessed are

those who

hunger and

thirst for

righteousness

for they

will be

filled.

You are

satisfied in

him.

God's

love and

peace.

God will

not treat

you as

your sins

deserve.

Blessed are

the pure in

heart.

Get this,

you will

see God.

Blessed are

the peacemakers

children of

they will

be called

children of

God.

You see,

you become

part of

his family.

You receive

the blessings

of the

family.

Verse 10,

blessed are

those who are

persecuted because

of righteousness

for theirs is

the kingdom of

heaven.

As we come

to Jesus,

as we confess

our desperation

for him,

we are

blessed beyond

our wildest

dreams.

So the

father speaks

the word to

bless.

The son does

the work of

the father to

bless.

And very

quickly, the

witness of the

church goes

to be a

blessing.

You see,

through faith in

Jesus, we are

now his

children, his

chosen family,

a family blessed

by God, who

are now sent

and called to

be a blessing

to the nations.

How do we do

that?

Well, we know.

How does

Matthew's gospel

finish?

What does it

say at the

very end?

Chapter 28,

verse 19,

therefore go

and make

disciples of

all nations.

Go.

You're

blessed.

And now he's

sending us to

be a blessing

to everybody

else because

the greatest

blessing that

we can give

to anyone is

the blessing

of the gospel.

The good

news that

Jesus took

the curse

of our sin

by dying

on the cross.

The good

news that

through Jesus

he gives us

the blessing

of the kingdom

of heaven.

The son who

restores our

broken world

and renews our

disordered lives.

The son who

blesses us

beyond our

wildest dreams

sends us

and say,

tell them

about me.

You might

see yourself

as like

frail old

Jacob.

Who could

ever bring

a blessing

to somebody

as great

as Pharaoh?

But he did.

And here

we are

small,

broken,

struggling

people.

Everybody,

they have

everything that

they need.

No, they

don't.

And God

calls us,

you and me,

to bring the

means of

bringing that

blessing.

Counselors

will call at

your door

over these

coming weeks

with their

program for

Carigaline.

pray for

them.

Thank God

for them.

They're doing

a good work.

But remember,

you are greater

than any

counselor.

And you

have promises

that are beyond

anything a

counselor can

give.

You are an

ambassador of

the King.

You are sent

with the

blessings of

the good news

of Jesus

Christ.

I will

bless you

and all

nations of

the earth

will be

blessed

through you.

It's taking

place now

in Carigaline

across our

nation

and around

the world.

Amen.

Let's pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Father, we

look at a

promise made

thousands of

years ago

to a

helpless,

struggling

old man

and his

broken family

on the

brink of

death,

but you

delivered on

your promise

and you

are working

that promise

out amongst