WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.560 Well, please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Genesis, Genesis chapter 45. 00:00:07.560 --> 00:00:16.280 ! And our passage this morning is chapter 45, verse 16, going all the way through 47, verse 31. 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:22.059 And it's our normal practice that we have you stand for the scripture reading before the sermon. 00:00:22.379 --> 00:00:28.539 But as we did last week, I'm going to spare you that this week because it's about 80-something verses long. 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:32.799 But we will read the scripture portions during the sermon. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:36.700 So we'll cover it that way this week. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:40.879 Would you pray with me once more for the preaching of the word as we prepare to hear it? 00:00:40.879 --> 00:00:46.099 Lord, the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord endures forever. 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:49.620 God, we pray, would you bless the preaching of your word? 00:00:50.519 --> 00:00:52.239 Would you empower it by your spirit? 00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:55.140 Would you ready our hearts to receive it? 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:58.480 May it land on fertile soil in our hearts this morning. 00:00:58.539 --> 00:01:00.100 Open our ears to hear the truth. 00:01:00.179 --> 00:01:01.079 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:01:01.899 --> 00:01:02.179 Amen. 00:01:02.179 --> 00:01:02.320 Amen. 00:01:04.179 --> 00:01:07.739 I found an interesting website this week. 00:01:08.480 --> 00:01:10.560 It's polameter.org. 00:01:10.659 --> 00:01:12.799 I've never visited that site before. 00:01:13.039 --> 00:01:19.180 And my disclaimer is I make no claims whatsoever as to the factuality of this website. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:19.620 Okay? 00:01:19.700 --> 00:01:22.920 So before the emails come, that's my disclaimer. 00:01:23.099 --> 00:01:26.640 I'm just here to tell you what the site aims to do. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:39.319 Apparently, it is, quote, an independent initiative developed by political scientists that tracks whether or not politicians keep the promises that they make. 00:01:39.319 --> 00:01:45.099 This particular website tracks Canadian politics. 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:50.559 But I did a quick search and found several others that track American politics as well. 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:54.259 And so if you have nothing else to do this week, you can do a quick Google search. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:58.619 And pretty quickly, you can find a Joe Biden promise tracker for his time in office. 00:01:58.620 --> 00:02:05.960 You can find a Donald Trump promise tracker for his first term as well as an active one for his ongoing current term. 00:02:06.740 --> 00:02:12.599 And it's interesting for me as I looked on these different websites to see all the many promises made. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:21.859 And to see that across the board, whether they are Democrat or Republican or anywhere in between, whether they are American or Canadian, 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:26.340 for as different as these politicians are, they all shared one thing in common. 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:27.019 You know what it is? 00:02:28.460 --> 00:02:33.620 Not a single one of them has perfectly kept all of their promises. 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:42.560 The first guy on the Canadian site, as of the time of my research this week, had been in office for 372 days. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:49.740 Apparently, he has made about 440 distinct promises that his website is tracking. 00:02:50.200 --> 00:02:58.080 62% of them are not yet rated, meaning in over a year's time, he has not yet done anything on those promises. 00:02:59.099 --> 00:03:01.360 26% are in progress. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:02.340 That's a good thing. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:04.860 6% have been kept. 00:03:05.060 --> 00:03:06.960 3% are partially kept. 00:03:07.159 --> 00:03:09.719 And another 3% are broken promises. 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:13.719 I think we would agree that's not all that encouraging, is it? 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:20.800 But the sad truth is, and he's actually, comparatively speaking, he's actually doing pretty good. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:26.939 I hope that it's not news to you this morning that sometimes people, sometimes politicians, 00:03:26.939 --> 00:03:33.400 sometimes you and I, make promises that we wind up not keeping. 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:41.599 And it all makes me very thankful, praise God, that our God is not at all like this. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:50.139 Now we've seen over and over and over again in the book of Genesis that our God is a promise-making God. 00:03:50.139 --> 00:03:54.559 We saw all the way back in the Garden of Eden, Genesis chapter 3. 00:03:54.560 --> 00:04:00.120 He promised that there would be a coming seed of the woman who would crush the head of the serpent. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:05.319 And then we saw in Genesis chapter 12, God makes great promises to Abraham. 00:04:05.539 --> 00:04:05.900 He says, 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:24.040 Our God is a promise-making God. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:29.960 But praise God, not only this, we've also seen our God is a promise-keeping God. 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:40.459 The Christian confidence is that our God ensures that 100% of his promises are either kept or are in progress. 00:04:41.599 --> 00:04:44.219 Our God is a promise-keeping God. 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:48.719 You know, it's vital for us as God's people to remember this because, as you know, 00:04:49.079 --> 00:04:55.159 life on this side of the Garden of Eden, life in a fallen world, is not easy. 00:04:55.160 --> 00:05:00.860 And it's tempting for us in the constant challenges that we face here in a sin-cursed world. 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:05.340 We're tempted often to doubt the faithfulness of God to his promises. 00:05:06.520 --> 00:05:12.700 The good news of our passage this morning, we're reminded yet again that no matter the obstacle, 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:16.860 our God keeps his promises. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:19.860 That's the big idea for us this morning. 00:05:19.960 --> 00:05:22.700 Our God is a promise-keeping God. 00:05:22.699 --> 00:05:25.079 And so let's take a look at our passage this morning. 00:05:25.159 --> 00:05:29.699 And what we'll see is three truths to remember about God's promises. 00:05:30.039 --> 00:05:31.300 This is our outline this morning. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:33.819 If you're a note-taker, that might help you to follow along. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:35.399 I realize it's a lengthy passage. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:40.000 We're going to see three truths to remember about God's promises. 00:05:40.219 --> 00:05:46.060 The first, first we see God's promises often seem to be threatened. 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:50.659 God's promises often seem to be threatened. 00:05:50.660 --> 00:05:54.160 Look there with me starting in chapter 45, verse 15. 00:05:55.020 --> 00:05:58.260 Verses 15 through 28 set the stage here for our passage. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:05:59.360 It says, 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:04.819 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, Joseph's brothers have come, it pleased Pharaoh 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:05.600 and his servants. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:07.360 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:08.379 Say to your brothers, 00:06:08.520 --> 00:06:13.660 Do this, load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, and take your father and your 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:18.439 household and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:19.819 shall eat the fat of the land. 00:06:20.360 --> 00:06:22.100 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:26.819 Do this, take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and 00:06:26.819 --> 00:06:28.000 bring your father and come. 00:06:28.519 --> 00:06:32.920 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours. 00:06:33.939 --> 00:06:38.680 The sons of Israel did so, and Joseph gave them wagons according to the command of Pharaoh, 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:40.939 and gave them provisions for the journey. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:45.959 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred 00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:49.000 shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:55.079 And to his father he sent as follows, ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, ten female 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.959 donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:04.040 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed he said to them, Do not quarrel on 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:04.420 the way. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:04.939 I love that. 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:10.180 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob, and 00:07:10.180 --> 00:07:15.259 they told him, Joseph is still alive, and he's ruler over all the land of Egypt. 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:18.800 And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:23.819 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the 00:07:23.819 --> 00:07:28.300 wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.860 And Israel said, It is enough. 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:32.560 Joseph, my son, is still alive. 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:35.819 I will go and see him before I die. 00:07:36.939 --> 00:07:42.659 On one hand, Israel, Jacob, has just received some of the best news imaginable. 00:07:42.660 --> 00:07:49.240 His son, Joseph, who he thought was long gone, who he thought was dead, somehow is still alive. 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:55.280 And more than that, somehow, we know how, this is the providential hand of God, somehow, 00:07:55.920 --> 00:08:02.440 Joseph is in a position of authority in Egypt, and he's calling Israel and his family to come 00:08:02.440 --> 00:08:04.480 into Egypt in the midst of this famine. 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:08.100 It seems undeniable that this is the hand of the Lord. 00:08:08.100 --> 00:08:13.980 If the Lord is paving the way for Israel and his family to come into Egypt, that all seems 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:19.700 like great news, but it also presents a bit of a problem, doesn't it? 00:08:20.740 --> 00:08:22.520 It presents a challenge here. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:24.200 Put yourself in Jacob's shoes. 00:08:24.460 --> 00:08:30.280 This whole time, we have been journeying, working our way towards the promised land. 00:08:30.279 --> 00:08:33.120 But now, God is calling us out? 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:37.139 Now, what does this mean for the promises of God? 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:40.539 Can God's promises survive in Egypt? 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:43.240 Will we be safe there? 00:08:43.319 --> 00:08:46.019 What about this promise of multiplication of offspring? 00:08:46.279 --> 00:08:48.779 Will we be able to grow and multiply there? 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:51.000 What about the promise of the land of Canaan? 00:08:51.059 --> 00:08:52.120 We're leaving Canaan. 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:55.100 How can God's promises survive in Egypt? 00:08:55.419 --> 00:08:56.699 Will God be with us there? 00:08:56.700 --> 00:09:02.920 And it seems like, yet again, these are threats to the promises of God. 00:09:02.980 --> 00:09:05.680 And we've seen this again already in Genesis, haven't we? 00:09:06.040 --> 00:09:10.780 We've seen threats of infertility and barrenness to the promise of a coming seed. 00:09:11.400 --> 00:09:13.740 We've seen threats of war and conflict. 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:15.840 We've seen threats of family strife. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:21.420 We've seen threats of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob's own sinfulness that seem to maybe put 00:09:21.420 --> 00:09:23.080 the promises of God at risk. 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:28.639 It seems like, once again, there are threats to God's promises coming true. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:30.560 Now, I wonder if you ever feel that way. 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:36.960 God has made some pretty incredible promises to us in His Word, hasn't He? 00:09:37.980 --> 00:09:43.860 He's promised us that any sinner who comes to faith in Christ will be totally forgiven, 00:09:44.139 --> 00:09:45.520 washed clean of their sin. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:50.759 And yet, how do we feel when we look in the mirror and see the depth of our own sinfulness? 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:58.939 It seems like to us, it feels like to us, that each new sin puts God's promises at risk, 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:00.259 like a threat. 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:06.360 We know God's promised us one day that this whole world will be remade, there will be no 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.960 sin, there will be no death, there will be no sickness, there will be no pain. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:15.600 But when we look around at the world that is all around us, the world that we live in, 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:21.720 and we see the depth of wickedness around us, sometimes it just feels like, God, how in 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:24.200 the world will you really keep your promises? 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:27.420 It seems like there are threats to the promises of God. 00:10:28.740 --> 00:10:30.580 Of course, we should know better. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:33.440 There are no threats to His promises. 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:39.899 God is kind here to remind Jacob and to remind us that no obstacle can stand in the way of 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.500 His promises. 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.860 Look there to chapter 46. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:48.419 It says, Israel took his journey and all that he had, and he came to Beersheba. 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:53.899 This is sort of a sacred space here in Genesis where God shows up often, and again, that's 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:55.500 exactly what happens here. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:01.759 It says, Israel offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac, and God spoke to Israel 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:04.720 in visions of the night and said, Jacob, Jacob. 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:06.700 And he said, here I am. 00:11:06.700 --> 00:11:11.340 Then he said, I am God, the God of your father. 00:11:12.120 --> 00:11:15.640 Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. 00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:18.360 And he gives him four reasons why. 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:26.520 For one, he says, don't be afraid to go down in Egypt because even in Egypt, even there, 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.680 I will make you into a great nation. 00:11:29.680 --> 00:11:31.879 See, that promise hasn't gone anywhere. 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:33.320 The location is changing. 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:34.540 You're no longer in Canaan. 00:11:34.680 --> 00:11:35.980 You're going to be somewhere else. 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:36.840 You're going to be in Egypt. 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:38.220 The location is changing. 00:11:38.220 --> 00:11:40.899 But my faithfulness is not changing. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:43.899 My promises are not changing. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:50.440 A second reason, God promises his presence in Egypt. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:54.659 Didn't I promise you I would be with you and I would be your God? 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:57.440 Well, even in Egypt, that promise remains. 00:11:57.539 --> 00:12:01.580 He says, I myself will go with you down into Egypt. 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:02.720 I mean, don't you love that? 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:10.940 Because it's often outside of this comfortable place of blessing that we're tempted to doubt God's faithfulness. 00:12:11.580 --> 00:12:16.180 But don't you know, Christian, that even there, he is with you. 00:12:16.179 --> 00:12:20.699 Even in sickness, he is with you. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:24.339 Even in trial, he is with you. 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.799 He goes down with you into the place of loneliness. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:30.319 He goes down with you into the place of despair. 00:12:30.479 --> 00:12:33.039 Even to the valley of the shadow of death. 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:35.399 The Lord is with you. 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:39.220 God promises his presence with his people, even to the ends of the earth. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.579 Even to Egypt, Jacob. 00:12:41.699 --> 00:12:47.179 He says, I will be with you to protect you and to bless you. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.079 But it gets even better. 00:12:48.980 --> 00:12:50.939 Third reason here, not to fear. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:57.240 He says, Jacob, don't be afraid to go into Egypt because I will bring you up again. 00:12:57.319 --> 00:12:58.139 I love this. 00:12:58.139 --> 00:13:04.939 This journey into Egypt is all part of the sovereign plan of God. 00:13:06.059 --> 00:13:10.279 This journey into Egypt is not the end of the story of my people. 00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:12.500 I'm not going back on my promise. 00:13:12.840 --> 00:13:15.419 I already have plans to bring you up out of Egypt. 00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:21.159 He says, you're worried about the beginning of all this when I have the end of it all planned out. 00:13:21.159 --> 00:13:28.179 But God has sovereign purpose even in this seemingly dangerous journey. 00:13:28.319 --> 00:13:28.799 What is it? 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:30.439 What is it? 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:34.500 We've seen this answer over and over and over again over the past few weeks. 00:13:34.579 --> 00:13:36.000 It's all over Joseph's story. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:44.360 Our God is working all things for his glory and for the good of his people. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:49.539 All things for his glory and for our good. 00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:55.860 And if you want to understand the big broad strokes, the big picture purpose of all things, 00:13:56.099 --> 00:14:02.839 even the hardest things, even things that seem to put God's faithfulness to the test, 00:14:03.659 --> 00:14:07.240 the big picture purpose of all of it is that in some way, 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:10.339 every single moment of your life, believer, 00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:13.459 every single challenge, every single difficulty, 00:14:13.460 --> 00:14:17.420 all of it is in some way, it is for his glory. 00:14:17.780 --> 00:14:22.639 And all of it in some way is for your good if you are in Christ. 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:27.940 Our sovereign God is bringing Israel into Egypt. 00:14:28.060 --> 00:14:30.300 And you keep on reading in the Exodus, we'll see. 00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:33.980 Yes, God, our sovereign God will bring them out. 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:38.720 And in so doing, he will get glory over Egypt. 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:44.879 And you, Jacob, you, Israel, will be not just my called people, 00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:47.100 you will be my redeemed people. 00:14:48.139 --> 00:14:52.539 And you'll get to see my power and my grace and my glory and display 00:14:52.539 --> 00:14:55.779 in ways that you couldn't even possibly begin to imagine 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.879 if you did not go down into Egypt. 00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:05.519 All of this, of course, anticipates the ultimate display of the glory and grace 00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:08.340 and redeeming power of God and the cross of Christ. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:12.100 Don't be afraid to go, Israel. 00:15:12.259 --> 00:15:16.480 I have purpose for you there that you cannot even begin to imagine. 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:19.919 I will get glory in Egypt. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:23.860 Also, fourth reason here. 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:25.879 Fourth reason not to fear. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:28.720 He says, don't be afraid to go down into Egypt 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.340 because I have good things in store for you. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:35.360 Even there, Joseph's hand shall close your eyes. 00:15:37.179 --> 00:15:41.100 If he had even the slightest bit of doubt about the truthfulness of all of this, 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:43.120 could Joseph possibly be alive? 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.460 Now that doubt is gone. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:48.299 God himself says, yes, it's true. 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:52.460 Joseph is there and you will not die before you see him. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:56.780 And your beloved son himself will lay you to rest. 00:15:58.139 --> 00:16:00.560 Church, here in a fallen world, I mean, it's true. 00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:03.800 God's promises often seem to be threatened. 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:09.000 Here by famine and here by a call out of Canaan and into Egypt. 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:15.299 But in our lives, by sickness, by financial hardship, 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:19.620 by the constant delay between promise and fulfillment, 00:16:19.980 --> 00:16:24.620 by the disruptions of sin in our homes and in our churches, 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:27.419 in our families, in our marriages, in our society. 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:32.719 But we ought to remember that our good God is sovereign 00:16:32.719 --> 00:16:36.379 even over what seems to be threats to his promises. 00:16:37.779 --> 00:16:40.439 And what these so-called threats often do actually 00:16:40.439 --> 00:16:44.839 is provide for us a test of our faith and our obedience to him, 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.500 which is what we see in our second point this morning. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:53.079 Second, our faith in God's promises will be tested. 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:56.900 And the second truth that we ought to know about God's promises 00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:58.879 is that for all of God's people, 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:02.980 our faith in his promises will often be tested. 00:17:03.540 --> 00:17:06.259 And God's people must respond to his promises 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:08.519 in the obedience of faith. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.340 Jacob hears all of this and now the question is, 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:14.240 well, how is he going to respond? 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:15.120 What's he going to do? 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:18.500 And what we see in verses 5 through 27 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:22.619 is that Israel goes all in in faith. 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:24.920 Look there at chapter 46, verse 5. 00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:26.700 It says, 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.480 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba, 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:31.039 and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, 00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:33.680 their little ones, their wives, 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:36.480 and the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:39.400 They also took their livestock and their goods, 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:41.740 which they had gained in the land of Canaan, 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:43.539 and came into Egypt. 00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:47.079 Jacob and all his offspring with him, 00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.699 his sons and his sons' sons with him, 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:51.779 his daughters and his sons' daughters, 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:55.319 all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt. 00:17:56.099 --> 00:17:58.000 And if you look at the rest of chapter 46, 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.199 I will spare you here, okay? 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:02.179 I will not read every name. 00:18:03.179 --> 00:18:05.699 But the rest of chapter 46, if you pay attention, 00:18:05.879 --> 00:18:08.879 it gives us the names of the descendants of Israel 00:18:08.879 --> 00:18:10.480 who came into Egypt. 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:13.299 And if you do pay attention in your own Bible reading, 00:18:13.419 --> 00:18:15.419 if you don't just breeze by these names 00:18:15.419 --> 00:18:16.919 like we're often tempted to do, 00:18:17.079 --> 00:18:19.919 you'll notice that there's an emphasis here in this list 00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:20.720 on the number seven. 00:18:21.899 --> 00:18:23.720 And I don't want to make too much about that, 00:18:23.779 --> 00:18:27.199 because sometimes people will take it a little bit too far 00:18:27.199 --> 00:18:27.899 with the numbers, 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:30.039 and it's almost like you need a decoder ring 00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:31.099 to understand the Bible, 00:18:31.439 --> 00:18:32.759 like there's some secret code. 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:33.960 That's not true. 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:36.480 There's no hidden secret code here. 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:40.199 But Moses, in organizing this, 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:44.079 intentionally draws our attention to the number seven. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:46.419 It's arranged in this way intentionally, 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:47.960 because as you know, 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.500 the number seven is a significant biblical number, 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:54.859 and often it carries with it the idea of completion 00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:56.599 and fullness. 00:18:57.399 --> 00:18:59.819 You think of the seven days of creation. 00:19:00.019 --> 00:19:01.259 That's a complete week. 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.679 The work is done. 00:19:02.779 --> 00:19:03.259 It's full. 00:19:03.399 --> 00:19:04.039 It's perfect. 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:05.980 Well, look at this. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.960 Verse 27 says, 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:10.240 all the persons of the house of Jacob 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:11.799 who came into Egypt were, 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.299 how many? 00:19:14.139 --> 00:19:14.819 Seventy. 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:18.779 Which, math people, is seven times ten. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:22.039 Rachel's children are fourteen, 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:25.039 which is twice as much as Bilhah's seven. 00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.180 Leah's offspring are thirty-three, 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:30.359 which is twice as much as Zilpah's sixteen, 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:31.899 which has nothing to do with seven, 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:33.400 unless you add them together, 00:19:33.540 --> 00:19:34.600 and then you get forty-nine, 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:38.580 which my math people can tell me is seven times seven. 00:19:38.860 --> 00:19:40.700 It just keeps going and going and going. 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.460 And the point is, 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:44.840 I think the point that Moses is trying to make for us 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:48.759 is that the full, complete, total, 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:51.140 perfect number of Israel is going. 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:54.240 He does not leave a single thing back in Canaan. 00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.780 Jacob is all in. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:00.980 Church, this is what full obedience looks like. 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:04.039 This is the obedience of faith. 00:20:05.360 --> 00:20:08.519 You've probably heard the legend before of Cortez 00:20:08.519 --> 00:20:10.980 coming into Mexico with his crew. 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:14.019 And they come, they arrive in unknown territory. 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:16.400 They didn't know what to expect. 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:18.180 They knew that it would be dangerous. 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:20.839 And so the temptation would be, in theory, 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:24.059 to just turn back and hop back on the boats 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:27.120 and to sail back to Cuba if things got difficult. 00:20:27.319 --> 00:20:28.559 But what did Cortez do? 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:31.839 He orders his men to burn the boats. 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:34.659 Set them ablaze. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:35.859 Why? 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:38.859 So that there would be no turning back. 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.059 We are all in. 00:20:40.139 --> 00:20:41.460 There's no escape hatch here. 00:20:41.619 --> 00:20:43.559 But that's exactly what Jacob does. 00:20:44.399 --> 00:20:46.619 This isn't an easy call for Jacob. 00:20:47.319 --> 00:20:51.179 Again, he's moving out of the promised land into Egypt. 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:53.220 But God has called him to do it. 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.920 And what does he do? 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.980 He goes all in. 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:57.680 He brings all his offspring, 00:20:58.340 --> 00:21:00.100 all his livestock, 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:02.340 all his possessions. 00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:04.420 He doesn't hedge his bet. 00:21:04.820 --> 00:21:06.440 God has called him to go. 00:21:06.560 --> 00:21:09.580 And he goes all in in faith. 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:13.119 This is what the obedience of faith looks like. 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:19.500 If you've trusted in the promises of God, 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:22.599 it's like what we sing in the old hymn. 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:25.679 I have decided to follow Jesus. 00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:27.179 No turning back. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.500 No turning back. 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:30.559 Though none go with me, 00:21:30.639 --> 00:21:31.599 still I will follow. 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.960 No turning back. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:35.600 The cross before me, 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:37.000 the world behind me, 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.960 no turning back. 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.660 I'm afraid that 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:44.960 many professing Christians, 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:49.019 maybe some of you in the room this morning, 00:21:49.860 --> 00:21:51.960 are hedging your bets. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:56.700 And they want to claim to believe in God's promises 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:58.940 and maybe in some small way they do, 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:01.799 but something in them is holding them back. 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:04.079 You haven't yet burnt the ships. 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:07.819 They aren't yet all in. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:10.659 And so when that faith, 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.460 if it's genuine faith at all, 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:14.119 when that faith is tested 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:16.159 and when push comes to shove 00:22:16.159 --> 00:22:17.559 and when things get difficult, 00:22:17.839 --> 00:22:18.500 what happens? 00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:21.079 They turn right back to their old ways 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:22.379 and they turn right back 00:22:22.379 --> 00:22:24.039 to the pleasures of this world. 00:22:24.279 --> 00:22:26.159 They turn right back to emptiness 00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:27.559 and they retreat. 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:31.700 Christ, 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:32.659 Jesus says, 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:34.299 you must be all in. 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:37.940 If anyone would come after me, 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:38.460 he says, 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:39.839 let him deny himself, 00:22:40.099 --> 00:22:41.220 take up his cross 00:22:41.220 --> 00:22:43.200 and follow me. 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:43.599 He says, 00:22:43.659 --> 00:22:46.379 whoever loves father or mother more than me 00:22:46.379 --> 00:22:48.000 is not worthy of me. 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.179 Whoever loves son or daughter more than me 00:22:51.179 --> 00:22:52.720 is not worthy of me. 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.400 Whoever does not take his cross 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:56.220 and follow me 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:58.180 is not worthy of me. 00:22:58.279 --> 00:23:00.360 Whoever finds his life will lose it. 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:02.839 Whoever loses his life for my sake 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:04.480 will find it. 00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:07.500 I have a good friend 00:23:07.500 --> 00:23:10.319 who just had a send-off celebration yesterday. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:11.059 I wanted to go, 00:23:11.180 --> 00:23:13.460 but I couldn't make it down there. 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.360 And he and his wife 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.720 and his two young kids 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:18.799 are preparing to move their family 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:19.940 to Azerbaijan. 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:22.100 That's why we've prayed for Azerbaijan 00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:23.680 the past two Sundays. 00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:26.759 Why in the world would they do that? 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:30.380 Why move your young family 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:32.559 from the safety of Augusta 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.840 to go to Azerbaijan? 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:36.700 Why? 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:37.779 Simply put, 00:23:37.840 --> 00:23:38.680 they are all in. 00:23:40.080 --> 00:23:42.500 They believe God has called them there 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:44.600 and that whether in Augusta 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.539 or Azerbaijan, 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.799 their God will be with them 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:50.259 and their God will fulfill his purposes 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:52.500 in them and through them. 00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:53.819 Christian, 00:23:54.019 --> 00:23:56.079 you may be called to Azerbaijan. 00:23:56.399 --> 00:23:57.180 That's a possibility. 00:23:58.339 --> 00:23:59.720 You may be called to go. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.700 But more likely, 00:24:03.700 --> 00:24:07.619 you are all called to be all in 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:09.680 right here where you are. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:13.519 Are you all in? 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:17.740 Or are you holding something back? 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:22.779 God's promises will seem to be threatened. 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.740 Our faith in his promises 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:26.100 will be tested. 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.000 But third, 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.279 and finally, 00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:28.920 third, 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.100 we see the good news 00:24:31.100 --> 00:24:31.940 that our God 00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:34.519 always keeps his promises. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:37.059 Our God 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.759 always keeps 00:24:38.759 --> 00:24:40.039 his promises. 00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:40.759 We see this here 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.000 in the rest of our passage. 00:24:42.299 --> 00:24:42.940 And starting in 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.119 verse 28, 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:44.740 we get to see 00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:45.859 God's faithfulness 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:47.980 to three specific promises. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.779 And we read them 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.740 at the beginning here 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:51.019 all the way back 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.639 to the promises 00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.859 he made to Abraham. 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.119 For one, 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:54.720 we see 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:56.220 God blesses 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:56.799 his people 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.700 even in Egypt. 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.900 Didn't God promise 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:00.960 I will bless you? 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:03.019 I will bless you. 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:03.500 Well, 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.579 how is that going to happen 00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:05.039 in Egypt? 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:05.480 Look there, 00:25:05.720 --> 00:25:06.779 starting in verse 28, 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.779 chapter 46. 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:09.519 It says, 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:10.299 He had sent Judah 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.940 ahead of him 00:25:10.940 --> 00:25:11.480 to Joseph 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:12.480 to show the way 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:13.720 before him in Goshen. 00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:14.879 And they came 00:25:14.879 --> 00:25:15.920 into the land of Goshen. 00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:17.139 And then Joseph 00:25:17.139 --> 00:25:18.319 prepared his chariot 00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:18.980 and went up 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.759 to meet Israel, 00:25:19.859 --> 00:25:20.359 his father, 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:20.940 in Goshen. 00:25:21.519 --> 00:25:22.480 He presented himself 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.119 to him 00:25:23.119 --> 00:25:24.480 and fell on his neck 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.740 and wept on his neck 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.519 a good while. 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.519 Israel said to Joseph, 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:30.000 Now let me die 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.759 since I have seen 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.359 your face 00:25:31.359 --> 00:25:31.819 and know 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:33.159 that you're still alive. 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:34.939 And Joseph said 00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:35.559 to his brothers 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.839 and to his father's household, 00:25:37.099 --> 00:25:38.159 I will go up 00:25:38.159 --> 00:25:38.939 and tell Pharaoh 00:25:38.939 --> 00:25:40.319 and will say to him, 00:25:40.379 --> 00:25:40.879 My brothers 00:25:40.879 --> 00:25:42.259 and my father's household 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:43.419 who were in the land 00:25:43.419 --> 00:25:43.899 of Canaan 00:25:43.899 --> 00:25:44.879 have come to me 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:46.819 and the men are shepherds 00:25:46.819 --> 00:25:47.579 for they have been 00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.500 keepers of livestock 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.639 and they have brought 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.279 their flocks 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.919 and their herds 00:25:50.919 --> 00:25:51.960 and all that they have. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.759 When Pharaoh calls you 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:54.179 and says, 00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.240 What is your occupation? 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.599 You shall say, 00:25:56.679 --> 00:25:57.159 Your servants 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:57.839 have been keepers 00:25:57.839 --> 00:25:58.419 of livestock 00:25:58.419 --> 00:25:59.319 from our youth 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.339 even until now 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.519 both we 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.259 and our fathers 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:03.439 in order that you 00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:03.879 may dwell 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:04.939 in the land of Goshen 00:26:04.939 --> 00:26:06.439 for every shepherd 00:26:06.439 --> 00:26:07.339 is an abomination 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:08.419 to the Egyptians. 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.639 So Joseph went in 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.419 and told Pharaoh, 00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.159 My father 00:26:12.159 --> 00:26:12.899 and my brothers 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:13.779 with their flocks 00:26:13.779 --> 00:26:14.399 and herds 00:26:14.399 --> 00:26:15.720 and all that they possess 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.359 have come 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.359 from the land of Canaan. 00:26:17.859 --> 00:26:18.339 They are now 00:26:18.339 --> 00:26:19.179 in the land of Goshen 00:26:19.179 --> 00:26:20.919 and from among his brothers 00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:22.039 he took five men 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.759 and presented them 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.259 to Pharaoh. 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.559 Pharaoh said 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.099 to his brothers, 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:26.379 What is your occupation? 00:26:27.059 --> 00:26:27.980 And they said to Pharaoh, 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.380 Your servants are shepherds 00:26:29.380 --> 00:26:30.460 as our fathers were. 00:26:31.360 --> 00:26:32.099 They said to Pharaoh, 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:33.279 We have come to sojourn 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:33.880 in the land 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:35.140 for there is no pasture 00:26:35.140 --> 00:26:36.460 for your servants' flocks 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:38.079 for the famine is severe 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.059 in the land of Canaan. 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:41.000 And now please let your servants 00:26:41.000 --> 00:26:42.759 dwell in the land of Goshen. 00:26:43.700 --> 00:26:45.000 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.220 Your father and your brothers 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.019 have come to you. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.319 The land of Egypt 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.220 is before you. 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:50.620 Settle your father 00:26:50.620 --> 00:26:51.180 and your brothers 00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:52.440 in the best of the land. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.120 Let them settle 00:26:53.120 --> 00:26:54.120 in the land of Goshen. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.059 And if you know 00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:56.660 any able men among them, 00:26:56.660 --> 00:26:57.680 and put them in charge 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.680 of my livestock. 00:27:01.259 --> 00:27:02.340 Why in the world 00:27:02.340 --> 00:27:04.000 does Pharaoh respond this way? 00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:07.180 Haven't we just seen 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.600 shepherds are an abomination 00:27:08.600 --> 00:27:10.019 to the Egyptians? 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.620 He doesn't know them. 00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:14.080 He doesn't owe them anything. 00:27:15.140 --> 00:27:16.800 Here's the most powerful man 00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.259 in the world. 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:18.779 He holds all the cards. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:20.540 He doesn't have to give them anything. 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.140 And yet, 00:27:21.540 --> 00:27:23.540 here he is being incredibly generous 00:27:23.540 --> 00:27:24.360 to God's people. 00:27:24.359 --> 00:27:24.799 Why? 00:27:25.419 --> 00:27:27.099 It can only be explained 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:28.899 by the providential work 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.639 of the Lord. 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.719 The Lord is continuing 00:27:31.719 --> 00:27:33.119 to bless his people 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.879 even here in Egypt. 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:36.599 He gives them the land of Goshen 00:27:36.599 --> 00:27:37.579 up by the Nile. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.899 That's good land. 00:27:38.959 --> 00:27:40.099 He says it's the very best. 00:27:40.719 --> 00:27:41.279 On top of that, 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:42.479 he gives them jobs. 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.359 He puts them in charge 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.179 of his livestock. 00:27:44.419 --> 00:27:46.039 How do we explain this? 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:49.139 God is fulfilling 00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:50.579 his promises. 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:53.619 God is blessing his people 00:27:53.619 --> 00:27:55.319 even during a time of famine. 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:56.779 He provides them with food. 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.399 He gives them shelter. 00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:00.659 He arranges far in advance 00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:01.960 how they're going to be cared for. 00:28:02.039 --> 00:28:03.980 He sends Joseph ahead of them 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:05.879 to preserve a remnant for them. 00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:07.500 Joseph's hard work 00:28:07.500 --> 00:28:08.319 during that time, 00:28:08.379 --> 00:28:09.819 it earns Pharaoh's favor, 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:11.299 which then spills over 00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.720 in blessing and favor 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.579 towards his people. 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:15.079 All of this, 00:28:15.699 --> 00:28:17.279 all of this is God 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:19.059 fulfilling his promise. 00:28:19.220 --> 00:28:19.899 He's ensuring 00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:21.240 his promises are kept. 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.299 And not only this, 00:28:23.339 --> 00:28:25.019 we see a second promise kept 00:28:25.019 --> 00:28:26.279 starting in verse 7, 00:28:26.899 --> 00:28:28.379 chapter 47, verse 7. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.579 God promised that 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:31.359 God's people would also 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:33.099 be a blessing to the nations. 00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:36.179 Not only would God bless them, 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:37.460 but through them, 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.839 the nations would be blessed. 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:40.319 And again, the question is, 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.199 how in the world 00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:42.759 is God going to do this 00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:44.240 even in Egypt? 00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:46.799 Look there to verse 7. 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:47.220 It says, 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.039 Then Joseph brought in 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.920 Jacob his father 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.460 and stood him before Pharaoh. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:54.500 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.960 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:58.000 How many are the days 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.180 of the years of your life? 00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:01.339 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.460 The days of the years 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.400 of my sojourning 00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:05.400 are 130 years. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.279 Few and evil have been 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.059 the days of the years 00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.779 of my life. 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.400 And they have not attained 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.539 to the days of the years 00:29:11.539 --> 00:29:12.720 of the life of my fathers 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:14.159 and the days of their sojourning. 00:29:14.519 --> 00:29:16.559 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:17.799 and went out 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:18.879 from the presence of Pharaoh. 00:29:19.879 --> 00:29:20.759 And then Joseph settled 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:22.099 his father and his brothers 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:23.799 and gave them a possession 00:29:23.799 --> 00:29:24.839 in the land of Egypt, 00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:26.240 in the best of the land, 00:29:26.299 --> 00:29:28.000 in the land of Ramses, 00:29:28.220 --> 00:29:29.339 as Pharaoh had commanded. 00:29:30.019 --> 00:29:31.119 And Joseph provided 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.519 his father, his brothers, 00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:34.460 and all his father's household 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:35.500 with food according 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.139 to the number 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:38.000 of their dependents. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:40.720 Jacob blesses Pharaoh. 00:29:43.019 --> 00:29:44.900 This Hebrew abomination, 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.400 this shepherd, 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.640 comes and extends 00:29:49.640 --> 00:29:50.880 a blessing, again, 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.380 to the most powerful man 00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:53.180 in the world. 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:54.700 It's a picture 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.519 of the blessing 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.740 that God promised 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.680 through his people 00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.839 to the nations. 00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.400 Keep reading. 00:29:59.500 --> 00:30:00.140 We see that promise 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.299 kept even more clearly 00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.460 with the wisdom 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:03.920 that God gives Joseph. 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.039 Verse 13. 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.519 It says, 00:30:06.599 --> 00:30:07.500 Now there is no food 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:08.299 in all the land, 00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:08.920 for the famine 00:30:08.920 --> 00:30:09.899 was very severe, 00:30:10.059 --> 00:30:11.619 so that the land of Egypt 00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:12.759 and the land of Canaan 00:30:12.759 --> 00:30:14.139 languished by reason 00:30:14.139 --> 00:30:14.759 of the famine. 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.779 And Joseph gathered up 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.379 all the money 00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:17.940 that was found 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.779 in the land of Egypt 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.960 and in the land of Canaan 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:21.559 in exchange for the grain 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.220 that they bought. 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:24.119 And Joseph brought the money 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.279 into Pharaoh's house, 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.279 and when the money 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:27.039 was all spent 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:27.960 in the land of Egypt 00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:29.200 and in the land of Canaan, 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.539 all the Egyptians 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.420 came to Joseph 00:30:31.420 --> 00:30:31.899 and said, 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.720 Give us food. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:34.319 Why should we die 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.240 before your eyes? 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.640 For our money is gone. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.420 And Joseph answered, 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:39.339 Give your livestock 00:30:39.339 --> 00:30:40.740 and I will give you food 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.180 in exchange for your livestock 00:30:42.180 --> 00:30:43.160 if your money is gone. 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.600 So they brought 00:30:44.600 --> 00:30:45.920 their livestock to Joseph. 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.720 And Joseph gave them food 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:49.000 in exchange for the horses 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.980 and the flocks, 00:30:50.140 --> 00:30:50.759 the herds, 00:30:50.900 --> 00:30:51.839 and the donkeys. 00:30:52.440 --> 00:30:53.700 He supplied them with food 00:30:53.700 --> 00:30:54.640 in exchange for all 00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:55.960 their livestock that year. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.960 And when that year was ended, 00:30:58.120 --> 00:30:58.819 they came to him 00:30:58.819 --> 00:30:59.700 the following year 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:00.319 and said to him, 00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:01.400 We will not hide 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:02.019 from my Lord 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:02.519 that our money 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.200 is all spent 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:04.139 and the herds 00:31:04.139 --> 00:31:04.639 of livestock 00:31:04.639 --> 00:31:05.579 are my Lord's. 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:06.920 There is nothing left 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.879 in the sight of my Lord 00:31:07.879 --> 00:31:08.579 but our bodies 00:31:08.579 --> 00:31:09.299 and our land. 00:31:09.859 --> 00:31:10.619 Why should we die 00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:11.460 before your eyes, 00:31:11.539 --> 00:31:12.599 both we and our land? 00:31:13.139 --> 00:31:13.879 Buy us 00:31:13.879 --> 00:31:15.240 and our land for food 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.779 and we with our land 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.440 will be servants 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.000 to Pharaoh 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:19.599 and give us seed 00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:20.299 that we may live 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.059 and not die 00:31:21.059 --> 00:31:22.099 and that the land 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.099 may not be desolate. 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:24.700 So Joseph 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.259 bought all the land 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:26.759 of Egypt 00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.500 for Pharaoh 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.119 for all the Egyptians 00:31:29.119 --> 00:31:30.279 sold their fields 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:31.000 because the famine 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:32.059 was severe on them. 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:34.480 The land became Pharaoh's. 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:35.859 As for the people, 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:37.019 he made servants of them 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.960 from one end of Egypt 00:31:37.960 --> 00:31:38.639 to the other. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.000 Only the land 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:40.619 of the priests 00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.680 he did not buy 00:31:41.680 --> 00:31:42.660 for the priests 00:31:42.660 --> 00:31:43.839 had a fixed allowance 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:44.480 from Pharaoh 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:45.700 and lived on the allowance 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.899 that Pharaoh gave them. 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:47.559 Therefore, 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:48.440 they did not sell 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.059 their land. 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.720 Then Joseph said 00:31:50.720 --> 00:31:51.259 to the people, 00:31:52.059 --> 00:31:52.339 Behold, 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.160 I have this day 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:53.859 bought you 00:31:53.859 --> 00:31:54.460 and your land 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.039 for Pharaoh. 00:31:55.660 --> 00:31:56.559 Now here is seed 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:57.059 for you 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.720 and you shall sow 00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.279 the land 00:31:58.279 --> 00:31:59.579 and of the harvest 00:31:59.579 --> 00:32:00.140 you shall give 00:32:00.140 --> 00:32:01.200 a fifth to Pharaoh 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.579 and four fifths 00:32:02.579 --> 00:32:03.400 shall be your own 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.880 as seed for the field 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:05.420 and as food 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.039 for yourselves 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.860 and your households 00:32:06.860 --> 00:32:08.000 and as food 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:08.900 for your little ones. 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.180 And they said, 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.200 You have saved 00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:12.079 our lives. 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.759 May it please the Lord. 00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.519 We will be servants 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.059 to Pharaoh. 00:32:15.940 --> 00:32:16.920 So Joseph made it 00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.420 a statute 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.339 concerning the land 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.880 of Egypt 00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.880 and it stands 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.620 to this day 00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.579 that Pharaoh 00:32:21.579 --> 00:32:22.799 should have the fifth 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.579 and the land 00:32:23.579 --> 00:32:24.660 of the priests alone 00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.960 did not become 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:27.400 Pharaoh's. 00:32:27.400 --> 00:32:29.980 You see the wisdom 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:30.880 that God's given 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:31.640 Joseph here. 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.759 It's an incredibly 00:32:33.759 --> 00:32:34.920 shrewd move, 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.420 isn't it? 00:32:36.560 --> 00:32:37.360 My boys and I 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:38.220 like to play a game 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.680 called Settlers of Catan. 00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:41.660 Amanda doesn't really 00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.700 like to play with us 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:43.320 and I'll let you in 00:32:43.320 --> 00:32:43.820 on a secret. 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:45.040 The key to winning 00:32:45.040 --> 00:32:45.780 that game 00:32:45.780 --> 00:32:46.800 is kind of like Monopoly. 00:32:47.540 --> 00:32:48.519 The key to winning 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.160 that game 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:50.040 is understanding 00:32:50.040 --> 00:32:51.960 supply and demand. 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:52.880 You have to have 00:32:52.880 --> 00:32:53.759 certain resources 00:32:53.759 --> 00:32:54.920 in order to build 00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.500 and if you don't 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.780 have access to wheat, 00:32:56.779 --> 00:32:57.940 you can't build 00:32:57.940 --> 00:32:58.319 a settlement. 00:32:58.460 --> 00:32:58.819 That's just how 00:32:58.819 --> 00:32:59.420 the game goes. 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.379 And so if you want 00:33:01.379 --> 00:33:02.539 to be really strategic 00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:04.160 or some would say 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.819 really mean, 00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.700 what you do 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.460 is you hoard 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.559 all the resources 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.940 that other people need. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.279 And I'm telling you now, 00:33:12.359 --> 00:33:13.399 they may not like it 00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:14.019 and they may never 00:33:14.019 --> 00:33:14.980 play with you again, 00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:17.460 but eventually 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:18.700 if they want to build, 00:33:18.819 --> 00:33:19.620 they will need to come 00:33:19.620 --> 00:33:20.700 to you to get 00:33:20.700 --> 00:33:21.640 what they need. 00:33:21.740 --> 00:33:22.299 And that's exactly 00:33:22.299 --> 00:33:23.460 what Joseph does here. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:24.740 And Joseph, 00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:26.079 first he stores up 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.819 all the wheat 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:27.680 and then he sells 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:28.160 the wheat. 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:28.880 He gathers up 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.620 all the money 00:33:29.620 --> 00:33:30.099 when the people 00:33:30.099 --> 00:33:30.960 have no money. 00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:32.299 Then they come to him, 00:33:32.360 --> 00:33:33.400 they offer their livestock 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:34.319 for the food. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.620 Then they have no livestock 00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:36.279 so they come 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.319 and offer themselves. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.140 They offer their land. 00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:40.160 And so in this 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.279 one shrewd maneuver, 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.779 Joseph has successfully 00:33:42.779 --> 00:33:44.500 settled the land of Catan. 00:33:44.879 --> 00:33:46.099 All the land of Egypt 00:33:46.099 --> 00:33:47.240 was now Pharaoh's. 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:47.879 All the people 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:49.019 are now his servants 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.920 with the exception 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.700 of the priests. 00:33:51.079 --> 00:33:52.519 It is a brilliant, 00:33:52.879 --> 00:33:53.940 wise plan. 00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:54.839 But do you see 00:33:54.839 --> 00:33:55.819 in the same way, 00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:57.759 in that same maneuver, 00:33:58.319 --> 00:33:59.519 he is blessing 00:33:59.519 --> 00:34:00.819 the nations 00:34:00.819 --> 00:34:01.819 by the wisdom 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.859 God has given him. 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.779 He has provided food 00:34:05.779 --> 00:34:06.680 for the nations. 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.700 That's a blessing. 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:09.099 He's provided 00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:10.519 a cash cow 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.659 and pep 00:34:11.659 --> 00:34:12.759 and forever. 00:34:12.780 --> 00:34:14.060 for Pharaoh, 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:14.900 for Egypt. 00:34:15.540 --> 00:34:16.060 Perpetuity 00:34:16.060 --> 00:34:16.720 is the word 00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:17.320 I was looking for. 00:34:18.440 --> 00:34:19.600 God is blessing 00:34:19.600 --> 00:34:20.300 the nations 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.500 through the wisdom 00:34:21.500 --> 00:34:22.240 of Joseph. 00:34:22.420 --> 00:34:23.060 God's promise 00:34:23.060 --> 00:34:23.640 of blessing 00:34:23.640 --> 00:34:24.980 to his people 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:25.880 is kept in Egypt. 00:34:26.140 --> 00:34:26.840 God's promise 00:34:26.840 --> 00:34:27.400 of blessing 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.580 through his people 00:34:28.580 --> 00:34:29.460 is kept in Egypt. 00:34:29.640 --> 00:34:30.360 But what about 00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.000 God's promise 00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.680 of multiplication? 00:34:33.080 --> 00:34:35.000 One final promise 00:34:35.000 --> 00:34:35.880 kept here. 00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:36.340 And we see 00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.600 this promise 00:34:37.600 --> 00:34:38.280 of multiplication 00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:39.200 kept starting 00:34:39.200 --> 00:34:40.400 in verse 27. 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:42.300 It says, 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.059 Thus Israel 00:34:43.059 --> 00:34:44.160 settled in the land 00:34:44.160 --> 00:34:44.660 of Egypt, 00:34:45.019 --> 00:34:45.720 in the land 00:34:45.720 --> 00:34:46.300 of Goshen, 00:34:46.700 --> 00:34:47.599 and they gained 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:48.680 possessions in it 00:34:48.680 --> 00:34:50.119 and were fruitful 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:51.139 and multiplied 00:34:51.139 --> 00:34:52.260 greatly. 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:53.740 That's Eden language. 00:34:54.740 --> 00:34:55.840 And Jacob lived 00:34:55.840 --> 00:34:56.280 in the land 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:56.700 of Egypt 00:34:56.700 --> 00:34:58.139 17 years. 00:34:58.280 --> 00:34:58.720 So the days 00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.260 of Jacob, 00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.760 the years 00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:00.480 of his life, 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:03.380 were 147 years. 00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:04.980 And when the time 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:05.440 drew near 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:05.920 that Israel 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.720 must die, 00:35:06.820 --> 00:35:07.680 he called his son 00:35:07.680 --> 00:35:08.539 Joseph and said 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:08.840 to him, 00:35:09.200 --> 00:35:09.940 If now I have 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.660 found favor 00:35:10.660 --> 00:35:11.500 in your sight, 00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.500 put your hand 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.380 under my thigh 00:35:13.380 --> 00:35:13.980 and promise 00:35:13.980 --> 00:35:14.900 to deal kindly 00:35:14.900 --> 00:35:15.960 and truly with me. 00:35:16.460 --> 00:35:17.440 Do not bury me 00:35:17.440 --> 00:35:17.880 in Egypt, 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.800 but let me lie 00:35:18.800 --> 00:35:19.599 with my fathers. 00:35:20.559 --> 00:35:21.160 Carry me out 00:35:21.160 --> 00:35:21.660 of the land 00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:22.059 of Egypt 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.700 and bury me 00:35:22.700 --> 00:35:23.820 in their burying place. 00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:25.140 And he answered, 00:35:25.200 --> 00:35:25.740 I will do 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:26.599 as you have said. 00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:27.619 And he said, 00:35:27.680 --> 00:35:28.360 Swear to me. 00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.900 And he swore to him. 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:31.119 Then Israel 00:35:31.119 --> 00:35:31.900 bowed himself 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:32.720 upon the head 00:35:32.720 --> 00:35:34.200 of his bed. 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.079 God keeps 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:37.059 his promise 00:35:37.059 --> 00:35:38.119 of multiplication 00:35:38.119 --> 00:35:39.860 even there 00:35:39.860 --> 00:35:40.780 in Egypt. 00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.119 Hasn't he promised? 00:35:43.400 --> 00:35:44.480 Your descendants 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:45.500 will be more numerous 00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.340 than the stars 00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.019 in the sky 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:48.200 or the sand 00:35:48.200 --> 00:35:48.840 on the shore. 00:35:49.160 --> 00:35:49.880 That promise 00:35:49.880 --> 00:35:51.220 is not dependent 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:52.240 on location. 00:35:53.360 --> 00:35:55.220 Even in Egypt, 00:35:56.240 --> 00:35:56.820 God's people 00:35:56.820 --> 00:35:57.519 are fruitful 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.920 and they multiply. 00:36:00.360 --> 00:36:00.820 If you keep 00:36:00.820 --> 00:36:01.220 on reading 00:36:01.220 --> 00:36:01.720 in Exodus, 00:36:01.900 --> 00:36:02.320 and we see 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:02.960 that promise 00:36:02.960 --> 00:36:04.340 is not dependent 00:36:04.340 --> 00:36:05.340 on leadership. 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:07.480 Joseph dies 00:36:07.480 --> 00:36:08.559 and yet, 00:36:08.680 --> 00:36:09.420 what do we see? 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:10.760 The people 00:36:10.760 --> 00:36:12.200 continue to multiply. 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:14.579 You keep on reading 00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.019 and you see 00:36:15.019 --> 00:36:15.760 it's not dependent 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:16.840 on ease 00:36:16.840 --> 00:36:18.240 or safety 00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:19.500 of their circumstances. 00:36:19.680 --> 00:36:20.360 A new pharaoh 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:21.260 rises up 00:36:21.260 --> 00:36:22.099 and he seeks 00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:23.119 to destroy 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:24.099 the people of God 00:36:24.099 --> 00:36:24.920 and what happens? 00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:26.480 They continue 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.380 to multiply. 00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:28.059 This is just 00:36:28.059 --> 00:36:28.800 how it goes. 00:36:28.800 --> 00:36:29.920 I mean, 00:36:29.960 --> 00:36:31.100 try as hard 00:36:31.100 --> 00:36:31.900 as they want. 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.519 The powers 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.220 of darkness 00:36:33.220 --> 00:36:34.780 cannot stop 00:36:34.780 --> 00:36:35.280 the people 00:36:35.280 --> 00:36:35.800 of God 00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:36.680 from multiplying 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:37.340 on the face 00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:37.880 of the earth. 00:36:40.340 --> 00:36:41.280 Stone Stephen 00:36:41.280 --> 00:36:41.900 to death, 00:36:42.060 --> 00:36:42.880 Acts chapter 8. 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:44.740 And they say, 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:44.860 well, 00:36:44.900 --> 00:36:45.620 maybe this will stop 00:36:45.620 --> 00:36:46.360 this whole preaching 00:36:46.360 --> 00:36:47.640 Christianity thing, 00:36:47.700 --> 00:36:47.860 right? 00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:49.060 Maybe they'll just 00:36:49.060 --> 00:36:50.200 stop talking about Jesus 00:36:50.200 --> 00:36:51.240 if we kill one of them. 00:36:51.300 --> 00:36:51.920 What happens? 00:36:51.920 --> 00:36:54.079 As they're scattered, 00:36:54.200 --> 00:36:54.860 they go about 00:36:54.860 --> 00:36:56.260 preaching the word. 00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:59.059 You cannot stop 00:36:59.059 --> 00:36:59.780 the multiplication 00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:00.880 of God's people. 00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:02.240 Jesus has promised, 00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:04.260 I will build my church 00:37:04.260 --> 00:37:05.860 and the gates of hell 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:07.360 will not prevail against it. 00:37:07.519 --> 00:37:08.900 You cannot stop 00:37:08.900 --> 00:37:09.519 the multiplication 00:37:09.519 --> 00:37:10.559 of God's people. 00:37:10.680 --> 00:37:10.960 Why? 00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:13.119 Because God has promised it 00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:14.420 and God is faithful 00:37:14.420 --> 00:37:15.500 to all His promises. 00:37:18.380 --> 00:37:19.659 The kingdom of God 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:20.680 will continue to grow 00:37:20.679 --> 00:37:22.599 like a grain 00:37:22.599 --> 00:37:23.659 of mustard seed 00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:24.239 that grows 00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:25.559 to be the greatest tree 00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.619 in all the earth 00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:28.719 or like a little bit 00:37:28.719 --> 00:37:29.239 of leaven 00:37:29.239 --> 00:37:29.940 that worked 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:30.899 into the dough 00:37:30.899 --> 00:37:32.599 leavens the whole lump. 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:33.980 God's kingdom 00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:36.099 through God's people, 00:37:36.239 --> 00:37:36.919 the church, 00:37:37.519 --> 00:37:38.359 will continue 00:37:38.359 --> 00:37:39.319 to multiply 00:37:39.319 --> 00:37:41.119 even in Egypt, 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:42.879 even in exile, 00:37:43.279 --> 00:37:44.000 even here 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:45.399 outside of Eden. 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:45.919 Why? 00:37:46.299 --> 00:37:47.199 Because God 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:48.239 has promised us 00:37:48.239 --> 00:37:49.259 this in His word. 00:37:50.679 --> 00:37:51.839 And our God 00:37:51.839 --> 00:37:52.839 keeps all 00:37:52.839 --> 00:37:53.819 His promises. 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:57.179 Church, 00:37:57.259 --> 00:37:58.519 Jacob saw 00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.579 the faithfulness 00:37:59.579 --> 00:37:59.980 of God 00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.619 firsthand 00:38:00.619 --> 00:38:01.460 and as he comes 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:01.819 to the end 00:38:01.819 --> 00:38:02.379 of his life, 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:04.000 what a powerful reminder 00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:04.679 this would have been 00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:05.179 for him 00:38:05.179 --> 00:38:06.739 of the faithfulness 00:38:06.739 --> 00:38:07.480 of his promise 00:38:07.480 --> 00:38:08.319 keeping God. 00:38:08.419 --> 00:38:08.759 But church, 00:38:08.839 --> 00:38:10.619 I hope you realize 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:12.639 we have 00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:14.139 an even greater display 00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:15.119 of the faithfulness 00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:15.460 of God 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:15.960 than this. 00:38:15.960 --> 00:38:18.500 ultimately, 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:21.300 all the promises 00:38:21.300 --> 00:38:22.280 of God 00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:23.139 are kept 00:38:23.139 --> 00:38:24.119 for us 00:38:24.119 --> 00:38:25.480 in Christ. 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:28.720 Where do we look 00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:29.740 to know for certain 00:38:29.740 --> 00:38:30.380 that our God 00:38:30.380 --> 00:38:31.460 will keep His promises? 00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:34.300 Where do we look 00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:34.980 when His promises 00:38:34.980 --> 00:38:36.400 seem to be threatened 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.380 by the challenges 00:38:37.380 --> 00:38:38.000 of life? 00:38:38.179 --> 00:38:39.099 We look 00:38:39.099 --> 00:38:40.579 to His faithfulness 00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:41.920 in Christ Jesus. 00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:43.240 Hasn't He showed us 00:38:43.240 --> 00:38:44.240 at the cross of Christ? 00:38:44.239 --> 00:38:47.119 that even 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:48.039 in what seems 00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:48.899 to be the darkest 00:38:48.899 --> 00:38:50.000 and most impossible 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.639 moment, 00:38:51.259 --> 00:38:52.259 that He is at work 00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:53.079 for His glory 00:38:53.079 --> 00:38:53.679 and our good? 00:38:55.239 --> 00:38:56.059 It is 00:38:56.059 --> 00:38:57.339 to Christ 00:38:57.339 --> 00:38:58.439 to whom 00:38:58.439 --> 00:38:59.139 we must come 00:38:59.139 --> 00:38:59.899 in faith 00:38:59.899 --> 00:39:01.259 burning all 00:39:01.259 --> 00:39:01.699 the ships 00:39:01.699 --> 00:39:02.579 behind us, 00:39:03.359 --> 00:39:04.699 going in full 00:39:04.699 --> 00:39:05.439 faith, 00:39:05.699 --> 00:39:06.439 trusting that He 00:39:06.439 --> 00:39:06.959 is worthy 00:39:06.959 --> 00:39:07.919 of our full 00:39:07.919 --> 00:39:08.500 obedience. 00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.399 It is Christ 00:39:10.399 --> 00:39:10.839 Jesus 00:39:10.839 --> 00:39:11.779 who is 00:39:11.779 --> 00:39:12.399 the promised 00:39:12.399 --> 00:39:12.859 blessing 00:39:12.859 --> 00:39:13.699 to the people 00:39:13.699 --> 00:39:14.279 of God 00:39:14.279 --> 00:39:15.179 and through 00:39:15.179 --> 00:39:15.739 the people 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:16.179 of God 00:39:16.179 --> 00:39:16.859 to the world. 00:39:17.779 --> 00:39:18.460 It is Christ 00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:18.899 Jesus 00:39:18.899 --> 00:39:20.399 who is the true 00:39:20.399 --> 00:39:20.919 and better 00:39:20.919 --> 00:39:21.439 Joseph 00:39:21.439 --> 00:39:22.739 who was betrayed 00:39:22.739 --> 00:39:23.899 and left for dead 00:39:23.899 --> 00:39:24.819 yet in God's 00:39:24.819 --> 00:39:25.679 sovereign purpose 00:39:25.679 --> 00:39:27.000 is now the risen 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:27.679 and exalted 00:39:27.679 --> 00:39:29.199 ruler of the nations 00:39:29.199 --> 00:39:30.259 who is alone 00:39:30.259 --> 00:39:31.079 the wise 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.019 King of Kings 00:39:32.019 --> 00:39:32.879 to whom 00:39:32.879 --> 00:39:33.960 all nations 00:39:33.960 --> 00:39:34.480 will come 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.379 and bow the knee 00:39:35.379 --> 00:39:36.019 and the one 00:39:36.019 --> 00:39:36.539 to whom 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:37.500 we must come 00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.259 with an empty 00:39:38.259 --> 00:39:39.219 open hand 00:39:39.219 --> 00:39:40.579 if we are 00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.059 to live. 00:39:42.099 --> 00:39:42.779 And it is 00:39:42.779 --> 00:39:43.439 the very body 00:39:43.439 --> 00:39:44.039 of Christ 00:39:44.039 --> 00:39:44.639 that continues 00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:45.319 to grow 00:39:45.319 --> 00:39:46.399 and multiply 00:39:46.399 --> 00:39:47.199 as the word 00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:47.739 of Christ 00:39:47.739 --> 00:39:48.359 the gospel 00:39:48.359 --> 00:39:49.239 is proclaimed 00:39:49.239 --> 00:39:50.039 in every corner 00:39:50.039 --> 00:39:50.719 of the earth. 00:39:50.799 --> 00:39:51.139 Church 00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:53.659 we look 00:39:53.659 --> 00:39:54.339 to the gospel 00:39:54.339 --> 00:39:55.000 of Christ 00:39:55.000 --> 00:39:56.959 and see 00:39:56.959 --> 00:39:57.899 the faithfulness 00:39:57.899 --> 00:39:58.579 of our God 00:39:58.579 --> 00:39:59.559 on full display. 00:40:03.239 --> 00:40:03.879 Sometime 00:40:03.879 --> 00:40:04.279 soon 00:40:04.279 --> 00:40:05.019 you may already 00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.820 be there now 00:40:05.820 --> 00:40:08.599 God's promises 00:40:08.599 --> 00:40:09.360 will seem 00:40:09.360 --> 00:40:10.159 to be threatened 00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:10.920 in your life. 00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:14.059 Your faith 00:40:14.059 --> 00:40:14.920 in his promises 00:40:14.920 --> 00:40:16.659 will be tested. 00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:18.920 Church 00:40:18.920 --> 00:40:19.400 would you look 00:40:19.400 --> 00:40:19.960 to Christ 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:21.059 and remember 00:40:21.059 --> 00:40:23.119 our God 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:23.719 is a promise 00:40:23.719 --> 00:40:24.440 keeping God. 00:40:25.480 --> 00:40:26.579 He will 00:40:26.579 --> 00:40:27.320 accomplish 00:40:27.320 --> 00:40:27.980 all 00:40:27.980 --> 00:40:29.400 that he's promised. 00:40:29.599 --> 00:40:29.800 Amen. 00:40:31.079 --> 00:40:31.800 Let's pray. 00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:32.199 Father 00:40:32.199 --> 00:40:34.420 we thank you 00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:35.579 for that good news 00:40:35.579 --> 00:40:36.159 that you are 00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:37.320 a faithful God 00:40:37.320 --> 00:40:39.880 and we confess 00:40:39.880 --> 00:40:40.820 that we're often 00:40:40.820 --> 00:40:41.240 tempted 00:40:41.240 --> 00:40:42.280 to disbelieve 00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:42.820 that because 00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:43.420 of the trials 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:44.240 that we face 00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:44.659 and because 00:40:44.659 --> 00:40:45.059 of the 00:40:45.059 --> 00:40:45.900 difficulty 00:40:45.900 --> 00:40:46.700 of life 00:40:46.700 --> 00:40:47.579 here outside 00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:48.340 of Eden 00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:49.760 but God 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:50.039 we look 00:40:50.039 --> 00:40:50.599 to the cross 00:40:50.599 --> 00:40:50.940 and we're 00:40:50.940 --> 00:40:51.280 reminded 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:51.700 that you 00:40:51.700 --> 00:40:52.440 are a good 00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:53.220 sovereign 00:40:53.220 --> 00:40:53.980 holy 00:40:53.980 --> 00:40:55.240 faithful God 00:40:55.240 --> 00:40:56.619 who loves 00:40:56.619 --> 00:40:57.800 sinners like us 00:40:57.800 --> 00:40:58.960 and will 00:40:58.960 --> 00:40:59.500 accomplish 00:40:59.500 --> 00:41:00.280 all that you've 00:41:00.280 --> 00:41:01.119 purposed in us. 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:01.760 We praise you 00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:02.039 for this 00:41:02.039 --> 00:41:02.740 in Jesus name. 00:41:03.860 --> 00:41:04.280 Amen. 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:05.119 00:41:05.119 --> 00:41:35.099 Thank you.