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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
your people
today.
through your
son,
Jesus Christ.
We praise
you and
thank you
that we
are indeed
blessed
beyond our
wildest dreams.
Blessed are
the poor
in spirit,
for theirs
is the
kingdom
of heaven.
What a
gift.
What a
blessing.
Thank you.
Amen.
we are
going to
see that
the gospel
blessing
is what
we stand
on and
in what
we share
and what
we tell.
If you are
able to
stand and
sing,
let's
sing together.
so
oh