WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.660 Thanks very much Fiona. Great to see another great hymn given the modern treatment. Some of these words, these old hymns are fantastic and it's really good when we can revive them. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:20.760 Good evening everyone. We've come to the climax of the story of Joseph for quite a number of chapters now. We've been waiting for it to happen and thinking it would soon. 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:29.440 And now we're going to come to the end where Joseph and Jacob are reunited. The people settle in Egypt and they all live happily ever after. 00:00:29.539 --> 00:00:32.560 It is happily until a pharaoh comes along who didn't remember Joseph. 00:00:33.620 --> 00:00:40.219 Quite a lot to read so I'm not going to read the whole of chapters 45 and 46 but we will read enough to get the thread of it. 00:00:40.760 --> 00:00:46.280 And if you have Bibles it would be really helpful because you can then follow the rest of it as we go through. 00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:49.600 So Genesis 45 starting reading at verse 1. 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:56.579 And it says then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants and he cried out, 00:00:57.259 --> 00:00:59.079 Have everyone leave my presence. 00:00:59.879 --> 00:01:03.460 So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:10.159 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him and the pharaoh's household heard about it. 00:01:10.979 --> 00:01:16.099 Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph. Is my father still living? 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:22.079 But his brothers were not able to answer him because they were terrified at his presence. 00:01:22.079 --> 00:01:26.280 Then Joseph said to his brothers, come close to me. 00:01:26.900 --> 00:01:32.099 When they had done so he said, I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. 00:01:32.959 --> 00:01:37.900 And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here. 00:01:38.560 --> 00:01:41.799 Because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:45.239 For two years now there has been famine in the land. 00:01:45.239 --> 00:01:49.179 And for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:57.560 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:02.379 So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:08.719 He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 00:02:08.719 --> 00:02:13.900 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, this is what your son Joseph says. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:16.639 God has made me lord of all Egypt. 00:02:17.199 --> 00:02:18.120 Come down to me. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:19.120 Don't delay. 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.240 You shall live in the land in the region of Goshen and be near me. 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:27.840 You, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds and all that you have. 00:02:28.579 --> 00:02:33.219 I will provide for you there because five years of famine are still to come. 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:39.900 Otherwise, you and all your household and all who belong to you will become destitute. 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:44.419 So Joseph sent his brothers on their way with Pharaoh's blessing. 00:02:45.099 --> 00:02:46.960 We picked up again at verse 25. 00:02:47.079 --> 00:02:47.740 Verse 25. 00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:52.900 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 00:02:53.900 --> 00:02:55.819 They told him, Joseph is still alive. 00:02:56.520 --> 00:02:58.419 In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt. 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:00.539 Jacob was stunned. 00:03:00.659 --> 00:03:01.659 He did not believe them. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:07.539 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph 00:03:07.539 --> 00:03:11.979 had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:15.120 And Israel said, I'm convinced. 00:03:15.859 --> 00:03:17.780 My son Joseph is still alive. 00:03:18.300 --> 00:03:20.879 I will go and see him before I die. 00:03:22.079 --> 00:03:23.979 So Israel set out with all that was his. 00:03:24.539 --> 00:03:29.139 And when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:35.939 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, Jacob, Jacob, here I am, he replied. 00:03:36.859 --> 00:03:39.179 I am God, the God of your father, he said. 00:03:39.739 --> 00:03:44.719 Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. 00:03:45.419 --> 00:03:49.639 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:53.279 And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes. 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:54.819 And so they set off. 00:03:54.899 --> 00:03:59.479 There's a long list of the people who went down to Egypt with Jacob. 00:04:00.239 --> 00:04:05.939 And then if we pick up again at verse 29, verse 29, it said, 00:04:06.019 --> 00:04:09.919 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:17.279 As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:26.099 Israel said to Joseph, now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive. 00:04:26.919 --> 00:04:30.819 And God, I'm sure, will bless his word as we think about it together. 00:04:31.599 --> 00:04:33.639 I want to start with a small experiment this evening. 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:35.240 It's very simple. 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:38.660 So, in a few moments, I'm going to put a word up on the screen, 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:41.519 and I want everyone to read it out loud straight away. 00:04:41.620 --> 00:04:44.420 So, word goes on screen, speed read it, and say what you see. 00:04:44.840 --> 00:04:45.460 So, here we go. 00:04:46.960 --> 00:04:47.360 Good. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:48.400 Well done, everybody. 00:04:48.540 --> 00:04:49.319 You passed the test. 00:04:50.019 --> 00:04:51.500 Can anyone see any other word? 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:53.160 Did everyone see good there? 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:54.120 Evil. 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:55.280 Evil, absolutely. 00:04:55.280 --> 00:05:00.600 If you look at the white inside the black, you get evil spelt out as well. 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:04.720 And I guess that's what the beginning, at least, of the passage we're looking at this evening 00:05:04.720 --> 00:05:05.880 is all about. 00:05:06.440 --> 00:05:07.980 It's how you look at it. 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:12.360 If you look at the story of Joseph one way, you see great evil. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.380 You see great malice and envy by his brothers. 00:05:15.580 --> 00:05:18.620 You see others you go along who would want to do bad to him. 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:24.300 And he could have looked back and been really resentful about it, particularly to his family. 00:05:24.300 --> 00:05:28.560 But Joseph looked back and he saw only good. 00:05:29.060 --> 00:05:34.720 He saw that out of all the evil that had been done, God had worked together for good. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:38.580 So, it depends how you look at it, whether it's good or evil. 00:05:38.660 --> 00:05:40.319 I'm not promoting relative ethics or anything. 00:05:40.460 --> 00:05:41.680 That's not what's good for you. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:42.519 It's bad for me. 00:05:42.519 --> 00:05:47.899 It is that sometimes that God allows things that are bad or that people have done that 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:52.979 are evil to us to be used ultimately for our good. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:56.879 I'll let you work that one out for yourself. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:01.539 But if we put something else underneath it to complete it, we can get the picture that 00:06:01.539 --> 00:06:05.339 God's hands hold you and me. 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:07.279 We are all in God's hands. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:10.599 God is directing our lives. 00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:14.099 And that's what is the second big thing that's in this chapter. 00:06:14.239 --> 00:06:22.619 Just looking at it as good or as evil and is recognizing God's hand, God's providence in our lives. 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:27.739 So, Joseph says twice to his brothers, God sent me ahead of you. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:30.179 In fact, he does it almost again in verse 8. 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:34.939 In verse 8, he says, it was not you who sent me here, but God. 00:06:34.939 --> 00:06:38.759 Looking at it in human terms, how did Joseph get to Egypt? 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:41.560 He got to Egypt because his brothers were jealous of him. 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:48.060 They put him in a pit and then they sold him to some Ishmaelite traders who took him and sold him as a slave in Egypt. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:53.480 Joseph is able to look and he's able to say, actually what was happening? 00:06:54.240 --> 00:07:01.579 Despite what you thought you were doing, ultimately God was fulfilling his purpose. 00:07:01.579 --> 00:07:15.300 I think one of the great things we need to learn from the story of Joseph is that God's providence, God's provision for our lives is in everything that we do and we need to be willing to recognize it. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:20.560 And sometimes we look back, look back at times that have been really, really difficult for us. 00:07:20.919 --> 00:07:24.819 Perhaps look back at times when people have done some really bad things to us. 00:07:24.819 --> 00:07:29.519 And we can say, actually out of that, God brought good. 00:07:30.699 --> 00:07:36.420 So let's look in a little bit more detail at these first few verses of chapter 45. 00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:44.379 So if you remember back to last week or two weeks ago when John was speaking to us, we were looking at the brothers coming to Egypt first time, second time. 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:51.040 And they have the silver in their sack the first time, second time Benjamin comes and they have Joseph's goblet in the sack. 00:07:51.680 --> 00:07:53.480 And they're really worried about things. 00:07:53.540 --> 00:08:00.019 They think we're in big trouble now, not to any fault of our own now, but it must be God revisiting on us the sins of the past. 00:08:00.659 --> 00:08:04.319 And then at the end of chapter 44, we have Judah's great speech. 00:08:04.839 --> 00:08:13.920 Judah who makes it clear to Joseph that he would rather, he was imprisoned and he took the punishment for what Benjamin was perceived to have done. 00:08:14.379 --> 00:08:20.500 Then for them to go back without Benjamin and ultimately that might have led to just Jacob's death. 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:28.120 And that very emotional and very powerful appeal from Judah was what ultimately brought Joseph to the point of saying, 00:08:28.120 --> 00:08:34.980 I now need to reveal myself to my brothers because they have shown to me that they really have changed. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:42.899 Now what they did to me all these years ago, which was very wicked and very evil, they've repented of, they recognize the wrong of it. 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:47.439 And it's time now to move on and to put it behind us. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:55.139 So at the start of chapter 45, Joseph gets very emotional as he's done a few times as we've gone through the last few chapters. 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:58.740 And he reveals himself to his brothers. 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:03.939 And he does it in a very emotional and also a very personal way. 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:09.500 So he says in verse 3, I am Joseph, is my father still living? 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.680 Now read that the first time and think, hasn't Joseph been listening? 00:09:13.260 --> 00:09:19.440 Because his brothers have been talking about their father all along and they've made it very clear that their father is still alive. 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:21.240 Two things I think in that. 00:09:21.580 --> 00:09:27.360 One is that Joseph here, instead of saying your father as he's done in the past, he now says my father. 00:09:27.740 --> 00:09:28.800 It is a personal thing. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:32.599 And the other thing is he's probably using some kind of idiom of the day. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.120 So when he said, is your father still living? 00:09:35.479 --> 00:09:40.240 Actually, what it probably was really meant to get the answer for is, is your father in good health? 00:09:40.599 --> 00:09:42.500 Is he doing fairly well? 00:09:43.299 --> 00:09:49.979 But he was asking after his father first and then he addresses them as, I am Joseph, your brother. 00:09:50.599 --> 00:09:52.079 They hadn't wanted him as a brother. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:57.639 They had been very jealous of him as a brother because of the concern, the care his father had for them. 00:09:58.060 --> 00:10:02.160 He now wants to identify with them as your brother. 00:10:02.280 --> 00:10:04.540 So a lot of human emotion going on here. 00:10:04.900 --> 00:10:07.759 A family being reunited has been split for so long. 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:11.520 And reconciliation and forgiveness. 00:10:13.280 --> 00:10:19.580 But the thing that's going on underneath and that is very important that we get out is this divine perspective. 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:24.700 God's providence, God using things for his glory. 00:10:25.500 --> 00:10:29.820 And while Joseph recognises that the brothers had indeed sold him into Egypt, 00:10:29.920 --> 00:10:33.060 and he doesn't try to gloss over that in any way, 00:10:33.500 --> 00:10:41.520 he says what was actually going on here was that God was using your actions to fulfil his purposes. 00:10:42.060 --> 00:10:43.860 You thought it was going to be bad. 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:47.500 God has made it turn out to be good. 00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:51.220 And actually if you come to chapter 50, which we'll do in a couple of weeks' time, 00:10:51.720 --> 00:10:56.620 and Joseph very explicitly says you meant evil, but God has worked it for good. 00:10:56.740 --> 00:11:00.500 God uses the evil thing to bring good. 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:07.240 And the second thing I think is in these verses is how God saves through his servants. 00:11:07.980 --> 00:11:12.340 Verse 5, it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:21.780 Verse 7, God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 00:11:22.379 --> 00:11:25.720 So God is working things for the benefit of his people. 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:30.860 And to do that, he is using someone who is willing to be his obedient servant 00:11:30.860 --> 00:11:36.139 and who will then save others from the famine that they would have suffered. 00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:41.439 Now, of course, we look at that and we think immediately about the Lord Jesus. 00:11:42.299 --> 00:11:48.319 How evil men put the Lord to death, sentence him unjustly to be crucified. 00:11:49.240 --> 00:11:54.179 And yet God made sure that that greatest of evil brought the greatest of good 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:59.679 as the Lord Jesus bought our salvation through his death on the cross. 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:06.199 God used the evil intention of men to fulfill his purposes and to bring good. 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:09.279 And, of course, he saved through his servant. 00:12:09.819 --> 00:12:13.939 As he had sent Joseph into Egypt to be the saviour there, 00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:17.959 particularly of his family, but actually of the whole nation of Egypt, 00:12:18.459 --> 00:12:25.039 he sent his servant, the Lord Jesus, into the world to be the saviour of the world. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:31.799 Well, let's think about it in more practical day-to-day terms. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:38.419 What does it mean to be able to recognise God's providence in our daily lives? 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:44.899 How can it be that men plan something and they want it to go wrong 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:48.819 or perhaps things just seem to happen and somehow underlying it, 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:53.099 God is in control, God's hand is at work? 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:55.040 I used to play chess. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:58.680 I kind of still know the rules of chess and don't play at all seriously anymore, 00:12:58.680 --> 00:13:01.279 but occasionally I play chess against my computer. 00:13:01.940 --> 00:13:05.220 I usually set a very low level so I can make a couple of really bad mistakes 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:07.240 and still have a chance of winning the game. 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:14.480 But if I turn up the level a bit and put it at a level which I know is a bit beyond what I'm capable of, 00:13:14.920 --> 00:13:17.320 then I can be pretty sure that I'm going to be beaten. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:20.379 It won't be that long before there's a checkmate. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:26.500 If I do a good move, then the computer can respond to it by doing a better move. 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:30.279 If I do a bad move, the computer will take advantage of it 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:34.220 and make sure that it helps towards winning the game. 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:41.919 Whatever I do, the computer is able to respond to it and to work it for its purposes. 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.799 That's a very poor analogy in many ways, but in some ways I think it's quite helpful. 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:51.519 God doesn't restrict us in what we do. 00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:57.459 God gives us free will and he gives us choices to do right or to do wrong. 00:13:58.539 --> 00:14:03.479 And we can't say, I did evil because I knew that was going to fulfill God's purpose. 00:14:03.579 --> 00:14:05.879 Of course, we couldn't do that. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:12.720 And yet when things are done which are wrong and are evil and done often with bad intent, 00:14:13.159 --> 00:14:19.000 when things just happen, when we do things perhaps carelessly or without thinking and things go wrong, 00:14:19.539 --> 00:14:23.960 God can still use that to fulfill his purposes. 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:30.759 Ultimately, God is in control and God is able to take both the good and the bad that we do 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:36.920 and to use them to bring glory to his name and to bring good to us. 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:42.240 Joseph's case, he had a rather foolish father. 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.220 He had jealous brothers. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:46.460 There was a lustful woman in Egypt. 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:47.900 There was a forgetful butler. 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:50.019 All of them going wrong. 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:56.139 And yet all of them ultimately moving towards God's purpose. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:03.360 And so Joseph can see at the end of it that he, verse 8, he is the father of Pharaoh, 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.720 not literally the father of Pharaoh. 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.559 It was kind of a bit like being called Pope's chapter or something like that. 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.480 It was a position to help Pharaoh. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:14.439 Father of Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, ruler of all Egypt. 00:15:14.440 --> 00:15:20.620 And it had happened because God had worked in his life and the lives of those around him, 00:15:21.020 --> 00:15:25.840 despite what people were doing that might have been bad for him. 00:15:27.260 --> 00:15:30.320 This last week I've been thinking about the name Joni for obvious reasons. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:36.920 Those of us of a certain vintage probably can remember two Jonis who were well known in the 70s, 80s, 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:39.420 and perhaps to an extent still these days. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:42.340 One of them is the folk singer Joni Mitchell. 00:15:42.340 --> 00:15:46.639 Joni Mitchell writes a number of very happy, cheerful songs, 00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:50.639 but when she looks at life it tends to be often through a fairly gloomy lens. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:53.680 Let me just read some lines that Joni Mitchell's written. 00:15:54.340 --> 00:15:54.720 She says, 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:58.920 Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere, stormy weather. 00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:01.759 Just can't get my poor self together. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:05.700 I'm weary all the time, all the time. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.480 And then maybe her best known song, 00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:10.399 I've looked at life from both sides now. 00:16:10.920 --> 00:16:13.039 From win and lose and still somehow, 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:16.259 it's life's illusions I recall. 00:16:17.019 --> 00:16:19.980 I really don't know life at all. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.480 Very gloomy perspective on the world, 00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:25.340 but someone saying it doesn't make any sense, 00:16:25.700 --> 00:16:27.920 I don't understand what's going on, 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:31.379 all I can see is the things that come up that appear okay, 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.680 and then suddenly they're not, 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:37.000 and I'm really not very happy with my lot in life. 00:16:38.199 --> 00:16:38.899 The other Joni, 00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:40.399 I think she likes to call herself Joni, 00:16:40.699 --> 00:16:42.239 is Joni Erickson. 00:16:42.959 --> 00:16:45.019 Joni Erickson, who amazingly is now 65. 00:16:45.219 --> 00:16:47.079 Those of us who think of her as a kind of teenage girl, 00:16:47.219 --> 00:16:49.299 she's well beyond that now. 00:16:50.059 --> 00:16:52.379 Joni Erickson, when she was 17 years old, 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:53.679 was a carefree, 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.679 perhaps rather immature teenager, 00:16:55.739 --> 00:16:57.319 I think she would have said that herself, 00:16:57.719 --> 00:16:59.839 when she was in a very serious diving accident. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:01.440 She broke her neck, 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:04.480 and she was paralysed from her shoulders down. 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.920 So she can move her face, 00:17:07.420 --> 00:17:09.299 but nothing below that. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.360 Despite that, she's gone on to be an artist, 00:17:12.620 --> 00:17:14.100 an author, a speaker, 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.039 a recording artist, 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:18.559 and a number of other things as well. 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:21.279 She hasn't let what happened in her life 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:27.360 deflect her from enjoying a full and very fulfilled life. 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:31.719 Let me just read a few paragraphs from her first book, 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.699 the book that's called Joni, 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:34.939 which is one many of us no doubt have read. 00:17:35.719 --> 00:17:36.939 And this is what she says. 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:38.079 I'm happy. 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.839 I really am. 00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:42.659 I wouldn't change my life for anything. 00:17:43.519 --> 00:17:45.459 I even feel privileged. 00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:49.240 God doesn't give such special attention to everyone 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:52.079 and intervene that way in their lives. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:56.519 He allows most people to go right on in their own ways. 00:17:57.099 --> 00:17:58.039 He doesn't interfere, 00:17:58.619 --> 00:18:00.879 even though he knows they're ultimately destroying 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:02.679 their lives, health, or happiness, 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:05.359 and it must grieve him terribly. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:10.220 I'm really thankful he did something to get my attention 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:12.039 and change me. 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:15.559 Someone who has gone through something that for many of us 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:18.859 would be almost unimaginably bad, 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:22.099 and yet she looks back on it and she says, 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:25.240 this thing that seemed so bad to so many people, 00:18:25.939 --> 00:18:28.659 this was God working for my good, 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.539 and also for the good of many others, 00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:32.319 and through the tremendous witness 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:35.659 that she's had to God's power in her life. 00:18:36.359 --> 00:18:37.599 When we look back, 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:40.479 do we see bad or good? 00:18:41.219 --> 00:18:43.779 If there's someone that you've had a problem with, 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:46.919 someone has perhaps done wrong to you in the past, 00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:49.279 do you look back with bitterness 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:51.600 and with anger at that 00:18:51.600 --> 00:18:53.240 and what they've done to you, 00:18:53.660 --> 00:18:55.600 or are you able to see how God, 00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:57.340 even in these circumstances, 00:18:57.500 --> 00:19:00.779 can work and can do things for your good? 00:19:01.860 --> 00:19:03.700 If there's something that's gone wrong, 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:05.720 perhaps it's not been someone doing something bad, 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:07.779 it's just something that has happened, 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:10.560 as in the case of Johnny, 00:19:11.060 --> 00:19:12.380 can you look back and say, 00:19:12.380 --> 00:19:14.220 yes, that was really hard? 00:19:14.580 --> 00:19:16.380 Perhaps it's illness, bereavement, 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:17.700 a problem with the family, 00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:18.500 anything like that, 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:19.520 can you look back and say, 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:21.100 that was really bad? 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.460 But in a sense, it was really good, 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:25.320 because God was working, 00:19:25.700 --> 00:19:28.740 and God was able to help me through it. 00:19:29.560 --> 00:19:32.360 It's very easy to quote Romans 8, 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.520 and say, 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:36.360 God works everything for the good of those who love him, 00:19:36.600 --> 00:19:38.840 who are called according to his purpose. 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.360 And we would say, 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.680 yes, we believe that, 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:44.640 that is what we believe is the case. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:46.960 When it comes down to our own lives, 00:19:47.540 --> 00:19:48.540 when we look back, 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:50.800 and when we see things that have caused real hurt, 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.820 perhaps real pain in our lives, 00:19:53.320 --> 00:19:54.740 can we look back and say, 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:56.500 God has helped me in that, 00:19:56.860 --> 00:19:59.100 and actually it has been for my benefit 00:19:59.100 --> 00:20:02.820 that I went through that time of trial. 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:05.500 And if we're in the time of trial at the moment, 00:20:05.940 --> 00:20:07.660 if there are things that are happening to us 00:20:07.660 --> 00:20:08.840 we don't understand, 00:20:09.160 --> 00:20:11.580 perhaps there are people who seem to be so against us, 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:15.000 and we can't understand why it is happening that way, 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:17.019 can we at least be able to say, 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.099 well, I trust God. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:21.339 I trust that God's hand is on my life, 00:20:21.819 --> 00:20:24.539 and I want to remain faithful to him, 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.759 and look back someday, 00:20:26.199 --> 00:20:28.079 and be able to see the bigger picture, 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.220 and see how God was at work. 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:32.859 Where there is evil, 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:35.199 where there are bad things that happen, 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.220 nevertheless, 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:40.480 God can and does work them for our good, 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.960 and we can ultimately look back and say, 00:20:43.080 --> 00:20:44.480 yes, that was God at work. 00:20:44.860 --> 00:20:46.860 His hand was on my life. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.640 Time's moving on, 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:51.880 so let's move on and look at the remainder of chapter 45, 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.299 and I've given the heading, 00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:56.740 Reflecting God's Priority. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:20:59.200 Chapter 45 is all about grace. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.759 It's all about grace. 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:02.920 It's all about the grace that Joseph showed 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:06.380 to his brothers and to his father, 00:21:06.940 --> 00:21:08.660 and there are so many lessons in it 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:10.779 about the grace that God shows to us, 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.299 and the grace that we should show to others, 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:15.980 even though they don't deserve it. 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:18.380 So what are the components of grace 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:21.059 that we see here in the life of Joseph? 00:21:23.180 --> 00:21:25.799 Well, first of all, there's forgiveness. 00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:28.640 There is the forgiveness for his brothers 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:29.759 that he can say to them, 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:31.360 yes, you did a terrible thing, 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.080 but God's worked it for good, 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:35.060 so let's put it behind us. 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:38.259 Let's not worry about it now. 00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:42.320 And the ability to be able to forgive others 00:21:42.320 --> 00:21:43.600 who do us wrong 00:21:43.600 --> 00:21:46.540 is very basic for any Christian. 00:21:47.240 --> 00:21:48.540 As we look at the forgiveness 00:21:48.540 --> 00:21:51.000 that the Lord Jesus has shown to us, 00:21:51.580 --> 00:21:53.920 shouldn't we far more be willing to forgive 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:58.080 the little things that may be done against us? 00:21:58.640 --> 00:22:00.700 And to forgive and forgive and forgive, 00:22:00.800 --> 00:22:01.620 remember the Lord Jesus, 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.880 70 times 7, 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:07.200 we should forgive the brother who sins against us. 00:22:07.840 --> 00:22:09.940 And it's not just a superficial thing, 00:22:10.020 --> 00:22:11.160 say, I forgive you, 00:22:11.440 --> 00:22:13.200 and then we allow things to move on, 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:15.100 and actually we haven't really forgiven them, 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:17.560 and we are still resentful about it. 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:21.700 It is as they recognise the wrong that they've done, 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.839 as Joseph's brothers did, 00:22:22.879 --> 00:22:24.440 and they didn't do this until he's convinced 00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:26.339 that they did recognise the wrong, 00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:28.259 as people recognise the wrong 00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:33.000 and are willing to repent of it before God 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:34.779 and to acknowledge it before us, 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:37.139 then we should be willing to forgive them 00:22:37.139 --> 00:22:40.740 and to put it completely behind us. 00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:43.519 And part of the putting it behind us 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.660 is a real acceptance of them. 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:49.799 Joseph could have forgiven his brothers, 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.839 given them grain, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.299 said, go back, take it away, 00:22:52.579 --> 00:22:53.819 don't want to see you again, 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:55.359 but because you're my brothers, 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:56.420 because you repented, 00:22:56.859 --> 00:22:59.339 then here's the food that you'll need. 00:23:00.180 --> 00:23:02.160 But Joseph didn't want to do that. 00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:04.420 He wanted to be reunited as a family, 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:07.180 to accept those who had rejected him, 00:23:07.180 --> 00:23:10.120 and to show them that greater grace 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:14.759 that was evident in the way he acted towards them. 00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:18.500 And again, if someone has done us wrong, 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:21.820 then we should be willing not just to forgive, 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.700 but to accept them. 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:25.259 So it's not you say to them, 00:23:25.340 --> 00:23:25.920 I forgive you, 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:27.360 and then every time you see them in church, 00:23:27.420 --> 00:23:28.640 you run in the opposite direction 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:30.340 to avoid having to talk to them. 00:23:30.820 --> 00:23:33.480 It's forgiving and restoring relationships 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:36.100 and accepting one another. 00:23:37.860 --> 00:23:40.060 Third thing was evidence of Joseph's grace, 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.580 was the great generosity 00:23:41.580 --> 00:23:44.220 that he showed to his brothers. 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:46.640 That he gave them and the family 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.400 this wonderful land in Goshen, 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:50.519 this land which was ideal for them 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:51.480 as farming people 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:54.019 and as shepherds and cattle minders. 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:55.360 He gave them that land, 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.519 he gave them gifts, 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:58.120 he gave them clothes. 00:23:58.220 --> 00:23:59.820 Ironic, when they had taken the coat 00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:01.220 of many colours off his back, 00:24:01.299 --> 00:24:02.600 that he gave them suits of clothes 00:24:02.600 --> 00:24:03.680 to take away. 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:06.140 And there was nothing that was too much 00:24:06.140 --> 00:24:09.040 for Joseph to give to his brothers. 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:11.620 Again, grace is not just forgiving, 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:13.060 it's not just even accepting, 00:24:13.580 --> 00:24:14.860 it's showing the generosity 00:24:14.860 --> 00:24:17.900 of the Lord Jesus to others. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.920 And then there was the assurance 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:22.259 that Joseph gave to them. 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:24.380 Assurance that they'd be welcome back, 00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:26.360 but there was one other verse 00:24:26.360 --> 00:24:27.920 that I thought was quite helpful 00:24:27.920 --> 00:24:30.080 in that when Joseph says to his brothers, 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.800 when you go on the way, 00:24:32.300 --> 00:24:34.740 don't argue with one another. 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:37.500 Verse 34, 24 sorry. 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:39.200 He sent his brothers away 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:39.800 and as they were leaving, 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.440 he said to them, 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:42.400 don't quarrel on the way. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.600 Now that sounds like a bit of a 00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:44.900 school teacher type lecturer 00:24:44.900 --> 00:24:46.320 or mum or dad saying, 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:48.100 don't have a fight together kids. 00:24:48.099 --> 00:24:51.019 I think what it actually means, 00:24:51.459 --> 00:24:53.500 the word originally meant something like 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.339 don't be troubled, 00:24:54.819 --> 00:24:55.959 don't be agitated. 00:24:56.459 --> 00:24:57.779 It might be he was urging them 00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:59.519 not to quarrel with themselves 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:00.699 over who had been at fault 00:25:00.699 --> 00:25:01.579 or whatever else. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.439 But perhaps what he was thinking 00:25:03.439 --> 00:25:04.599 is don't be worried 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:05.659 that what's happened 00:25:05.659 --> 00:25:06.740 the last couple of times 00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:07.559 you've left Egypt 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:09.159 is going to happen to you again. 00:25:09.719 --> 00:25:10.779 That you'll find something 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:11.799 that shouldn't be there 00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:13.740 or someone will come after you 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:14.699 and they'll find that someone 00:25:14.699 --> 00:25:17.419 apparently has stolen something from you. 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:19.060 So nothing of that kind 00:25:19.060 --> 00:25:20.360 is going to happen. 00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:22.779 Don't worry about being accepted 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.840 when you come back to me. 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.440 This is not any kind of trick. 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.519 I have really accepted you. 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.800 I want to assure you 00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:30.680 of my forgiveness. 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.300 Now, as we said, 00:25:32.380 --> 00:25:33.779 that message didn't really get home 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:35.460 because if you come on 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:37.279 to after Jacob's death, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.320 Joseph's brothers are really worried. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:40.660 Now our father's died. 00:25:41.019 --> 00:25:42.300 He's going to have all this 00:25:42.300 --> 00:25:43.580 pent up anger in him 00:25:43.580 --> 00:25:45.080 and he's going to punish us 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.640 for the wrong that we've done. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:49.120 And Joseph again had to reassure them. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.400 But if we have grace 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:52.320 towards one another, 00:25:52.400 --> 00:25:53.620 if we are willing to forgive, 00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.320 to accept, 00:25:54.580 --> 00:25:55.520 to be generous, 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.160 people need to have the assurance 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.940 that we're doing it genuinely 00:25:58.940 --> 00:26:00.340 and we're not suddenly 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:02.540 going to change our minds. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:04.740 And why should we show this grace? 00:26:05.340 --> 00:26:06.980 Well, it's because God has done for us 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:08.040 exactly the things 00:26:08.040 --> 00:26:10.120 that are up there on the screen. 00:26:10.780 --> 00:26:12.220 God has forgiven us 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.640 for all these terrible sins 00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.200 that we've done, 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.539 these wrongs against him 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:17.340 through the death of the Lord Jesus 00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:18.460 and our trust in him. 00:26:18.779 --> 00:26:20.660 We have complete forgiveness. 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.860 God has accepted us. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:24.440 It's not just that he said, 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.480 okay, I forgive you 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.960 for all the wrong you've done. 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.180 He has adopted us as his children. 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.460 He has made us his ears, 00:26:30.600 --> 00:26:32.460 joint ears with the Lord Jesus. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.039 He has given us 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:36.400 an inheritance in Christ. 00:26:37.100 --> 00:26:38.380 He has been generous to us, 00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:39.779 generous in the many, 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:40.539 many blessings 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:42.659 he gives us in this world. 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:44.579 Generous too in the prospect 00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.399 that we have 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.460 that one day 00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:47.379 we will go to be 00:26:47.379 --> 00:26:48.440 with the Lord forever 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:49.799 and things will be 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:51.359 so much better for us 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:53.279 as the trials of this life 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.799 are behind us. 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.619 And he gives us that assurance. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.799 He's given us the Holy Spirit, 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.319 the deposit, 00:27:00.879 --> 00:27:02.680 and for what will one day be ours 00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:04.180 to give us that assurance 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.500 that we really do belong 00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.440 to the Lord Jesus, 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.940 that we are his, 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:09.660 and that we can have his help 00:27:09.660 --> 00:27:10.920 and his protection 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.380 in our lives. 00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:14.740 As God has shown grace to us, 00:27:15.340 --> 00:27:16.779 let's also show grace 00:27:16.779 --> 00:27:17.980 to one another. 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.980 Moving on quickly, 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.539 we're having to move 00:27:21.539 --> 00:27:22.480 fairly quickly this evening. 00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.799 Let's look at the opening verses 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:25.299 of chapter 46. 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.160 I call this 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:27.960 Receiving God's Promise. 00:27:28.779 --> 00:27:29.759 And this is God 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.059 appearing in a vision 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.160 to Jacob. 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.039 Why did God appear 00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.980 in a vision to Jacob? 00:27:35.580 --> 00:27:36.880 Well, Jacob maybe needed 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:38.700 reassurance that what he was doing 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.040 was the right thing. 00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:41.460 Remember when Abraham 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:42.340 went down to Egypt 00:27:42.340 --> 00:27:43.240 in the time of famine 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:45.420 and got into real difficulties there 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.620 as he pretended 00:27:46.620 --> 00:27:48.380 that Sarah was his sister. 00:27:49.180 --> 00:27:49.820 Remember the Lord 00:27:49.820 --> 00:27:50.740 appeared to Isaac 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:51.720 and said to him, 00:27:51.800 --> 00:27:52.680 don't go down 00:27:52.680 --> 00:27:54.400 into Egypt. 00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:55.700 And perhaps Jacob 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.200 would be wondering, 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:57.320 well, if God was so 00:27:57.320 --> 00:27:59.300 against my grandfather 00:27:59.300 --> 00:27:59.800 and my father 00:27:59.800 --> 00:28:00.620 going to Egypt, 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:01.900 is it the right thing 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:02.800 that I should go? 00:28:02.840 --> 00:28:03.400 And I think he was 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:05.060 getting reassurance from God, 00:28:05.059 --> 00:28:05.980 God telling him, 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:07.379 yes, it is the right thing 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:08.319 to do. 00:28:09.480 --> 00:28:10.299 Let me look at the verses. 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.480 The first thing we learn 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:13.720 is about God's character. 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:15.119 God appears 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:16.179 four times 00:28:16.179 --> 00:28:16.940 to Jacob. 00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:17.819 Interesting, 00:28:17.940 --> 00:28:19.159 we have no recorded 00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:20.339 instances of God 00:28:20.339 --> 00:28:21.279 appearing in this way 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:21.980 to Joseph. 00:28:22.399 --> 00:28:23.019 Appearing to Abraham, 00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.559 to Isaac, 00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.259 to Jacob, 00:28:24.679 --> 00:28:25.980 and although he gave 00:28:25.980 --> 00:28:26.740 Joseph wisdom 00:28:26.740 --> 00:28:27.659 and discernment, 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:29.339 he didn't in that sense 00:28:29.339 --> 00:28:30.039 appear to him. 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.240 But four times 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.599 God appeared to Joseph 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:34.240 as recorded in Scripture. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:36.199 First time was at Bethel, 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.379 Joseph is running away, 00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:38.599 he's using a stone 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.199 as his pillow, 00:28:39.559 --> 00:28:40.559 and he sees the angels 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:41.439 going up and down 00:28:41.439 --> 00:28:42.500 into heaven. 00:28:43.159 --> 00:28:44.259 And God appears 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.179 to him that time 00:28:45.179 --> 00:28:46.500 to give him the assurance 00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.219 that the covenant 00:28:47.219 --> 00:28:48.339 will be fulfilled 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.399 through him. 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:50.679 That his descendants 00:28:50.679 --> 00:28:51.419 will become 00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:52.559 like the dust 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:53.839 of the earth. 00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:54.779 That what has been 00:28:54.779 --> 00:28:55.599 promised to Abraham 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:57.139 and to Isaac 00:28:57.139 --> 00:28:58.579 is also promised 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.579 to Jacob. 00:29:00.159 --> 00:29:00.599 And as the Lord 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.399 appears to Jacob 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.220 at that point, 00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:03.420 he introduces himself 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.600 as the Lord 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.800 and probably know 00:29:05.800 --> 00:29:06.740 if you get the Lord 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.960 in capital letters 00:29:07.960 --> 00:29:08.980 in the Old Testament, 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.500 the word is Yahweh. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:11.620 It's the personal name 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:12.519 of God. 00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:13.400 That's how he introduces 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:14.300 himself to Jacob 00:29:14.300 --> 00:29:15.519 as the Yahweh, 00:29:15.840 --> 00:29:16.940 as the personal God 00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.440 of Abraham, 00:29:17.660 --> 00:29:17.940 Isaac, 00:29:18.100 --> 00:29:18.500 and Jacob 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:19.660 and the covenant. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:21.940 Chapter 31. 00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.680 Jacob has gone 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.780 to be with Laban, 00:29:24.840 --> 00:29:25.380 his uncle. 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.720 He's met his match 00:29:27.720 --> 00:29:28.440 in terms of someone 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.100 who could scheme 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:30.100 and deceive others. 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:31.359 And things have begun 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.539 to go a bit bad 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.240 because Jacob's been 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:34.059 very successful 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.779 and Laban's family 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.939 are not very happy 00:29:36.939 --> 00:29:37.559 about it. 00:29:37.899 --> 00:29:39.059 God appears to Jacob 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.579 again, 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:40.779 introduces himself 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.279 as the God 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:41.899 of Bethel, 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.959 reminding Jacob 00:29:43.959 --> 00:29:44.919 of what he had had 00:29:44.919 --> 00:29:45.500 in that vision 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:46.219 in the past 00:29:46.219 --> 00:29:47.599 and he says to Jacob, 00:29:47.939 --> 00:29:48.839 now go back 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:51.019 to where you came from. 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.059 So again, 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.019 taking Jacob 00:29:53.019 --> 00:29:53.819 in one situation 00:29:53.819 --> 00:29:54.139 and saying, 00:29:54.240 --> 00:29:54.799 now it's time 00:29:54.799 --> 00:29:55.519 to move on 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.399 and go somewhere else. 00:29:57.400 --> 00:29:59.460 chapter 35, 00:29:59.600 --> 00:30:00.360 Jacob has been 00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.180 reunited 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.440 with Esau, 00:30:02.560 --> 00:30:03.200 he's wrestled 00:30:03.200 --> 00:30:03.759 with God 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.360 at Peniel 00:30:04.360 --> 00:30:05.580 and at Bethel 00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:06.220 God appears 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:07.000 to him again 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.380 and introduces himself 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:09.560 as El Shaddai, 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:11.280 God Almighty. 00:30:12.160 --> 00:30:12.880 And that's the point 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:13.880 at which God says, 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:15.340 your name is no longer 00:30:15.340 --> 00:30:15.980 Jacob, 00:30:16.300 --> 00:30:17.160 the deceiver, 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.860 your name is Israel, 00:30:19.300 --> 00:30:20.300 the one who struggled 00:30:20.300 --> 00:30:21.980 with God. 00:30:22.540 --> 00:30:22.700 Again, 00:30:22.740 --> 00:30:23.320 a key point 00:30:23.320 --> 00:30:24.300 in Jacob's life 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.700 that God says, 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.740 you're a new person, 00:30:26.879 --> 00:30:27.799 you're changed now, 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.159 you're now Israel, 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.180 you're now the father 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:31.440 of the nation. 00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.759 And number four here, 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.720 God appears to Jacob 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.839 at Beersheba 00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:37.680 and he introduces himself 00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.279 as God 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:40.099 of your father. 00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:41.440 Now part of the significance 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:42.000 of that 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:43.119 is that many years before 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:43.759 God had appeared 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.359 to Isaac 00:30:44.359 --> 00:30:45.579 and introduced himself 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.659 in exactly the same way 00:30:46.659 --> 00:30:47.200 and actually said 00:30:47.200 --> 00:30:48.240 many of the same words 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:49.519 that he said to Jacob. 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:50.799 I am the God 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.440 of your father, 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:52.019 he was the God 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.500 of Abraham, 00:30:53.039 --> 00:30:53.740 of Isaac, 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.920 and of Jacob 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.539 and as I say 00:30:55.539 --> 00:30:56.279 in this case 00:30:56.279 --> 00:30:57.099 his purpose 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.380 is to reassure Jacob 00:30:58.380 --> 00:30:59.500 that he is doing 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.319 the right thing 00:31:00.319 --> 00:31:02.240 in going to Egypt. 00:31:03.380 --> 00:31:04.779 A bit of a diversion there 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.480 but I thought it was 00:31:05.480 --> 00:31:06.460 quite interesting 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.039 at least to me. 00:31:07.740 --> 00:31:08.180 Second thing 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.420 God talks about here 00:31:09.420 --> 00:31:11.120 is his covenant. 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.279 He says, 00:31:13.579 --> 00:31:14.120 do not be afraid 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:15.160 to go down to Egypt 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:17.000 for I will make you 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:18.880 a great nation 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.819 there. 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:22.299 So again, 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.539 God is appearing 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.139 to Jacob 00:31:24.139 --> 00:31:26.039 he is reiterating 00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.740 the promise 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:27.539 that he has given 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.200 in the past 00:31:28.200 --> 00:31:28.700 to Jacob 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:30.220 and to his ancestors 00:31:30.220 --> 00:31:31.180 and saying 00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.819 my covenant 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:32.539 with you 00:31:32.539 --> 00:31:34.279 still stands. 00:31:34.819 --> 00:31:35.440 The fact that you're 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.240 going down to Egypt 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:36.559 and you're going 00:31:36.559 --> 00:31:37.359 to a different place 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:37.859 you're going away 00:31:37.859 --> 00:31:38.940 from the land of promise 00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.359 that doesn't change 00:31:40.359 --> 00:31:40.899 the fact 00:31:40.899 --> 00:31:42.539 that I am your God 00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:44.159 that your family 00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:45.240 will be my people 00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:46.599 that my covenant 00:31:46.599 --> 00:31:47.399 is with you 00:31:47.399 --> 00:31:48.639 you will be 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:50.500 a great nation. 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:52.759 And then finally 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:53.700 God promises 00:31:53.700 --> 00:31:54.820 his company 00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:55.600 God promises 00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:57.340 that he will go 00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:59.020 with Jacob 00:31:59.020 --> 00:32:00.040 I will go down 00:32:00.040 --> 00:32:00.420 to Egypt 00:32:00.420 --> 00:32:01.060 with you 00:32:01.060 --> 00:32:02.740 and I will surely 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.580 bring you 00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:04.380 back 00:32:04.380 --> 00:32:05.400 again. 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:06.900 Jacob hasn't been 00:32:06.900 --> 00:32:07.660 sent to Egypt 00:32:07.660 --> 00:32:08.860 to get away from God 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:09.660 or to be separate 00:32:09.660 --> 00:32:10.460 from God 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:12.040 God will be with him 00:32:12.040 --> 00:32:13.240 every step of the way 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:14.640 and God will make sure 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:15.720 not just Jacob 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.840 who would be buried 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.959 in the promised land 00:32:17.959 --> 00:32:19.399 but all his descendants 00:32:19.399 --> 00:32:20.299 under Moses 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.279 and Joshua 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:22.199 would come back 00:32:22.199 --> 00:32:23.319 and would reclaim 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.819 the land again. 00:32:25.699 --> 00:32:26.659 Here is God 00:32:26.659 --> 00:32:28.019 giving his promises 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.079 again to Jacob 00:32:29.079 --> 00:32:30.019 and saying 00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.839 I am faithful 00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.559 what I have promised 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:35.139 I will fulfill 00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:37.059 and I will fulfill it 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.779 through my way 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.819 and my way at present 00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.799 is for you 00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:40.519 to go down 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:41.619 to Egypt. 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:43.119 God again 00:32:43.119 --> 00:32:44.039 doesn't appear to us 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.519 in visions 00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.459 in that sense 00:32:45.459 --> 00:32:46.319 but God 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:47.159 through the promises 00:32:47.159 --> 00:32:47.819 of scripture 00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:48.740 and through what he says 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.059 to us 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.759 through his word 00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:51.480 he does reassure us 00:32:51.480 --> 00:32:53.259 as he calls us 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:54.000 into service 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.159 or into different areas 00:32:55.159 --> 00:32:56.259 of life 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.480 and we can rely 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:58.159 absolutely 00:32:58.159 --> 00:32:59.240 on God's promises 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:01.059 and on his faithfulness 00:33:01.059 --> 00:33:02.079 as we are 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:02.759 obedient 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.759 to him. 00:33:04.179 --> 00:33:05.019 If we are willing 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.679 to go where God says 00:33:06.679 --> 00:33:08.259 to do what God 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:09.240 tells us to 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.539 then we can be sure 00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.619 that God will work it 00:33:11.619 --> 00:33:12.220 for our good 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.379 and his faithfulness 00:33:13.380 --> 00:33:14.420 will be evident 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.640 in everything 00:33:15.640 --> 00:33:17.060 that we do. 00:33:19.420 --> 00:33:19.860 Finally 00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:20.540 we are not going to look 00:33:20.540 --> 00:33:21.400 at chapter 46 00:33:21.400 --> 00:33:22.800 in any detail at all 00:33:22.800 --> 00:33:24.680 but chapter 46 00:33:24.680 --> 00:33:26.000 really is about 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.020 the Israelites 00:33:27.020 --> 00:33:28.120 and children of Jacob 00:33:28.120 --> 00:33:29.560 going down to Egypt 00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:30.980 and it is the start 00:33:30.980 --> 00:33:32.640 of the great nation. 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.800 It is the start 00:33:33.800 --> 00:33:34.800 of God's people 00:33:34.800 --> 00:33:35.680 becoming 00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.760 a great 00:33:36.760 --> 00:33:37.600 people. 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:39.379 Now we have to say 00:33:39.379 --> 00:33:40.099 there is not 00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:40.859 very promising 00:33:40.859 --> 00:33:41.819 material 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.740 that God is 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.579 working with here. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.379 There are 70 of them. 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:46.539 They are going down 00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.500 to the land of Egypt 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.139 which no matter 00:33:48.139 --> 00:33:48.539 there are hundreds 00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:48.980 of thousands 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.719 if not millions 00:33:49.719 --> 00:33:50.319 of people 00:33:50.319 --> 00:33:51.419 living in it. 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.459 They would be 00:33:52.459 --> 00:33:54.079 a tiny, tiny proportion 00:33:54.079 --> 00:33:55.199 of the people 00:33:55.199 --> 00:33:55.839 of Israel 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:57.139 very weak 00:33:57.139 --> 00:33:57.779 in number 00:33:57.779 --> 00:34:00.099 not in that sense 00:34:00.099 --> 00:34:01.419 very strong 00:34:01.419 --> 00:34:01.819 in the land 00:34:01.819 --> 00:34:02.459 obviously Joseph 00:34:02.459 --> 00:34:03.439 had great influence 00:34:03.439 --> 00:34:05.019 but God's people 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.139 were very weak 00:34:06.139 --> 00:34:07.279 in their number. 00:34:08.380 --> 00:34:08.779 They were also 00:34:08.779 --> 00:34:09.860 weak in reputation 00:34:09.860 --> 00:34:11.460 there is a bit 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:11.860 at the end 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.380 of the chapter 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.279 we didn't read 00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:14.339 and it follows 00:34:14.339 --> 00:34:14.719 through into 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:15.819 chapter 47 00:34:15.819 --> 00:34:17.000 which is about 00:34:17.000 --> 00:34:17.819 the Israelites 00:34:17.819 --> 00:34:19.480 Jacob's family 00:34:19.480 --> 00:34:21.159 being shepherds 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:23.199 and Joseph 00:34:23.199 --> 00:34:23.960 says to them 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.699 say to Pharaoh 00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.599 you're shepherds 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.579 and I think 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.519 the idea was 00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.279 that because 00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:29.119 they were shepherds 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.299 because the Egyptians 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.440 despised shepherds 00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:32.299 for whatever reason 00:34:32.299 --> 00:34:32.739 whether it was 00:34:32.739 --> 00:34:33.559 social class 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:34.279 or religious reasons 00:34:34.279 --> 00:34:34.719 whatever 00:34:34.719 --> 00:34:35.880 it says 00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:37.159 the Egyptians 00:34:37.159 --> 00:34:38.500 despised shepherds 00:34:38.500 --> 00:34:39.219 and therefore 00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:39.839 they wouldn't want 00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.460 them as part 00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:41.460 of the general 00:34:41.460 --> 00:34:42.559 Egyptian society 00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:44.339 and Cairo 00:34:44.339 --> 00:34:45.079 wherever the capital 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.679 was 00:34:45.679 --> 00:34:46.920 and they would be 00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:47.480 quite happy 00:34:47.480 --> 00:34:47.879 for them to have 00:34:47.879 --> 00:34:48.679 an area of the land 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.379 that was theirs 00:34:49.379 --> 00:34:50.920 and to be there 00:34:50.920 --> 00:34:52.259 and to grow there 00:34:52.260 --> 00:34:53.620 but to the people 00:34:53.620 --> 00:34:54.280 of Egypt 00:34:54.280 --> 00:34:55.500 those nomadic 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.900 people coming down 00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:58.040 among them 00:34:58.040 --> 00:34:59.040 they were not 00:34:59.040 --> 00:34:59.640 those they would 00:34:59.640 --> 00:35:00.580 want to look up to 00:35:00.580 --> 00:35:01.340 they were just 00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:02.120 shepherds 00:35:02.120 --> 00:35:02.940 they were just 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:03.680 people who found 00:35:03.680 --> 00:35:04.260 the land 00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:05.220 and in the great 00:35:05.220 --> 00:35:06.280 sophisticated land 00:35:06.280 --> 00:35:06.800 of Egypt 00:35:06.800 --> 00:35:07.720 they were seen 00:35:07.720 --> 00:35:08.860 as being nothing 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:10.340 and of course 00:35:10.340 --> 00:35:10.760 they were weak 00:35:10.760 --> 00:35:11.380 in character 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.740 don't need to tell you 00:35:12.740 --> 00:35:13.560 after all these weeks 00:35:13.560 --> 00:35:14.100 they've been going 00:35:14.100 --> 00:35:14.880 through the story 00:35:14.880 --> 00:35:16.500 of the weakness 00:35:16.500 --> 00:35:17.540 of Jacob 00:35:17.540 --> 00:35:18.740 and of many 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:20.199 of his son 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.739 some of the 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.759 little subplots 00:35:21.759 --> 00:35:22.519 that we've gone through 00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:23.179 as we've gone through 00:35:23.179 --> 00:35:23.879 these chapters 00:35:23.879 --> 00:35:25.000 which just saw 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.639 how weak 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:26.699 and in many ways 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:28.000 how ungodly 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:29.459 Jacob and some 00:35:29.459 --> 00:35:30.259 of his family 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:31.079 were 00:35:31.079 --> 00:35:32.719 weak in number 00:35:32.719 --> 00:35:33.759 weak in reputation 00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:35.179 weak in character 00:35:35.179 --> 00:35:37.179 and yet God 00:35:37.179 --> 00:35:37.799 took them 00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.979 and he made 00:35:38.979 --> 00:35:40.159 them strong 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:41.599 how did he make 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.079 them strong 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:43.219 he made them strong 00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:43.879 first of all 00:35:43.879 --> 00:35:44.819 by bringing them 00:35:44.819 --> 00:35:45.599 together 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:47.079 now if you think 00:35:47.079 --> 00:35:47.539 of the history 00:35:47.539 --> 00:35:48.019 of Abraham 00:35:48.019 --> 00:35:49.039 and of his family 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.980 it is of 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.460 sons separating 00:35:51.460 --> 00:35:52.440 and going their 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.300 different ways 00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:54.659 Isaac and Ishmael 00:35:54.659 --> 00:35:55.539 Jacob and Esau 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.139 and so on 00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:57.400 they all set up 00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:57.900 their own 00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:59.000 little clans 00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.719 they travelled 00:35:59.719 --> 00:36:00.860 around independently 00:36:00.860 --> 00:36:01.719 they had a 00:36:01.719 --> 00:36:02.980 nomadic existence 00:36:02.980 --> 00:36:04.699 and in the normal 00:36:04.699 --> 00:36:05.360 scheme of things 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:05.960 that may well have 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.920 happened to Jacob's 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:08.259 sons as well 00:36:08.259 --> 00:36:09.400 they were split up 00:36:09.400 --> 00:36:10.019 they had their own 00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:10.759 little families 00:36:10.759 --> 00:36:11.679 they would never 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.380 have become 00:36:12.380 --> 00:36:14.139 a great nation 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:15.579 as they are brought 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:16.340 to Egypt 00:36:16.340 --> 00:36:17.420 as they are given 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:18.380 an area of their 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:18.740 own 00:36:18.740 --> 00:36:19.440 where they can 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.119 live together 00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.639 where they can 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.599 belong together 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.800 so they are able 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:23.440 to grow 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.680 into the great 00:36:24.680 --> 00:36:25.180 nation 00:36:25.180 --> 00:36:26.139 that Moses 00:36:26.139 --> 00:36:27.000 ultimately would 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:28.240 lead out of 00:36:28.240 --> 00:36:28.940 Egypt 00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:30.159 and those who 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:30.559 were weak 00:36:30.559 --> 00:36:31.180 at the beginning 00:36:31.180 --> 00:36:32.380 because God 00:36:32.380 --> 00:36:33.099 blessed them 00:36:33.099 --> 00:36:34.200 and because God 00:36:34.200 --> 00:36:34.700 helped them 00:36:34.700 --> 00:36:35.079 in Egypt 00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:35.639 as they were 00:36:35.639 --> 00:36:36.159 together 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:37.539 as one people 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.500 they grew 00:36:38.500 --> 00:36:39.380 into a great 00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.579 and mighty nation 00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.440 as God had promised 00:36:41.440 --> 00:36:42.380 to Abraham 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.320 Isaac 00:36:43.320 --> 00:36:44.420 and Jacob 00:36:44.420 --> 00:36:45.460 and they were 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.080 strong through 00:36:46.080 --> 00:36:47.300 the gifting 00:36:47.300 --> 00:36:48.559 that they had 00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:49.120 directly through 00:36:49.120 --> 00:36:49.559 the land 00:36:49.559 --> 00:36:49.960 that they were 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:50.320 given 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:51.160 a land 00:36:51.160 --> 00:36:51.420 that was 00:36:51.420 --> 00:36:52.260 ideally suited 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:52.700 for an 00:36:52.700 --> 00:36:53.280 agricultural 00:36:53.280 --> 00:36:53.980 lifestyle 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:55.039 for raising 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:55.559 livestock 00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.380 and so on 00:36:56.380 --> 00:36:56.940 they were 00:36:56.940 --> 00:36:57.340 given the 00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.519 ideal circumstances 00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.360 through the 00:36:59.360 --> 00:36:59.900 gift that was 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:00.380 given by 00:37:00.380 --> 00:37:00.760 Joseph 00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:01.519 or ultimately 00:37:01.519 --> 00:37:02.320 by Pharaoh 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:03.260 and where they 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.800 were able to 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:04.160 settle 00:37:04.160 --> 00:37:05.200 and to 00:37:05.200 --> 00:37:06.059 prosper 00:37:06.059 --> 00:37:07.660 well the application 00:37:07.660 --> 00:37:07.980 is obvious 00:37:07.980 --> 00:37:08.640 isn't it 00:37:08.639 --> 00:37:09.980 God takes 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.679 those who 00:37:10.679 --> 00:37:11.099 are weak 00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:12.079 today still 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:13.500 we can number 00:37:13.500 --> 00:37:14.339 a very small 00:37:14.339 --> 00:37:14.920 proportion 00:37:14.920 --> 00:37:15.519 of the total 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.059 population 00:37:16.059 --> 00:37:16.879 of our land 00:37:16.879 --> 00:37:17.719 and around 00:37:17.719 --> 00:37:18.239 the world 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:19.059 would be 00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:19.559 evangelical 00:37:19.559 --> 00:37:20.199 Christians 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:21.420 who truly 00:37:21.420 --> 00:37:21.900 know the 00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:22.460 Lord Jesus 00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:23.900 and love him 00:37:23.900 --> 00:37:25.599 we can reputation 00:37:25.599 --> 00:37:26.179 you go into 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:26.619 the world 00:37:26.619 --> 00:37:27.159 what does it 00:37:27.159 --> 00:37:27.679 think of the 00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.079 church 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:28.819 it thinks 00:37:28.819 --> 00:37:29.199 it's only 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:29.879 interest in 00:37:29.879 --> 00:37:30.219 sex 00:37:30.219 --> 00:37:30.659 and the role 00:37:30.659 --> 00:37:31.079 of women 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:31.659 and not much 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:32.000 else 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:32.779 because we 00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:33.019 really 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.599 in this 00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:34.059 country 00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.859 the church 00:37:34.859 --> 00:37:35.400 isn't seen 00:37:35.400 --> 00:37:35.699 as being 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.019 something 00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:36.679 dynamic 00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:37.900 and that 00:37:37.900 --> 00:37:38.760 is really 00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:39.660 relevant 00:37:39.660 --> 00:37:40.619 to modern 00:37:40.619 --> 00:37:41.360 society 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.480 we can 00:37:42.480 --> 00:37:42.940 character 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.420 yes we 00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:43.800 all are 00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:44.280 aren't we 00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:45.139 we're all 00:37:45.139 --> 00:37:45.800 just sinful 00:37:45.800 --> 00:37:46.340 people 00:37:46.340 --> 00:37:47.180 brought by 00:37:47.180 --> 00:37:47.599 the grace 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:48.039 of God 00:37:48.039 --> 00:37:48.559 into his 00:37:48.559 --> 00:37:48.980 family 00:37:48.980 --> 00:37:49.900 but still 00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.460 with many 00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:51.599 many issues 00:37:51.599 --> 00:37:52.720 each of us 00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:53.840 God has 00:37:53.840 --> 00:37:54.519 taken those 00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.039 who are weak 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:55.619 and yet he 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.220 makes us 00:37:56.220 --> 00:37:56.980 strong 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.019 we're strong 00:37:58.019 --> 00:37:58.380 when we're 00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:58.800 united 00:37:58.800 --> 00:37:59.320 we're strong 00:37:59.320 --> 00:37:59.880 when we work 00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:00.380 together 00:38:00.380 --> 00:38:01.340 when all of us 00:38:01.340 --> 00:38:01.980 who are different 00:38:01.980 --> 00:38:02.820 come together 00:38:02.820 --> 00:38:04.240 in the Lord's 00:38:04.240 --> 00:38:04.639 church 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:05.820 and work together 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.559 building one 00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:07.019 another up 00:38:07.019 --> 00:38:07.559 it's Ephesians 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.199 and Ephesians 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:08.519 4 00:38:08.519 --> 00:38:09.420 building up 00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:09.860 the body 00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.460 of Christ 00:38:10.460 --> 00:38:11.219 as each 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:11.519 of us 00:38:11.519 --> 00:38:11.900 uses 00:38:11.900 --> 00:38:12.599 what the 00:38:12.599 --> 00:38:12.940 Lord has 00:38:12.940 --> 00:38:13.400 given us 00:38:13.400 --> 00:38:13.759 what the 00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:14.019 Lord has 00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.599 given us 00:38:14.599 --> 00:38:16.000 includes the 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:16.960 gifts that he 00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:17.480 has given to 00:38:17.480 --> 00:38:18.159 each one of us 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:18.759 which we should 00:38:18.759 --> 00:38:19.639 use to 00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:20.460 encourage and 00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:21.039 strengthen one 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:21.380 another 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:22.480 and to build 00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.059 the church 00:38:23.059 --> 00:38:24.039 of the Lord 00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.420 Jesus 00:38:24.420 --> 00:38:25.920 at Brunsfield 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:27.420 our time's gone 00:38:27.420 --> 00:38:28.239 so just a reminder 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:29.360 of the four key 00:38:29.360 --> 00:38:30.000 things we've talked 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:30.139 about 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:30.400 we've talked 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:31.279 about recognizing 00:38:31.279 --> 00:38:32.480 God's providence 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.940 of seeing God's 00:38:33.940 --> 00:38:34.820 hand in our 00:38:34.820 --> 00:38:35.299 lives 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:36.039 that even 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.680 what appears 00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:37.320 to be bad 00:38:37.320 --> 00:38:37.660 and may have 00:38:37.660 --> 00:38:38.240 been intended 00:38:38.240 --> 00:38:38.980 for bad 00:38:38.980 --> 00:38:40.240 God can turn 00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:41.160 to good 00:38:41.160 --> 00:38:42.060 we thought of 00:38:42.060 --> 00:38:42.900 reflecting God's 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:43.460 priority 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.660 the grace that 00:38:44.660 --> 00:38:45.240 God has shown 00:38:45.240 --> 00:38:45.700 to us 00:38:45.700 --> 00:38:46.320 the grace that 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:46.740 Jacob 00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.380 that Joseph 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:48.400 showed to his 00:38:48.400 --> 00:38:48.740 brothers 00:38:48.740 --> 00:38:49.940 the grace that 00:38:49.940 --> 00:38:50.539 we should be 00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:51.300 willing to show 00:38:51.300 --> 00:38:52.500 to one another 00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.380 we thought of 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:54.380 receiving God's 00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:55.019 promise as 00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:56.340 God reassured 00:38:56.340 --> 00:38:57.060 Jacob of what 00:38:57.060 --> 00:38:57.580 was happening 00:38:57.580 --> 00:38:58.320 reiterated the 00:38:58.320 --> 00:38:59.060 promise to him 00:38:59.060 --> 00:39:00.180 God's promises 00:39:00.180 --> 00:39:01.280 to us are 00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:02.980 faithful as well 00:39:02.980 --> 00:39:03.880 and we thought 00:39:03.880 --> 00:39:04.539 of reviving 00:39:04.539 --> 00:39:05.360 God's people 00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:06.519 that weak 00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:07.099 little group 00:39:07.099 --> 00:39:07.579 that went 00:39:07.579 --> 00:39:08.159 to Egypt 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:08.860 and which 00:39:08.860 --> 00:39:09.300 grew into 00:39:09.300 --> 00:39:09.760 a great 00:39:09.760 --> 00:39:10.240 nation 00:39:10.240 --> 00:39:11.440 that weak 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.099 little group 00:39:12.099 --> 00:39:12.920 that has come 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.519 to know and 00:39:13.519 --> 00:39:14.159 trust the Lord 00:39:14.159 --> 00:39:14.539 Jesus 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:16.159 and yet which 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:16.519 the Lord 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.039 Jesus is 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:18.280 building into 00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.760 a nation 00:39:18.760 --> 00:39:19.460 of priests 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.179 that is 00:39:20.179 --> 00:39:21.659 building into 00:39:21.659 --> 00:39:22.699 his people 00:39:22.699 --> 00:39:23.820 that bring glory 00:39:23.820 --> 00:39:24.719 to his name 00:39:24.719 --> 00:39:26.019 and that 00:39:26.019 --> 00:39:26.860 ultimately will 00:39:26.860 --> 00:39:27.860 be with him 00:39:27.860 --> 00:39:28.659 forever 00:39:28.659 --> 00:39:30.059 let's rejoice 00:39:30.059 --> 00:39:31.039 in what we've 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:31.820 seen in the 00:39:31.820 --> 00:39:32.539 life of Jacob 00:39:32.539 --> 00:39:33.219 and Joseph 00:39:33.219 --> 00:39:34.380 and let's 00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:34.920 take it away 00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.599 and let's 00:39:35.599 --> 00:39:36.420 demonstrate these 00:39:36.420 --> 00:39:37.500 things in our 00:39:37.500 --> 00:39:38.139 own lives 00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:39.000 let's just pray 00:39:39.000 --> 00:39:39.380 together 00:39:39.380 --> 00:39:41.699 Father we thank 00:39:41.699 --> 00:39:42.019 you for your 00:39:42.019 --> 00:39:42.659 word to us 00:39:42.659 --> 00:39:43.739 we thank you 00:39:43.739 --> 00:39:44.420 for Joseph 00:39:44.420 --> 00:39:45.039 and for the 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:45.779 example that he 00:39:45.779 --> 00:39:46.400 gives us 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.460 we thank you 00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:48.179 in many ways 00:39:48.179 --> 00:39:48.940 he is a picture 00:39:48.940 --> 00:39:49.500 of the Lord 00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:49.880 Jesus 00:39:49.880 --> 00:39:51.239 someone who 00:39:51.239 --> 00:39:51.980 was rejected 00:39:51.980 --> 00:39:53.300 someone who 00:39:53.300 --> 00:39:54.579 lived in 00:39:54.579 --> 00:39:55.239 your way 00:39:55.239 --> 00:39:56.199 someone who 00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.699 ultimately 00:39:56.699 --> 00:39:57.920 saved his 00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.320 people 00:39:58.320 --> 00:39:59.320 thank you for 00:39:59.320 --> 00:39:59.759 the grace 00:39:59.759 --> 00:40:00.360 that he showed 00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:00.719 to his 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.099 brothers 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:02.039 those who 00:40:02.039 --> 00:40:02.659 had treated 00:40:02.659 --> 00:40:03.099 him so 00:40:03.099 --> 00:40:03.519 badly 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:04.679 and yet 00:40:04.679 --> 00:40:04.940 he had 00:40:04.940 --> 00:40:05.480 nothing but 00:40:05.480 --> 00:40:06.440 love and 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:07.139 concern for 00:40:07.139 --> 00:40:07.239 him 00:40:07.239 --> 00:40:07.639 and thank you 00:40:07.639 --> 00:40:07.940 that that 00:40:07.940 --> 00:40:09.139 reflects what 00:40:09.139 --> 00:40:09.559 the Lord 00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.259 Jesus has 00:40:10.259 --> 00:40:10.739 done for 00:40:10.739 --> 00:40:11.059 us 00:40:11.059 --> 00:40:12.099 that he was 00:40:12.099 --> 00:40:12.759 treated so 00:40:12.759 --> 00:40:13.779 badly by 00:40:13.779 --> 00:40:14.199 men 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:15.739 and yet as 00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:16.279 he died on 00:40:16.279 --> 00:40:16.800 the cross 00:40:16.800 --> 00:40:17.880 he took the 00:40:17.880 --> 00:40:18.980 punishment for 00:40:18.980 --> 00:40:19.500 the wrong 00:40:19.500 --> 00:40:20.380 that we have 00:40:20.380 --> 00:40:20.579 done 00:40:20.579 --> 00:40:21.159 we do thank 00:40:21.159 --> 00:40:21.480 you for 00:40:21.480 --> 00:40:22.500 your boundless 00:40:22.500 --> 00:40:23.380 grace in 00:40:23.380 --> 00:40:24.039 our lives 00:40:24.039 --> 00:40:24.920 and pray that 00:40:24.920 --> 00:40:25.599 we too may 00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:26.239 have grace 00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:27.119 for others 00:40:27.119 --> 00:40:27.880 when they 00:40:27.880 --> 00:40:28.259 fail 00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:29.360 we thank 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:29.580 you for 00:40:29.580 --> 00:40:30.080 your presence 00:40:30.080 --> 00:40:30.660 as we've 00:40:30.660 --> 00:40:31.100 worshipped 00:40:31.100 --> 00:40:31.500 together 00:40:31.500 --> 00:40:32.540 and as we've 00:40:32.540 --> 00:40:33.140 considered your 00:40:33.140 --> 00:40:33.500 word 00:40:33.500 --> 00:40:34.300 pray for your 00:40:34.300 --> 00:40:34.940 blessing on us 00:40:34.940 --> 00:40:35.520 as we part 00:40:35.520 --> 00:40:36.560 now in the 00:40:36.560 --> 00:40:36.980 name of the 00:40:36.980 --> 00:40:37.400 Lord Jesus 00:40:37.400 --> 00:40:37.940 Christ 00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.860 Amen 00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:46.000 to comment 00:40:46.000 --> 00:40:46.599 have 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:48.220 to 00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:49.980 celebrate