WEBVTT 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:04.900 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning to the book of Genesis. 00:00:05.419 --> 00:00:15.359 ! Our passage this morning will take us from Genesis chapter 48 all the way through chapter 50 verse 14. 00:00:15.560 --> 00:00:21.199 ! I told you that these narratives in the Joseph section of Genesis kind of run a little bit longer 00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:24.940 and so it's harder for us to break them up into smaller chunks. 00:00:25.660 --> 00:00:29.699 And normally what we do is have you stand up in honor of the reading of God's Word, 00:00:29.699 --> 00:00:34.060 but I will be merciful to you in these longer sections and you may remain seated. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.259 And I won't read the whole section ahead of the sermon. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:44.539 Instead, as we've done over the past several weeks, I will instead read them in the content of the sermon itself. 00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:48.920 We've been working our way through Genesis for about a year and a half now. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:53.239 This is sermon number 45, I think, out of 46. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:57.000 Lord willing, we will complete this series next week. 00:00:57.000 --> 00:01:03.420 And we have seen so much of who God is and His great faithfulness and His sovereignty. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:06.900 All of these things that we've been praying about and singing about this morning, even. 00:01:07.540 --> 00:01:10.000 A big look at who our God is. 00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:13.099 So as we prepare to hear from the Word of the Lord this morning, 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:15.760 would you bow with me and pray once more? 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:23.400 Great is your faithfulness. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.600 Oh God, my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. 00:01:29.340 --> 00:01:32.800 Father, You are good and You are sovereign. 00:01:33.540 --> 00:01:35.660 You are faithful to all Your promises. 00:01:35.960 --> 00:01:40.640 And You have chosen by Your grace to bless us in so many ways in Christ. 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:46.400 And so we pray now, Lord, would You open our eyes to see how deeply we are blessed by You. 00:01:46.540 --> 00:01:47.659 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:01:48.540 --> 00:01:48.819 Amen. 00:01:50.939 --> 00:01:54.280 Thomas Chisholm wrote the now famous hymn, 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:57.560 Great is Thy Faithfulness, towards the end of his life, 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:04.060 as he looked back and reflected on all the many ways that the Lord had been with him and blessed him. 00:02:04.579 --> 00:02:07.439 If you know anything about Thomas Chisholm and his life, 00:02:07.480 --> 00:02:09.960 you would know that his life was not easy. 00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:12.900 He dealt with constant sickness. 00:02:13.320 --> 00:02:15.879 He dealt with great loss. 00:02:16.460 --> 00:02:21.340 He dealt with financial hardship and struggle as a result of his ongoing sickness. 00:02:21.600 --> 00:02:24.520 It put a great burden on him and his family. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:29.500 His life, like many of ours, was filled with a lot of ups and a lot of downs. 00:02:29.700 --> 00:02:31.860 His were mostly a lot of downs. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:35.560 But as he looked back and reflected towards the end of his life, 00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:40.020 he was able to say that in all of it, he was blessed. 00:02:40.979 --> 00:02:45.819 I love the last verse of the hymn where he lists out several blessings in particular. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:48.920 Knowing his faithful God, he says, 00:02:48.919 --> 00:03:09.560 Now I wonder, as you look back and reflect on your own life, 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.280 as you look at your own circumstances even this morning, 00:03:12.500 --> 00:03:15.960 do you consider yourself to be blessed? 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:20.360 This morning, as we look at our passage this morning, 00:03:20.479 --> 00:03:23.240 we come to the end of Jacob's life. 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:27.199 And what we've seen over the past several weeks is that Jacob's life was not easy. 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:30.379 Jacob suffered tremendous loss. 00:03:30.580 --> 00:03:32.319 Jacob has been tested. 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:36.759 And yet, through it all, the Lord has been faithful to Jacob. 00:03:37.139 --> 00:03:39.680 And the Lord has blessed Jacob tremendously. 00:03:39.959 --> 00:03:43.219 And now we see in his old age, right before he dies, 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:46.939 he passes that blessing on to his children. 00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:49.799 So here's the main idea for us this morning. 00:03:49.900 --> 00:03:52.680 I hope you've caught it already in the songs that we've sung 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:53.840 and the prayers that we've prayed. 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:56.079 This is all about the blessing of God. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:04:02.380 And the main idea for us this morning is that there is incredible blessing 00:04:02.380 --> 00:04:06.220 for those who are in covenant with our faithful God. 00:04:07.080 --> 00:04:13.720 There is incredible blessing for those who are in covenant with our faithful God. 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:18.400 To say that another way, if you are in Christ, you are blessed. 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:21.060 So let's take a look. 00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:24.540 And this morning, we'll see three ways God blesses his people. 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:26.100 This is going to be our outline this morning. 00:04:26.220 --> 00:04:27.760 I know it's a longer passage. 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:30.379 This ought to help you follow along this morning. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:33.740 Three ways that God blesses his people. 00:04:34.100 --> 00:04:39.140 First, we see that God blesses his people in surprising ways. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.540 God blesses his people in surprising ways. 00:04:43.640 --> 00:04:44.680 Look there to chapter 48. 00:04:46.200 --> 00:04:51.960 It says, after this, that is sometime after Jacob and his family come into Egypt, 00:04:52.060 --> 00:04:53.580 now towards the end of his life, 00:04:53.579 --> 00:04:57.199 after this, Joseph was told, behold, your father is ill. 00:04:57.399 --> 00:05:01.000 So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 00:05:01.500 --> 00:05:04.740 And it was told to Jacob, your son Joseph has come to you. 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:08.560 Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:12.819 I've heard it said before that last words are meant to be lasting words. 00:05:14.039 --> 00:05:16.919 You think about what you might want to share with your own family members, 00:05:17.099 --> 00:05:19.759 your own children, in your final moments. 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:22.300 Whatever those last words will be for you, 00:05:22.659 --> 00:05:26.659 I'm certain that you'll want to think carefully and share what's most important to you, 00:05:26.719 --> 00:05:28.339 what's most important for them to hear. 00:05:29.099 --> 00:05:31.959 Well, Jacob, in his last moments, here at the end of his life, 00:05:32.060 --> 00:05:36.139 he shares about the most significant moment of his life. 00:05:36.219 --> 00:05:40.680 He shares about how God has met with him and spoken with him. 00:05:40.680 --> 00:05:43.480 Verse 3, Jacob said to Joseph, 00:05:43.900 --> 00:05:47.959 God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:52.660 And he said to me, behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, 00:05:52.819 --> 00:05:54.800 and I will make you a company of peoples, 00:05:55.340 --> 00:06:00.240 and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession. 00:06:00.519 --> 00:06:02.420 He says, God appeared to me. 00:06:03.540 --> 00:06:05.259 I need to share this with you, Joseph. 00:06:05.259 --> 00:06:10.560 God appeared to me, and God spoke with me, and God blessed me, 00:06:10.899 --> 00:06:16.539 and God made promises to me just like he did with my father Isaac and with his father Abraham. 00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:20.399 But now I need you to understand I'm coming to the end of my life. 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:24.719 And now, son, it's time for me to pass that blessing on to the next generation. 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.899 Now, all of this, up to this point, all of this makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:33.599 But then he does something surprising. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:34.620 Look there to verse 5. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:36.320 He says, 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:44.140 And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.720 Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 00:06:49.300 --> 00:06:51.960 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. 00:06:52.640 --> 00:06:55.480 They shall be called by the name of their brothers and their inheritance. 00:06:56.540 --> 00:06:59.140 As for me, when I came from Paddan to my sorrow, 00:06:59.400 --> 00:07:01.439 Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:04.120 And when there was still some distance to go to Ephraim. 00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:06.500 And I buried her there on the way to Ephraim. 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:08.560 That is in Bethlehem. 00:07:08.620 --> 00:07:09.779 Did you catch what just happened? 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:17.279 Jacob formally adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own children. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:23.539 And he gives them the status of his two oldest sons, Reuben and Simeon. 00:07:24.339 --> 00:07:26.559 Jacob claims them as his own. 00:07:26.679 --> 00:07:31.979 And so now these two children of Joseph, who were born to an Egyptian mother, born in Egypt, 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:38.919 they're now being formally brought in to the blessings of the covenant that God made with Jacob. 00:07:39.779 --> 00:07:41.719 And we see it play out here in verse 8. 00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:45.280 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, Who are these? 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:50.260 Joseph said to his father, They are my sons whom God has given me here in Egypt. 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:53.600 And he said, Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:58.080 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age so that he could not see. 00:07:58.280 --> 00:08:02.960 So Joseph brought them near to him and he kissed them and embraced them. 00:08:03.020 --> 00:08:06.520 And Israel said to Joseph, I never expected to see your face. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:09.660 And behold, God has let me see your offspring also. 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:15.680 And then Joseph removed them from his knees and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 00:08:15.880 --> 00:08:18.860 See, Joseph realizes the magnitude of this moment. 00:08:19.840 --> 00:08:25.540 Putting these two children on the knees of Israel is a sort of formal adoption ritual. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:28.580 And he knows that the blessing is coming. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:32.279 He knows that this moment of imparting the blessing is near. 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.800 And so what does Joseph do? 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:37.540 He sets them up in the way that makes the most sense to him. 00:08:37.539 --> 00:08:42.879 He puts the oldest towards Jacob's right hand and the youngest towards his left hand. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:47.980 Because the right hand would ordinarily go with the older as the sign of the greater blessing. 00:08:48.699 --> 00:08:49.779 But look what happens. 00:08:49.860 --> 00:08:50.419 Verse 14. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:59.000 Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger. 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:05.279 And he takes his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands. 00:09:05.379 --> 00:09:07.100 For Manasseh was the firstborn. 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:09.299 And he blessed Joseph. 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:12.440 He really is blessing him through this blessing of his two children. 00:09:12.980 --> 00:09:13.519 And he said, 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:43.500 Ephraim and Manasseh said, 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:45.279 This is an incredible grace. 00:09:46.679 --> 00:09:50.059 But Joseph is confused by all of this. 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:52.120 Verse 17 says, 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:57.439 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:02.500 And he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head over to Manasseh's head. 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:04.559 He thinks that this is all a big mistake. 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:07.579 I mean, maybe it's because his father is going blind. 00:10:07.580 --> 00:10:11.860 And maybe it's just because it's a slip up of old age. 00:10:12.660 --> 00:10:14.200 So Joseph said to his father, 00:10:14.300 --> 00:10:15.400 It's not this way, father. 00:10:15.680 --> 00:10:17.040 This one's the firstborn. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.080 Put your right hand on his head. 00:10:19.540 --> 00:10:21.360 But his father refused and said, 00:10:21.460 --> 00:10:22.680 I know, my son. 00:10:23.220 --> 00:10:23.900 I know. 00:10:24.900 --> 00:10:26.120 This is no accident. 00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:26.720 Accident. 00:10:27.019 --> 00:10:29.399 This is entirely intentional. 00:10:30.659 --> 00:10:30.980 He says, 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:32.500 He also shall become a people, 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:34.480 and he also shall be great. 00:10:34.679 --> 00:10:38.440 Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:41.940 and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations. 00:10:41.940 --> 00:10:44.780 So he blessed them that day, saying, 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:47.180 By you Israel will pronounce blessings, 00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:47.620 saying, 00:10:48.040 --> 00:10:50.880 God make you as Ephraim and Manasseh. 00:10:51.620 --> 00:10:54.600 Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:56.520 And then Israel said to Joseph, 00:10:56.660 --> 00:10:58.340 Behold, I am about to die. 00:10:58.900 --> 00:11:00.420 But God will be with you, 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:03.020 and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 00:11:03.800 --> 00:11:05.240 Moreover, I have given to you, 00:11:05.360 --> 00:11:06.520 rather than to your brothers, 00:11:06.640 --> 00:11:09.280 one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites 00:11:09.280 --> 00:11:10.720 with my sword and with my bow. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.820 He's still not done playing favorites, is he? 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:18.340 Do you see how God blesses in surprising ways? 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:24.820 Did you notice the surprising ways in which God blesses here? 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:28.100 I see three here that I want to draw your attention to here 00:11:28.100 --> 00:11:29.779 before we move on to the next point. 00:11:30.160 --> 00:11:33.120 Three surprising ways that I see God blessing here. 00:11:33.300 --> 00:11:34.660 And I want you to see these, 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:38.620 because you should know God still blesses in these three ways. 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:41.659 In fact, if you are in Christ, 00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:44.659 then he has blessed you in these three ways. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:48.620 For one, we see God blesses through adoption. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:53.480 Ephraim and Manasseh were not Jacob's kids, 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:55.179 but now they are. 00:11:55.299 --> 00:11:55.560 Why? 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:57.580 He has adopted them as his own. 00:11:58.419 --> 00:12:00.879 They once had no claim to the blessing, 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:04.439 but now they have full claim to the blessing. 00:12:04.439 --> 00:12:06.799 They once had no share in the inheritance, 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:10.419 but now they have a full share in the inheritance. 00:12:10.740 --> 00:12:11.960 Do you realize, Christian, 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:14.860 the same has happened with you in Christ. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.899 You were strangers, 00:12:18.500 --> 00:12:20.299 and you were aliens. 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:23.879 You had no claim to the blessings of God, 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:26.399 but God by his grace. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:27.879 What he's done for you in Christ 00:12:27.879 --> 00:12:30.559 is he has taken you from being an outsider, 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:33.460 and he has adopted you into his own family 00:12:33.460 --> 00:12:35.279 as sons and daughters of the living God. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.860 That's what it means to be a Christian. 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:40.700 The Apostle John says, 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:44.200 see what kind of love the Father has given to us 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:46.500 that we should be called children of God. 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:48.139 And so we are. 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:49.460 Are you surprised by this? 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:53.940 Another surprising way we see God blessing here, 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:56.440 we see that God blesses through election. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:12:59.259 God blesses through election. 00:12:59.460 --> 00:13:02.019 We keep seeing this over and over and over again 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:02.940 in Genesis, don't we? 00:13:03.720 --> 00:13:06.560 God chose before they were even born 00:13:06.560 --> 00:13:09.019 to put Jacob before Esau. 00:13:09.759 --> 00:13:12.900 God chose to make promises to Abraham, 00:13:12.900 --> 00:13:15.860 this pagan man out of all the men of the earth. 00:13:16.180 --> 00:13:17.620 God elected Abraham. 00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:20.139 He chose to make promises to Abraham. 00:13:20.659 --> 00:13:21.919 And so now, yet again, 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:24.659 God chooses Ephraim 00:13:24.659 --> 00:13:28.539 to receive the place of preeminence over Manasseh. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.480 This is election. 00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.279 God chooses. 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:34.779 And Christian, if you are in Christ, 00:13:35.179 --> 00:13:39.360 it is because God chose to bless you in him 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:41.299 from before the foundations of the world. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:42.240 This is election. 00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:46.000 Ephesians 1 tells us, 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.379 In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:52.059 through Jesus Christ, 00:13:52.299 --> 00:13:55.039 according to the purposes of his will. 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:57.559 Christian, are you surprised that God has chosen you? 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.360 You should be. 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:04.460 We're not the obvious choice. 00:14:04.460 --> 00:14:08.379 But that's because one final way, 00:14:08.500 --> 00:14:11.780 one final and third surprising way that God blesses here, 00:14:11.879 --> 00:14:15.120 God blesses according to his wisdom. 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:18.120 According to his wisdom, 00:14:18.300 --> 00:14:22.320 which is almost always contrary to the wisdom of this world. 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:26.759 And we should really stop expecting God to work 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:28.600 according to our ways, shouldn't we? 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:33.300 He loves to run contrary to our expectations. 00:14:33.300 --> 00:14:33.659 Why? 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.879 Because in so doing, 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:38.500 he magnifies his power, 00:14:38.980 --> 00:14:40.000 his glory, 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.420 his wisdom, 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.800 his knowledge. 00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:45.440 Where do we see this most clearly? 00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:47.379 Beyond the cross of Christ. 00:14:47.379 --> 00:14:52.299 Who would expect that the greatest blessing to the world 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:54.759 would come through the death of the Son of God? 00:14:56.600 --> 00:15:01.200 Who would expect that in this moment of apparent victory for sin 00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.720 and victory for the grave 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.019 and victory for the devil himself, 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:09.080 that that exact moment would be the moment of their undoing? 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:14.240 Who would ever expect that he would become sin for us 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:17.840 so that in him we would become the righteousness of God? 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.539 This is not man's wisdom. 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:24.100 The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.899 but to us who are being saved, 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:28.460 it is the power of God. 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:29.659 And so we see, first, 00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:31.600 God blesses in surprising ways. 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:32.440 Not only this, 00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:33.060 second, 00:15:33.860 --> 00:15:34.340 second, 00:15:34.480 --> 00:15:37.820 we see God blesses in sovereign ways. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.200 God blesses in sovereign ways. 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:42.320 Look there to chapter 49. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:45.879 Now, chapter 49 is incredible. 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:49.200 And it shows us all of these blessings 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:51.560 that Jacob gives to his children. 00:15:51.760 --> 00:15:53.220 And in each one, 00:15:53.260 --> 00:15:54.080 in each one of these, 00:15:54.140 --> 00:15:55.700 these blessings are prophetic. 00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:59.480 And they speak of future blessings 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:01.100 that will come on these children 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:03.680 that we can look back in history 00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:07.260 and see that these have all come true in time. 00:16:07.259 --> 00:16:10.819 And just like with all the other biblical prophecies, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.639 skeptics of the Bible will look at this and say, 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.519 this is all too realistic sounding, right? 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:19.980 This describes things a little bit too well, 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.919 and so therefore, 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:24.259 it must have been some later addition, right? 00:16:24.319 --> 00:16:27.399 Somebody years later must have just come back in 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:29.559 and seen how all these tribes developed, 00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:31.039 and then they went back 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.500 and they added in this little bit 00:16:32.500 --> 00:16:34.879 to explain the history of these tribes. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.379 That's the only explanation, right? 00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:38.919 That's one possibility, I guess, 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:41.419 outside of there being no evidence whatsoever 00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:43.019 of that sort of thing happening here. 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:45.659 May I present another possibility, 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:49.439 one that we've seen all throughout the book of Genesis, 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:52.640 is where the book of Genesis begins, 00:16:53.380 --> 00:16:56.160 and it's the fact that our God 00:16:56.160 --> 00:17:00.400 is totally and completely sovereign over all things. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.260 And therefore, 00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:05.920 He is able to speak blessing 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:08.840 well in advance of it ever coming true in time. 00:17:11.080 --> 00:17:14.700 Because our God is the sovereign author of human history, 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:18.380 He is able to reveal the future. 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.559 That's what's happening here 00:17:20.559 --> 00:17:22.200 through these promises, 00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:25.860 these blessings that Israel gives over His children. 00:17:25.980 --> 00:17:28.680 I want to just look at each one here briefly, 00:17:28.820 --> 00:17:30.740 and you'll notice they're not in order of birth order, 00:17:30.860 --> 00:17:33.380 they're actually arranged here by birth mom, 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:35.140 and the first six are Leah's kids. 00:17:35.320 --> 00:17:37.080 So let's take a look here. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.940 Chapter 49. 00:17:39.400 --> 00:17:41.279 Then Jacob called his sons and said, 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.500 Gather yourselves together, 00:17:42.620 --> 00:17:45.059 that I may tell you what shall happen to you 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.360 in the days to come. 00:17:46.359 --> 00:17:48.740 I mean, wouldn't you like for somebody to do that for you? 00:17:49.859 --> 00:17:50.779 Assemble and listen, 00:17:50.899 --> 00:17:51.719 O sons of Jacob. 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:54.059 Listen to Israel, your father. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:17:55.219 First up is Reuben. 00:17:56.219 --> 00:17:57.979 Reuben, you are my firstborn, 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:58.719 my might, 00:17:59.219 --> 00:18:00.759 and the first fruits of my strength, 00:18:00.899 --> 00:18:02.079 preeminent in dignity, 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.539 and preeminent in power, 00:18:04.379 --> 00:18:05.799 unstable as water. 00:18:05.919 --> 00:18:07.559 You shall not have preeminence, 00:18:07.939 --> 00:18:10.079 because you went up to your father's bed, 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:11.819 and then you defiled it. 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:13.819 He went up to my couch. 00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:16.579 You notice there is no blessing here for Reuben. 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:20.200 And the reason why is because apparently Reuben, 00:18:20.439 --> 00:18:21.399 Jacob's firstborn, 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.980 slept with his concubine, Bilhah. 00:18:24.939 --> 00:18:26.939 And so this becomes his legacy, 00:18:27.159 --> 00:18:28.179 and that phrase actually, 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:29.879 the first fruits of my strength. 00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.559 Do you see that there? 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:33.839 Reuben is the first fruits of my strength. 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.819 That can also mean the first of my pain. 00:18:37.519 --> 00:18:39.240 He's the first of my suffering. 00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:43.500 Reuben was a source of great pain for Jacob. 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.539 And so as a result, 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:46.160 he is not blessed. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:48.319 He's essentially left out of the blessing. 00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:49.420 And eventually, 00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:51.579 we can look ahead and see, 00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.180 eventually, 00:18:52.359 --> 00:18:55.180 Reuben's tribe would settle east of the Dead Sea. 00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:56.420 And they're basically, 00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:58.220 they just kind of fade out of history. 00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:01.819 They're really not a part of Israel's story. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:04.700 You all maybe have that one family member 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:06.160 in your own family, right? 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.400 Maybe more than one. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:08.859 Maybe you are that one. 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.979 Something went down, 00:19:11.219 --> 00:19:13.179 and they're just never heard from again. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:14.419 They disappear, right? 00:19:14.579 --> 00:19:15.459 That's Reuben. 00:19:16.439 --> 00:19:18.039 Next up is Simeon and Levi. 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.919 They're grouped together here. 00:19:20.179 --> 00:19:20.719 Verse 5. 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:22.259 Simeon and Levi are brothers. 00:19:23.299 --> 00:19:25.000 Weapons of violence are their swords. 00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:28.139 Let my soul come not into their counsel. 00:19:28.859 --> 00:19:31.259 No, my glory be not joined to their company. 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.659 For in their anger, 00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:33.839 they killed men. 00:19:33.959 --> 00:19:34.839 And in their willfulness, 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.599 they hamstrung oxen. 00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:39.199 Cursed be their anger for it is fierce, 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:41.240 and their wrath for it is cruel. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:43.480 I will divide them in Jacob, 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:45.559 and scatter them in Israel. 00:19:45.919 --> 00:19:46.839 Simeon and Levi, 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:49.099 they're the only ones that are grouped together. 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.000 And why is that? 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:54.960 It's because of their actions of vengeance 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:58.400 in that whole horrible episode with their sister Dinah. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.059 Do you remember that? 00:20:00.539 --> 00:20:02.880 Dinah, their sister, was defiled, 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.359 and so how did they respond? 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:07.339 They responded by tricking those who sinned against her, 00:20:07.700 --> 00:20:09.259 having them circumcised, 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:10.619 so that when they were sore, 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:13.140 they went in and they destroyed them all. 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:13.779 Do you remember that? 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.480 And do you remember what we asked at the end of that? 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:18.079 We asked, 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.899 was that the right response? 00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:24.460 Jacob seems to answer that question pretty strongly here, 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.160 doesn't he? 00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:29.299 He says he doesn't want anything to do with these two sons. 00:20:29.379 --> 00:20:29.639 He says, 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:31.859 let my soul not come into their counsel. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:34.700 I don't want my glory with their company. 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.180 He curses their anger. 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:40.480 That's the same curse language that God uses against the serpent in Genesis 3. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:45.019 Jacob speaks some heavy words here against Simeon and Levi. 00:20:45.360 --> 00:20:46.920 And as a result, he says, 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:49.740 you are going to be scattered and divided. 00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:53.079 And again, as you look ahead in history, 00:20:53.900 --> 00:20:54.599 their descendants, 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:57.880 they basically just filter into the other tribes. 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:02.779 Simeon is essentially absorbed into the tribe of Judah. 00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:04.819 Levi, on the other hand, 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.759 you probably know, 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:08.140 Levi, they don't get an inheritance of land, 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:10.640 but the Lord does seem to restore them. 00:21:10.780 --> 00:21:14.520 He makes them the priests of the people of Israel. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.120 The Levitical priesthood will come from the people of Levi. 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:19.960 Judah, 00:21:20.560 --> 00:21:22.860 Judah's the first one to actually get some real blessing here. 00:21:24.280 --> 00:21:25.120 Look there to verse 8. 00:21:26.300 --> 00:21:26.640 He says, 00:21:26.740 --> 00:21:28.820 Judah, your brothers shall praise you. 00:21:29.820 --> 00:21:32.160 Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies. 00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:35.920 Your father's sons shall bow down before you. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:37.840 Judah is a lion's cub. 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:39.400 From the prey, my son, 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.280 you have gone up. 00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.820 He stooped down. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:44.440 He crouched as a lion and as a lioness. 00:21:44.520 --> 00:21:45.880 Who dares rouse him? 00:21:46.680 --> 00:21:49.320 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, 00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:51.940 nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, 00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:54.160 until tribute comes to him. 00:21:54.420 --> 00:21:56.759 And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:59.020 Binding his foal to the vine 00:21:59.020 --> 00:22:01.180 and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:03.680 he has washed his garments in wine 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:05.860 and his vesture in the blood of grapes. 00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:08.320 His eyes are darker than wine 00:22:08.320 --> 00:22:10.580 and his teeth are whiter than milk. 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:13.620 Now this is a beautiful promise of blessing for Judah. 00:22:14.900 --> 00:22:16.160 The promise of praise. 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:19.259 It's a play on words with the name Judah, 00:22:19.360 --> 00:22:20.259 which means praise. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:22.220 He says his brothers will praise him. 00:22:22.320 --> 00:22:24.060 He'll dominate his enemies. 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:25.340 He'll be like a lion. 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.019 Kingship will come from Judah. 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:29.000 The peoples will obey him. 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:31.119 He's so prosperous and successful 00:22:31.119 --> 00:22:33.440 that he's washing his clothes with wine. 00:22:34.619 --> 00:22:36.680 It's an incredible prophecy of blessing 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:39.019 for the tribe of Judah. 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:41.960 Zebulun, verse 13, 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.879 they're the low country people. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:46.680 They dwell at the shore of the sea, 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:48.639 shall become a haven for ships. 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:51.139 His border shall be at Sidon. 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:53.279 Issachar is a strong donkey 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:55.180 crouching between the sheepfolds. 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:57.740 He saw that a resting place was good 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:59.340 and that the land was pleasant, 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.160 so he bowed his shoulder to bear 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:03.420 and became a servant at forced labor. 00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:05.660 Issachar is incredibly strong. 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:07.799 He's a strong donkey, but he's lazy. 00:23:08.600 --> 00:23:09.539 Y'all have friends like that? 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:12.140 I've had friends like that. 00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:14.500 They had all the natural gifting in the world 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:16.440 to just be some awesome athlete, 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:18.180 but they wouldn't pick up a weight 00:23:18.180 --> 00:23:19.799 or run a mile if you paid them. 00:23:22.340 --> 00:23:24.500 Issachar is a strong donkey 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:26.420 that lays down with the sheep. 00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.619 And as a result, 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:29.380 he winds up in lower Galilee, 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:32.039 where it's nice and cozy and fertile 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:33.259 and green and peaceful 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:36.220 until, just like is prophesied here, 00:23:36.319 --> 00:23:39.319 until they wind up enslaved to the Canaanites 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:40.759 and just as Jacob says, 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:43.599 they become servants at forced labor. 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.920 Dan shall judge his people 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:48.380 as one of the tribes of Israel. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.259 It's a fitting job for someone 00:23:50.259 --> 00:23:52.240 whose name means judge, Dan. 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:55.660 And Dan shall be a serpent in the way, 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.920 a viper by the path 00:23:56.920 --> 00:23:59.180 that bites the horse's heel 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:01.379 so that his rider falls backward. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:03.440 He'll be like a serpent in battle. 00:24:03.539 --> 00:24:05.099 But Jacob reminds him, Dan, 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:07.799 that your salvation ultimately comes 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:08.599 from the Lord. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.240 Verse 18, 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:11.059 I will wait for your salvation, 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.420 O Lord. 00:24:12.519 --> 00:24:13.559 For Gad, he says, 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.319 raiders are going to raid him, 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:17.220 but he's going to raid back at their heels. 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:19.099 Gad's name means good fortune, 00:24:19.099 --> 00:24:20.079 but it's not all good. 00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:22.899 He's got raids going back and forth constantly. 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:25.199 Asher, which means happy, 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.819 he says, 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.899 Asher's food shall be rich 00:24:27.899 --> 00:24:30.279 and he shall yield royal delicacies. 00:24:31.459 --> 00:24:33.679 Asher's tribe will settle in the hill country 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:34.639 over to the west 00:24:34.639 --> 00:24:35.740 and Galilee, again, 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.219 where it's very fertile. 00:24:37.699 --> 00:24:40.419 And so he's able to provide royal delicacies, 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:43.019 that good food and rich drink 00:24:43.019 --> 00:24:44.079 that makes him happy 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:46.179 and it makes others happy as well. 00:24:46.180 --> 00:24:49.400 Naphtali is a doe let loose 00:24:49.400 --> 00:24:51.539 that bears beautiful fawns, 00:24:51.580 --> 00:24:52.420 verse 21 says. 00:24:52.560 --> 00:24:54.000 I got no clue what that means. 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:57.140 Outside of probably he's just going to have 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:58.480 some beautiful kids, I think. 00:24:59.580 --> 00:25:01.200 But then we come to Joseph, 00:25:01.840 --> 00:25:02.560 verse 22. 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:04.220 And y'all know, 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:05.900 Jacob has some more to say 00:25:05.900 --> 00:25:07.340 about his favorite son, Joseph. 00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.039 He says, 00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:10.819 Joseph is a fruitful bough, 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.519 a fruitful bough by a spring. 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:16.119 His branches run over the wall. 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.819 The archers bitterly attacked him, 00:25:18.920 --> 00:25:19.779 shot at him, 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:21.539 and harassed him severely, 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:23.659 yet his bow remained unmoved. 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:26.119 His arms were made agile 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:28.019 by the hands of the mighty one of Jacob. 00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:29.819 From there is the shepherd, 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:31.259 the stone of Israel. 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.460 By the God of your father 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.379 who will help you, 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:36.559 by the Almighty who will bless you 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.119 with blessings of heaven above, 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:39.639 blessings of the deep 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.759 that crouches beneath, 00:25:41.179 --> 00:25:42.419 blessings of the breast 00:25:42.419 --> 00:25:43.519 and of the womb. 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:45.139 The blessings of your father 00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:46.559 are mighty beyond the blessings 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:47.419 of my parents 00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:48.359 up to the bounties 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:49.619 of the everlasting hills. 00:25:49.919 --> 00:25:51.740 May they be on the head of Joseph 00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:53.500 and on the brow of him 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.419 who was set apart 00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.980 from his brothers. 00:25:57.980 --> 00:26:00.839 And Joseph faced great obstacles, 00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.379 didn't he? 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.599 Like a wall. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:07.539 And yet his branches ran over the wall. 00:26:08.959 --> 00:26:10.559 Joseph faced great enemies 00:26:10.559 --> 00:26:13.059 like archers bitterly attacking him 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:14.619 and shooting at him. 00:26:14.699 --> 00:26:16.139 Enemies like his own brothers, 00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.439 his bitter brothers. 00:26:18.579 --> 00:26:20.099 Enemies like the temptations 00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:21.339 of Potiphar's wife. 00:26:21.459 --> 00:26:23.579 And yet he remained steadfast. 00:26:23.879 --> 00:26:24.279 How? 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:27.819 How did Joseph remain steadfast? 00:26:27.819 --> 00:26:30.919 In the hands of the mighty one of Jacob, 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.600 the shepherd, 00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:34.880 the stone of Israel, 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.000 sustained him. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:39.900 Lastly, we come to Benjamin. 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:41.039 Verse 27 says, 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:43.600 Benjamin is a ravenous wolf 00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:46.220 in the morning devouring the prey 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:46.900 at the evening, 00:26:47.340 --> 00:26:48.759 dividing the spoil. 00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.779 Historically, we can look and see 00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:51.880 Benjamin would settle 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.700 between Ephraim and Judah 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:55.660 and his area was basically 00:26:55.660 --> 00:26:57.279 always a war zone. 00:26:58.080 --> 00:26:59.700 They were always in conflict. 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:00.900 But as a result, 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:01.380 Benjamin, 00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:03.400 he becomes skillful in war 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.180 and that little boy 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:06.440 becomes a ravenous wolf. 00:27:08.240 --> 00:27:09.279 Verse 28 says, 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:11.720 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. 00:27:12.539 --> 00:27:14.200 And this is what their father said to them 00:27:14.200 --> 00:27:15.180 as he blessed them, 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:18.240 blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:19.920 Then he commanded them 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:21.140 and said to them, 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:23.259 I am to be gathered to my people. 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:25.080 Bury me with my fathers 00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:26.460 in the cave that is in the field 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:27.720 of Ephron the Hittite, 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.299 in the cave that is in the field 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.120 at Machpelah, 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.680 to the east of Mamre, 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.039 in the land of Canaan, 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:35.259 which Abraham bought with the field 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.960 from Ephron the Hittite 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:38.640 to possess as a burying place. 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.339 There they buried Abraham 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.720 and Sarah his wife, 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.839 and there they buried Isaac 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:43.980 and Rebekah his wife, 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.180 and there I buried Leah. 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:47.460 The field and the cave that is in it 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.740 were bought from the Hittites. 00:27:49.460 --> 00:27:51.420 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, 00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:53.360 he drew up his feet into the bed 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:55.279 and breathed his last 00:27:55.279 --> 00:27:57.519 and was gathered to his people. 00:27:58.579 --> 00:28:00.539 Then Joseph fell on his father's face 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.559 and wept over him 00:28:01.559 --> 00:28:02.619 and kissed him, 00:28:02.699 --> 00:28:04.119 and Joseph commanded his servants, 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.779 the physicians, 00:28:04.979 --> 00:28:06.219 to embalm his father. 00:28:06.899 --> 00:28:08.659 So the physicians embalmed Israel. 00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:10.899 Forty days were required for it, 00:28:11.199 --> 00:28:12.519 for that's how many are required 00:28:12.519 --> 00:28:13.319 for embalming. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:15.319 And the Egyptians wept for him 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:16.419 seventy days. 00:28:17.139 --> 00:28:18.319 And when the days of weeping 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.259 for him were passed, 00:28:19.419 --> 00:28:20.819 Joseph spoke to the household 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.819 of Pharaoh, saying, 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:23.720 If now I have found favor 00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.419 in your eyes, 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.460 please speak in the ears 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.500 of Pharaoh, saying, 00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:28.319 My father made me swear, 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.859 saying, I am about to die 00:28:29.859 --> 00:28:31.819 in my tomb that I have hewed out 00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.359 for myself in the land of Canaan. 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.159 There shall you bury me. 00:28:35.980 --> 00:28:37.619 Now therefore let me please go up 00:28:37.619 --> 00:28:38.539 and bury my father, 00:28:38.879 --> 00:28:39.819 then I will return. 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.539 And Pharaoh answered, 00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:43.139 Go up and bury your father, 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.159 as he made you swear. 00:28:44.980 --> 00:28:46.139 So Joseph went up 00:28:46.139 --> 00:28:47.079 to bury his father. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.379 With him went all the servants 00:28:49.379 --> 00:28:49.919 of Pharaoh, 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.340 the elders of his household, 00:28:51.480 --> 00:28:52.259 and all the elders 00:28:52.259 --> 00:28:53.200 of the land of Egypt, 00:28:53.480 --> 00:28:54.880 as well as all the household 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:55.440 of Joseph, 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.320 his brothers, 00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.560 and his father's household. 00:28:58.100 --> 00:28:59.120 Only their children, 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:00.060 their flocks, 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:01.039 and their herds 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:01.900 were left in the land 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:02.380 of Goshen. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.279 And there went up with him 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:05.759 both chariots and horsemen. 00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:07.660 It was a very great company. 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:09.840 When they came to the threshing floor 00:29:09.840 --> 00:29:10.420 of Atad, 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.880 which is beyond the Jordan, 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.039 they lamented there 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:14.100 with a very great 00:29:14.100 --> 00:29:15.580 and grievous lamentation. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:16.960 And he made a mourning 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:18.420 for his father seven days. 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.920 When the inhabitants 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.680 of the land, 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:21.920 the land of the Canaanites, 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:22.680 saw the mourning 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.680 of the threshing floor 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.259 of Atad, 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.140 they said, 00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:26.380 This is a grievous mourning 00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.140 by the Egyptians. 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.380 Therefore, 00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.640 the place was named 00:29:29.640 --> 00:29:31.000 Abel Mizraim. 00:29:31.560 --> 00:29:32.660 It is beyond the Jordan. 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.080 Thus his sons did for him 00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:36.279 as he had commanded them. 00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:37.860 For his sons carried him 00:29:37.860 --> 00:29:38.840 to the land of Canaan 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.680 and buried him 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.980 in the cave of the field 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.779 at Machpelah, 00:29:42.100 --> 00:29:43.200 to the east of Mamre, 00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.560 which Abraham bought 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.180 with the field 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:46.380 from Ephron the Hittite 00:29:46.380 --> 00:29:48.240 to possess as a burying place. 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:50.300 After he had buried his father, 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.620 Joseph returned to Egypt 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.440 with his brothers 00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:54.220 and all who had gone up 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:54.780 with him 00:29:54.780 --> 00:29:56.560 to bury his father. 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:57.720 You ever wonder 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.920 why we need to know all this? 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.940 Why do we care 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.800 about these kids 00:30:03.800 --> 00:30:05.200 and what their grandpa 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.220 has to say about them? 00:30:06.220 --> 00:30:10.299 It's because 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:12.200 in all this, 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.720 God's sovereignty 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:15.100 is on display. 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:18.460 It is stunning, 00:30:18.660 --> 00:30:18.900 really, 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:19.380 when you stop 00:30:19.380 --> 00:30:20.019 and think about it, 00:30:20.019 --> 00:30:20.380 isn't it? 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.460 The future 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.720 is written 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:24.920 in advance. 00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:25.539 Jacob says, 00:30:25.620 --> 00:30:25.880 Come here, 00:30:25.940 --> 00:30:26.420 let me tell you 00:30:26.420 --> 00:30:27.880 what's going to happen to you. 00:30:28.100 --> 00:30:29.640 How are you going to, 00:30:30.059 --> 00:30:31.059 how can you, 00:30:31.140 --> 00:30:32.420 how can you speak 00:30:32.420 --> 00:30:33.539 with such certainty 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.599 about blessing 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:35.680 that will happen 00:30:35.680 --> 00:30:36.279 in the future? 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.279 He says, 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.259 here's how you're going 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.099 to be blessed, 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:40.539 future. 00:30:40.819 --> 00:30:41.519 Here's what God 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:42.879 will do in your life. 00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:44.639 That's only possible 00:30:44.639 --> 00:30:45.579 if God 00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.700 is truly sovereign. 00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:49.139 And we see here, 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.920 God is sovereign 00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:52.000 over every single individual. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.259 He is sovereign 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.359 over their families. 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.440 He is sovereign 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.659 over their tribes. 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:57.599 He is sovereign 00:30:57.599 --> 00:30:58.659 over their countries. 00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.740 He is sovereign 00:30:59.740 --> 00:31:01.500 over all the world. 00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:03.359 And in his sovereignty, 00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:05.400 he guided Jacob 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.059 and his family 00:31:06.059 --> 00:31:07.000 here into Egypt. 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.859 And just as he promised, 00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:10.059 his son Joseph 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:11.119 closes his eyes. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:12.460 This is God's sovereignty 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.160 on display. 00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.680 Do you realize 00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:17.079 that the great faithfulness 00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.640 of God 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.740 depends on his 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.519 great sovereignty? 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:23.720 If God is not sovereign 00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:25.420 over every detail, 00:31:26.200 --> 00:31:27.579 everywhere in his creation, 00:31:27.759 --> 00:31:28.920 every contingency, 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.960 every second 00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.619 of every day, 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:32.299 past, present, future, 00:31:32.619 --> 00:31:33.599 something somewhere 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.599 might swerve him 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.500 off of his plan. 00:31:37.239 --> 00:31:38.459 Praise God. 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.279 We see here, 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.259 our God 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:41.559 is absolutely 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.639 sovereign. 00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:43.939 And because 00:31:43.939 --> 00:31:44.919 he is sovereign, 00:31:46.059 --> 00:31:46.559 our God 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:47.039 is able 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:48.000 to distribute 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.719 blessings 00:31:48.719 --> 00:31:50.259 as he sees fit. 00:31:50.899 --> 00:31:51.559 How amazing 00:31:51.559 --> 00:31:51.859 is it 00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:52.899 that he's created 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:53.679 each and every one 00:31:53.679 --> 00:31:54.939 of us distinctly 00:31:54.939 --> 00:31:56.299 with unique 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.339 giftings 00:31:57.339 --> 00:31:58.299 and different 00:31:58.299 --> 00:31:58.979 abilities 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:00.440 and what a comfort 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.160 it is to know 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:02.259 that he's already 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.900 planned out 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:04.539 all of our days. 00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:07.579 If you have any 00:32:07.579 --> 00:32:08.700 blessings in your life 00:32:08.700 --> 00:32:09.400 whatsoever, 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.599 you have a sovereign 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.380 God to thank. 00:32:13.299 --> 00:32:14.599 And you need not worry 00:32:14.599 --> 00:32:15.759 about what the future 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.400 holds. 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:17.579 We have a sovereign God 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.539 who holds the future. 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.759 We have strength 00:32:20.759 --> 00:32:21.360 for today 00:32:21.360 --> 00:32:22.799 and bright hope 00:32:22.799 --> 00:32:23.500 for tomorrow. 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:24.920 Blessings all mine 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:26.039 with 10,000 00:32:26.039 --> 00:32:26.759 beside. 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:29.860 Jacob blesses 00:32:29.860 --> 00:32:30.420 his children 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.380 and then his story 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:32.259 here comes 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:33.100 to a close. 00:32:33.320 --> 00:32:33.900 And you know, 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.860 when you read 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:35.460 this, 00:32:35.539 --> 00:32:36.620 I wonder if you 00:32:36.620 --> 00:32:37.220 wished, 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:37.820 man, 00:32:37.860 --> 00:32:38.880 I just wish 00:32:38.880 --> 00:32:39.440 I could receive 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.400 blessings like this. 00:32:42.340 --> 00:32:43.360 I wish 00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:44.480 that someone 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:45.360 could just tell 00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.720 me for certain 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.720 the ways 00:32:47.720 --> 00:32:48.519 in which I 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.400 am blessed 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:50.060 and the ways 00:32:50.060 --> 00:32:50.620 in which I 00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.720 will be blessed. 00:32:51.820 --> 00:32:51.920 I mean, 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.640 what a privilege 00:32:52.640 --> 00:32:53.440 it must be 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:53.880 to be one 00:32:53.880 --> 00:32:54.400 of God's 00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.140 covenant people. 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:55.560 Do you ever 00:32:55.560 --> 00:32:56.620 feel like that? 00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:58.420 What a privilege 00:32:58.420 --> 00:32:58.920 it would be 00:32:58.920 --> 00:32:59.900 to have access 00:32:59.900 --> 00:33:00.700 to this sort 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.280 of incredible 00:33:01.280 --> 00:33:01.759 blessing. 00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:05.040 I remember 00:33:05.040 --> 00:33:05.780 a sweet old lady 00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:06.480 that I got 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.020 to pastor 00:33:07.020 --> 00:33:08.740 and we were 00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.460 talking about 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:10.220 the Old Testament. 00:33:10.340 --> 00:33:10.860 I can't remember 00:33:10.860 --> 00:33:11.580 what I was 00:33:11.580 --> 00:33:12.920 teaching on that day 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:13.880 but we were 00:33:13.880 --> 00:33:14.460 talking about 00:33:14.460 --> 00:33:15.400 Israel and all 00:33:15.400 --> 00:33:16.060 these promises 00:33:16.060 --> 00:33:17.000 made to Israel 00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:17.600 and she said, 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:17.820 you know, 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:18.640 sometimes I just 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:19.020 get a little 00:33:19.020 --> 00:33:19.980 jealous of Israel 00:33:19.980 --> 00:33:22.320 and I get a little 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.679 sad and I 00:33:23.679 --> 00:33:24.579 wish that I 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.279 could be blessed 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:25.879 like that. 00:33:25.939 --> 00:33:26.359 I just wish 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:26.759 that some of 00:33:26.759 --> 00:33:27.279 these promises 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.059 would come to me 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.019 and I got to say, 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.179 oh, 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:29.720 would you please 00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.480 sit down for a minute? 00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:33.119 Do you have a 00:33:33.119 --> 00:33:33.700 couple years to 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.259 go through Genesis 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.720 with me? 00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.339 All of the 00:33:38.339 --> 00:33:38.939 blessings, 00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:41.339 all of the 00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:41.879 promises, 00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:44.079 all of the 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.779 benefits of 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:45.679 being in covenant 00:33:45.679 --> 00:33:46.559 with the Lord 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:47.779 are all 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.720 ours by 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.519 faith in 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:50.439 Jesus Christ. 00:33:50.440 --> 00:33:50.519 Christ. 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.279 This is our 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.059 third and final 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.940 point this morning, 00:33:55.080 --> 00:33:55.380 third. 00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.640 We see God 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.740 blesses His 00:33:58.740 --> 00:33:59.799 people in 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.700 His Son, 00:34:01.080 --> 00:34:01.960 Jesus Christ. 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.779 The great 00:34:04.779 --> 00:34:05.620 question that 00:34:05.620 --> 00:34:06.380 we've asked 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:07.380 over and over 00:34:07.380 --> 00:34:08.139 and over again 00:34:08.139 --> 00:34:09.240 as we've walked 00:34:09.240 --> 00:34:09.880 through Genesis 00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:11.079 ever since the 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.880 Garden of Eden, 00:34:12.000 --> 00:34:12.880 the question has 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.159 been, 00:34:13.519 --> 00:34:14.539 how can sinful 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.820 man receive 00:34:15.820 --> 00:34:16.760 blessing in 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.700 place of cursing? 00:34:17.699 --> 00:34:19.319 how can we 00:34:19.319 --> 00:34:20.119 be blessed 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:20.500 when we 00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:21.419 deserve judgment? 00:34:22.359 --> 00:34:22.779 And the 00:34:22.779 --> 00:34:23.980 glorious answer 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.339 that we're 00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:25.500 given is that 00:34:25.500 --> 00:34:26.439 it's in Christ 00:34:26.439 --> 00:34:26.819 that we're 00:34:26.819 --> 00:34:27.299 blessed. 00:34:27.899 --> 00:34:28.819 It is in 00:34:28.819 --> 00:34:29.500 Christ that 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.159 we're blessed. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:31.460 You are 00:34:31.460 --> 00:34:32.019 blessed in 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.599 Christ. 00:34:33.759 --> 00:34:34.259 This is the 00:34:34.259 --> 00:34:35.239 eternal plan of 00:34:35.239 --> 00:34:36.139 God from before 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:37.500 the ages began. 00:34:37.719 --> 00:34:38.339 He planned to 00:34:38.339 --> 00:34:39.519 bless you in 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.079 Christ. 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:40.899 Ephesians 1 00:34:40.899 --> 00:34:42.719 again tells us 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:43.399 blessed be the 00:34:43.399 --> 00:34:44.159 God and Father 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:44.879 of our Lord 00:34:44.880 --> 00:34:45.800 Jesus Christ 00:34:45.800 --> 00:34:47.019 who has blessed 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.820 us in Christ 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:50.300 with every 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.320 spiritual blessing 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:51.880 in the heavenly 00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.579 places. 00:34:53.079 --> 00:34:53.860 Even as He 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.880 chose us in 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.920 Him before 00:34:55.920 --> 00:34:56.840 the foundation 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:57.900 of the world 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.579 that we should 00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.500 be holy and 00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:00.380 blameless before 00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:00.720 Him. 00:35:01.220 --> 00:35:02.260 In love He 00:35:02.260 --> 00:35:03.320 predestined us 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:04.140 for adoption 00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:05.099 to Himself 00:35:05.099 --> 00:35:06.079 as sons 00:35:06.079 --> 00:35:07.099 through Jesus 00:35:07.099 --> 00:35:08.539 Christ according 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.220 to the purpose 00:35:09.220 --> 00:35:10.140 of His will 00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:11.019 and to the praise 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:12.019 of His glorious 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.980 grace with which 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:13.680 He has blessed 00:35:13.680 --> 00:35:14.119 us. 00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:15.619 in the beloved. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:17.339 Christian this 00:35:17.339 --> 00:35:18.339 was God's 00:35:18.339 --> 00:35:19.179 plan from the 00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.299 very beginning. 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.079 Haven't we 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.880 seen God has 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:24.559 been unveiling 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:25.759 and revealing 00:35:25.759 --> 00:35:26.779 steadily this 00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:28.000 plan to bless 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.900 His people 00:35:28.900 --> 00:35:30.539 in Christ. 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:32.859 When God 00:35:32.859 --> 00:35:33.519 promised a 00:35:33.519 --> 00:35:34.400 snake crusher 00:35:34.400 --> 00:35:34.859 all the way 00:35:34.859 --> 00:35:35.599 back in Genesis 00:35:35.599 --> 00:35:36.420 3 who will 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:37.759 come and destroy 00:35:37.759 --> 00:35:38.900 the powers of 00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.839 sin and darkness 00:35:39.839 --> 00:35:41.059 He promised 00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.839 His Son 00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:43.659 Jesus who has 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.779 conquered all 00:35:44.779 --> 00:35:45.460 the powers of 00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:46.199 sin and death 00:35:46.199 --> 00:35:47.000 who has 00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.779 destroyed the 00:35:47.779 --> 00:35:48.420 powers of the 00:35:48.420 --> 00:35:48.940 devil at the 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:49.579 cross and at 00:35:49.579 --> 00:35:50.319 the empty tomb 00:35:50.319 --> 00:35:52.579 when He makes 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:53.339 promises to 00:35:53.339 --> 00:35:54.299 Abraham you 00:35:54.299 --> 00:35:54.920 will be a 00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.940 blessing and 00:35:55.940 --> 00:35:56.940 in you all 00:35:56.940 --> 00:35:57.739 the families of 00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:58.359 the earth will 00:35:58.359 --> 00:35:58.940 be blessed. 00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:00.159 He is promising 00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:01.460 His Son Jesus 00:36:01.460 --> 00:36:03.579 Christ who is 00:36:03.579 --> 00:36:04.339 the blessing to 00:36:04.339 --> 00:36:04.940 the world. 00:36:06.299 --> 00:36:06.960 And when Israel 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:07.879 here when God 00:36:07.879 --> 00:36:08.940 through Israel 00:36:08.940 --> 00:36:09.980 gives this 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:11.139 prophetic blessing 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.900 to Judah 00:36:11.900 --> 00:36:14.240 He is promising 00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.559 Jesus Christ. 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.380 Would you look 00:36:16.380 --> 00:36:17.280 there again 00:36:17.280 --> 00:36:17.700 with me? 00:36:19.320 --> 00:36:19.980 Did you notice 00:36:19.980 --> 00:36:20.700 all the ways 00:36:20.700 --> 00:36:21.780 this prophecy 00:36:21.780 --> 00:36:22.860 promises Christ? 00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:24.500 Points us to 00:36:24.500 --> 00:36:24.780 Him. 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.159 Chapter 49 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:26.740 verse 8 00:36:26.740 --> 00:36:27.460 when He says 00:36:27.460 --> 00:36:28.480 Judah your 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.380 brothers shall 00:36:29.380 --> 00:36:30.440 praise you 00:36:30.440 --> 00:36:31.679 ultimately we 00:36:31.679 --> 00:36:32.400 are looking 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:33.260 ahead to 00:36:33.260 --> 00:36:34.860 Jesus from 00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:35.679 the tribe of 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:37.079 Judah the one 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:37.760 who is deserving 00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.800 of all praise. 00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.640 When He says 00:36:40.640 --> 00:36:41.500 your hand will 00:36:41.500 --> 00:36:41.900 be on the 00:36:41.900 --> 00:36:42.420 neck of your 00:36:42.420 --> 00:36:43.900 enemies your 00:36:43.900 --> 00:36:44.720 father's sons 00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:45.540 will bow down 00:36:45.540 --> 00:36:46.720 before you we 00:36:46.720 --> 00:36:47.460 are looking to 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:49.060 Jesus who will 00:36:49.060 --> 00:36:50.020 crush the head 00:36:50.020 --> 00:36:50.620 of the serpent. 00:36:51.640 --> 00:36:52.320 When He says 00:36:52.320 --> 00:36:53.220 Judah is a 00:36:53.220 --> 00:36:54.620 lion's cub from 00:36:54.620 --> 00:36:55.400 the prey my 00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:56.200 son you've gone 00:36:56.200 --> 00:36:57.540 up we are 00:36:57.540 --> 00:36:58.020 looking to 00:36:58.020 --> 00:36:59.440 Jesus the lion 00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:00.140 from the tribe 00:37:00.140 --> 00:37:00.600 of Judah. 00:37:01.860 --> 00:37:02.380 When He says 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.340 the scepter shall 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:04.300 not depart from 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.580 Judah nor the 00:37:05.580 --> 00:37:06.540 ruler's staff from 00:37:06.540 --> 00:37:07.500 between his feet 00:37:07.500 --> 00:37:08.219 until tribute 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:09.159 comes to Him 00:37:09.159 --> 00:37:09.980 and to Him 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.480 shall be the 00:37:10.480 --> 00:37:11.380 obedience of 00:37:11.380 --> 00:37:11.940 the peoples. 00:37:12.139 --> 00:37:12.840 We are looking 00:37:12.840 --> 00:37:13.739 ahead to King 00:37:13.739 --> 00:37:15.739 Jesus the King 00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.420 of kings and 00:37:16.420 --> 00:37:17.000 the Lord of 00:37:17.000 --> 00:37:17.820 lords to whom 00:37:17.820 --> 00:37:19.400 every knee will 00:37:19.400 --> 00:37:20.820 bow and every 00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:21.760 tongue confess 00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:23.320 that Jesus Christ 00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:24.880 is Lord to the 00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:25.619 glory of God 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.159 the Father. 00:37:28.019 --> 00:37:28.480 When He says 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:30.000 Judah is binding 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.780 his foal to the 00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.500 vine and his 00:37:31.500 --> 00:37:32.539 donkey's colt to 00:37:32.539 --> 00:37:33.360 the choice vine 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:34.420 he's washed his 00:37:34.420 --> 00:37:35.500 garments in wine 00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.480 and his vesture is 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:37.019 the blood of 00:37:37.019 --> 00:37:37.860 grapes his eyes 00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.880 are darker than 00:37:38.880 --> 00:37:39.920 wine his teeth are 00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:40.760 whiter than milk 00:37:40.760 --> 00:37:41.900 we are looking to 00:37:41.900 --> 00:37:44.019 Jesus who's the 00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.179 rightful heir of 00:37:45.179 --> 00:37:47.280 every treasure of 00:37:47.280 --> 00:37:48.659 heaven and who by 00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:50.559 His grace shares 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:51.679 that inheritance with 00:37:51.679 --> 00:37:52.659 sinners like us. 00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:56.019 Do you see 00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:59.320 Jesus is the 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:00.840 blessing God has 00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:02.019 sent to the 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.360 world? 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:05.640 Any who come to 00:38:05.640 --> 00:38:06.420 Him in faith 00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:08.100 any who come to 00:38:08.100 --> 00:38:08.700 Him in faith 00:38:08.700 --> 00:38:09.940 will be blessed 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:11.579 now and into 00:38:11.579 --> 00:38:12.720 eternity beyond 00:38:12.720 --> 00:38:14.100 their wildest 00:38:14.100 --> 00:38:14.700 dreams. 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.760 Your sins will be 00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:16.140 forgiven. 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.460 You will be 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:19.600 adopted as sons 00:38:19.600 --> 00:38:20.300 and daughters of 00:38:20.300 --> 00:38:20.960 the living God. 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.840 You will be given 00:38:22.840 --> 00:38:24.180 an eternal hope 00:38:24.180 --> 00:38:25.280 ahead of you that's 00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.539 guaranteed by the 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.900 great faithfulness of 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:29.160 our sovereign God. 00:38:29.159 --> 00:38:32.579 God as we read 00:38:32.579 --> 00:38:33.739 earlier this morning 00:38:33.739 --> 00:38:34.639 Peter tells us 00:38:34.639 --> 00:38:35.440 according to his 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:37.399 great mercy he has 00:38:37.399 --> 00:38:38.739 caused us to be 00:38:38.739 --> 00:38:40.359 born again to a 00:38:40.359 --> 00:38:41.839 living hope through 00:38:41.839 --> 00:38:43.059 the resurrection of 00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:44.059 Jesus Christ from 00:38:44.059 --> 00:38:45.379 the dead to an 00:38:45.379 --> 00:38:46.460 inheritance that is 00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.579 imperishable 00:38:47.579 --> 00:38:49.359 undefiled and 00:38:49.359 --> 00:38:51.279 unfading kept in 00:38:51.279 --> 00:38:52.559 heaven for you. 00:38:52.940 --> 00:38:53.659 Friend do you 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:54.699 realize how blessed 00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:55.559 you are in Christ? 00:38:55.559 --> 00:38:59.820 Do you know the 00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:01.000 blessing of knowing 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:02.119 God? 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.719 Have you come to 00:39:05.719 --> 00:39:06.679 Him in faith? 00:39:08.500 --> 00:39:09.259 Have you been 00:39:09.259 --> 00:39:11.739 adopted as a son 00:39:11.739 --> 00:39:13.559 or a daughter of 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.320 the living God? 00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.739 Have you received 00:39:15.739 --> 00:39:16.940 blessings upon 00:39:16.940 --> 00:39:18.099 blessings upon 00:39:18.099 --> 00:39:20.000 blessings in Christ 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:20.380 Jesus? 00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.400 If not then friend 00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:22.179 what would keep you 00:39:22.179 --> 00:39:22.880 from coming to Him 00:39:22.880 --> 00:39:23.840 in faith this morning? 00:39:23.840 --> 00:39:27.380 And if so 00:39:27.380 --> 00:39:28.079 in church 00:39:28.079 --> 00:39:30.180 would you rejoice 00:39:30.180 --> 00:39:31.000 in the blessings 00:39:31.000 --> 00:39:31.720 that God's given 00:39:31.720 --> 00:39:32.480 you in Christ? 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.460 Would you rejoice 00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:35.960 in the great 00:39:35.960 --> 00:39:36.880 faithfulness of our 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:37.220 God? 00:39:37.320 --> 00:39:37.900 You have been 00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:39.320 brought into 00:39:39.320 --> 00:39:40.180 covenant with 00:39:40.180 --> 00:39:41.100 Him at the 00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:41.780 price of His 00:39:41.780 --> 00:39:43.100 own blood. 00:39:45.100 --> 00:39:46.079 Matthew Henry 00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:48.160 says as long as 00:39:48.160 --> 00:39:48.640 we have an 00:39:48.640 --> 00:39:49.720 interest in God's 00:39:49.720 --> 00:39:51.800 covenant a place 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:52.460 grace and a name 00:39:52.460 --> 00:39:53.019 among His 00:39:53.019 --> 00:39:54.760 people and good 00:39:54.760 --> 00:39:55.780 hopes of a share 00:39:55.780 --> 00:39:56.460 in the heavenly 00:39:56.460 --> 00:39:58.260 Canaan we must 00:39:58.260 --> 00:39:59.660 account ourselves 00:39:59.660 --> 00:40:00.820 blessed. 00:40:02.560 --> 00:40:03.560 Father we are 00:40:03.560 --> 00:40:06.680 blessed and it's 00:40:06.680 --> 00:40:07.539 only in Christ 00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:08.019 that we are 00:40:08.019 --> 00:40:10.100 blessed and it's 00:40:10.100 --> 00:40:10.940 only by your 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:12.640 sovereign grace that 00:40:12.640 --> 00:40:13.539 we are in Christ. 00:40:14.940 --> 00:40:15.840 So we pray now 00:40:15.840 --> 00:40:16.600 Father if there are 00:40:16.600 --> 00:40:17.300 any here who are 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:18.519 not in Christ would 00:40:18.519 --> 00:40:19.720 you give them the 00:40:19.719 --> 00:40:20.739 gift of faith this 00:40:20.739 --> 00:40:21.919 very moment. 00:40:22.079 --> 00:40:22.599 Would they call 00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:23.279 out to you and 00:40:23.279 --> 00:40:24.719 ask God please 00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:25.639 bless a sinner like 00:40:25.639 --> 00:40:25.939 me. 00:40:27.879 --> 00:40:28.839 And Father for 00:40:28.839 --> 00:40:30.000 this church we ask 00:40:30.000 --> 00:40:30.879 that we would 00:40:30.879 --> 00:40:31.619 rejoice in the 00:40:31.619 --> 00:40:32.119 blessings that 00:40:32.119 --> 00:40:32.779 you've given us 00:40:32.779 --> 00:40:33.879 undeserved, 00:40:34.399 --> 00:40:35.619 unmerited by us 00:40:35.619 --> 00:40:36.899 but freely given 00:40:36.899 --> 00:40:38.339 by the sacrifice 00:40:38.339 --> 00:40:39.059 of your Son. 00:40:39.159 --> 00:40:39.799 We praise you for 00:40:39.799 --> 00:40:40.659 this in Jesus name. 00:40:41.399 --> 00:40:41.659 Amen. 00:40:41.659 --> 00:40:41.799 Amen.