Genesis 46-47

Dying well

One of my previous pastors tells the story of how he once tried to share the

gospel.

It was before he went into the ministry. And he was trying to hitch hike his way

home one night. And he was feeling very zealous for the gospel. And he

challenged himself. Whoever picks me up and gives me a lift. I must share the

gospel with that person.

And so eventually someone stopped for him. It was just one person in the car.

And you need to picture the scene. It was dark already. My pastor was a young

man with long red hair. And it had been raining so his hair was wet. He gets in

the car. And after a long nervous silence, he builds up the courage. He turns to

the driver and says: “have you ever thought about death?”

Well I’m sure that driver was pretty keen to drop him off as soon as possible.

Death isn’t always the most popular topic of conversation. But it is an

important topic. Because its something we all gona face. And we need to be

able to face it well.

And for many years Christians have earned the reputation of being able to die

well.

In the words of A W Tozer, “Centuries ago unbelieving men thought they could

stamp out the Christian gospel by parading those transformed, born again

followers of Jesus to the places of their violent torture and executions. Soon

the unfeeling executioners began to feel something in the presence of joyful

victory over death and they passed along this word: “Behold how these

Christians die!”

Isn’t it often the case that the way people die has an even bigger impact on

those around them than how they lived?

And so this is a very important subject for us to look at. Will we die well? How

can we prepare ourselves so that we will die well?

Well in our series through the book of Genesis, Jacob is nearing his death. And

there’s lots we can learn from him about how to die well.

In fact the way that Jacob dies, is recorded for us as one of his greatest acts of

faith.

Lords cricket ground in London is probably the most famous cricket ground in

the world. And one of the greatest honours in the game of cricket is to get your

name inscribed on the Lord’s board of honour. If you score a hundred at Lords

or if you take five wickets at Lords then you get your name inscribed on the

board.

And so on this board are inscribed many of the hero’s of the game of cricket.

Well Hebrews chapter 11 has a similar function for us as Christians. Hebrews

11 is a list of hero’s. Not hero’s of cricket. But hero’s of the faith. And their

names and great deeds of faith are listed for us in Hebrews 11 to inspire us not

to live by sight but by faith in God.

And so in this chapter you can find the example of Abraham who left his whole

family to go to the promised-land. He was even willing to sacrifice his own son

because he believed that God would raise him from the dead.

You have the example of Moses who confronted Pharoah and led his people

out of slavery. And you’ve got the example of others who were thrown to the

lions or into the flames. Others were sawed in two or put to death with the

sword.

Amazing examples of faith.

And one of the people who makes it into this list of hero’s is Jacob.

Jacob gets one verse in this great chapter of hero’s of the faith. And you might

be surprized to see what great act of faith is mentioned. Well actually there

two. But they both take place as Jacob near to his death.

Listen to Hebrews 11 verse 21.

“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and

worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”

Now this morning we just going to focus on the second act of faith mentioned

in this verse. He worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. That’s what

takes place at the end of our passage this morning.

And you might be asking yourself. How is that such a great act of faith?

I mean compared to leaving your family or being sawn in two or killed for your

faith?

How does this act make it into the great deeds of faith mentioned in Hebrews

11?

Well this morning I want us to look at the episode leading up to this act of

faith. And I want us to see what a beautiful moment this really is.

On the 13th September, one week before he went home to be with Jesus, Brian

Erasmus entered this building leaning on crutches. And in his weak condition

he managed to make his way up onto the stage and to lead us in songs of

worship to God. It was a beautiful moment. And it was very similar to what we

see here. Jacob worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

It might be a beautiful thing to watch a young person with all his enthusiasm

and energy worshiping God.

But I think this is even more beautiful. An old man who can’t even stand by his

own strength. He needs to lean on his staff. But he’s not bitter and twisted.

He’s not despairing over an unfulfilled life. Even though he’s weak. Even

though he’s fragile. Even though he’s facing the real prospect of death, he’s

worshiping God. He’s giving thanks. He’s content. He’s fully satisfied in God. It’s

a beautiful picture of faith.

And this morning I want us to see how this can be true for us. You see, you

don’t just arrive at this condition suddenly without a powerful work of God in

your life. There’s a work of God that must take place in your heart in order for

this to be true of you in your old age.

And so this morning I want us to see the episode leading up to this moment.

What was going on in Jacob’s life and in his heart that enabled him finish his

life in this way?

And I’ve summarized it like this. This is my main point this morning.

This is the great example of Jacob that we should emulate. It should be up on

the screen.

Focus your deepest longings on God’s salvation and then be satisfied in it’s

fulfilment.

I’ll say it again.

“Focus your deepest longings on God’s salvation and then be satisfied in its

fulfilment.”

In our passage today Jacob moves from Canaan to Egypt.

And there two main points I want us to see. Firstly, the longing with which he

leaves.

Secondly, the satisfaction with which he settles.

The longing with which he leaves. And the satisfaction with which he settles.

Firstly, the longing with which he leaves.

We pick up the story in chapter 45 verse 25.

Joseph’s revealed himself to his brothers. And now they off to fetch their dad.

And I want us to put ourselves in Jacob’s shoes. Of all the characters in the

story so far, he’s the most clueless of what’s been going on. And so even

though he’s the one who received God’s promises. He had the vision. The saw

the angels coming up and down on the ladder. He wrestled with God. He had

all those encounters with God.

But right now. He’s the one who’s most in the dark. In fact if anyone’s tempted

to feel abandoned by God right now, its Jacob. Just look at things from his

perspective.

His sons are a mess. Murder. Sexual immorality. His favourite son’s been killed.

And he’s living in the land of Canaan, the land God promised him. But it’s a

land that’s been racked by famine. He’s in danger of starving to death. And so

now as he nears his death. He’s beginning to lose hope. In his own words he

says; “I will go down to the grave in mourning.

But at this point he receives the true tonic for a faded hope. This is what we all

need we lose our hope in God. We need to be stunned and then revived by the

good news of the gospel.

Look at verse 25.

“So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of

Canaan. They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.”

Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.

Literally verse 26 says “Jacob’s heart became numb.”

It almost stops beating.

And that’s what can happen if you receive a very shocking piece of news.

My previous computer used to crash when I plugged in certain flash disks.

Something about the info on those flash disks just didn’t fit with my

computer’s hard drive.

Well For the last 20 years, the hard drive of Jacob’s brain has operated

according to the news that Joseph is dead. And now there’s a new piece of info

plugged in and it just doesn’t fit.

Joseph is alive. You might as well have told him that his grandfather Abraham

had come alive. It’s a stunning piece of information. And it very nearly causes a

complete crash. His heart goes numb. He doesn’t believe.

But then he’s presented with the evidence. Verse 27.

“but when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw

the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob

revived. And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go

and see him before I die.”

And so lets just pause here and consider our own lives. Maybe your hope in

God has begun to fade. Maybe its through a series of bad events where you

cant see God’s hand.

Or maybe its through the persistent info put into your hard-drive from the

world. You see according to this world, people do not rise from the dead. And

so this life is all there is to live for. If you not living your best life now, then you

really are missing out. Then you are to be pitied. That’s the info being fed

repeatedly into the harddrive of our minds.

And so just like Jacob we need to be stunned and revived by the message of

the gospel.

You see, our message in the gospel is even more stunning than what Jacob

received.

Jacob’s message sounded like life from the dead.

But we have a message that really is life from the dead.

Our Saviour is alive. And he isn’t just ruler over all Egypt. He’s ruler over all

fullstop.

And so if He is alive and ruling, then there really is life from the dead for those

who trust Him. This life isn’t all there is to live for. We not to be pitied. Our

spirits too can be revived.

And so this is the info we need to plug into our brains when our hope is fading.

Our Saviour is alive.

And so in chapter 46 Jacob sets off with this longing. To go and see his son, the

Saviour of his people.

But there’s another obstacle that confronts Jacob as he sets off.

He only gets as far as Beersheba. And in verse 3 we see there’s something

that’s making him afraid.

Is he really allowed to leave this land of Canaan and to go and settle in Egypt?

You see Jacobs got a longing to go and see his son. But there’s another longing

in his heart. A longing for the promises of God. God’s promised to make him

into a great nation. And to give him the land of Canaan as his inheritance.

And maybe you remember: what did God say to his father, Isaac? Back in

chapter 26 God told him: “do not go down to the land of Egypt. Live in the land

I tell you.”

And so now Jacob’s faced with this inner conflict. I wanna go and see my son.

This is the longing of my heart. But I also have a longing for God’s promise. I

want God’s people to become great. And I want them to inherit this land.

And so this is a concern we could all learn from.

There few things as strong as a father’s longing for his son. And that’s good.

But it shouldn’t be as strong as our longing for God’s kingdom. That should be

even stronger. Seek first the kingdom of God.

And so this is the fear in Jacob’s heart. Can he really leave? Well in verse 2 God

relieves his fear.

Look at verse 2.

“And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to

Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt

with you, and I will bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close

your eyes.”

And so what a relief this is for Jacob. He can leave. He can go to Egypt.

For two reasons:

Firstly, Egypt is where God’s people will become great.

And secondly, after they become great, God will bring them back

And do you realize, the same is still true for us today.

Where has God promised to make us great as His people? It isn’t in the safety

of heaven where we already citizens.

It’s in the hostility of the world where we are aliens.

As Jesus prayed for his disciples before leaving this world.

John 17 verse 15.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect

them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. As

you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

Just as God promised to make His people great outside of the promised-land,

in Egypt. In the same way, God has promised to make us great outside our

promised land, in the world.

And so for you students going home for the holidays. You might have found

yourself a spiritual home here at St James. And maybe you think of us as your

place of spiritual safety. And maybe where you going is a place of spiritual

danger. Unbelieving friends. Unbelieving family. No Bible teaching church.

Maybe you concerned as you leave.

Well this is our hope and prayer as you go.

God grows his people in the hostility of the world.

And so may God go with you. May God grow you. May God protect you. And

may God even use you to grow His kingdom wherever you go. God will grow

His people in Egypt.

And so these are the great longings with which Jacob leaves.

A longing to see his son. The Saviour of God’s people.

A longing for his people. That they will become great.

And a longing for the land. That his people will return.

Now I want us to see how each of these longings get satisfied.

Jacob sets off with all his family and possessions. They listed for us in verses 5-

27.

And in verse 28 we jump forward to their arrival. We’ve seen the longing with

which Jacob leaves. Now we see the satisfaction with which he settles.

Firstly, the satisfaction of seeing his son.

I wonder what you would say to your closest family member after not seeing

him or her for over twenty years? Well firstly you’d probably just cry.

Verse 29

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

Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his

father and wept for a long time.”

For a long time, Joseph just sobs as he embraces his dad.

But then eventually Jacob speaks. And look at what he says. Verse 30.

‘Israel said to Joseph, “Now I’m ready to die, since I’ve seen for myself that you

are still alive.”

And you might find that a bit surprizing. You might expect Jacob to say: now

I’m ready to live. Since you are alive.

Seeing you alive has renewed my strength and my desire to live longer. I

wanna spend more time with you and make up for all the lost time.

But Jacob doesn’t say now I wanna live. He says, now I’m ready to die.

And again that’s what you say when you satisfied: I’m ready to die, it means

that all your hopes and longings and ambitions are all satisfied. There’s nothing

left on your to do list. There’s nothing left undone or unseen or unsaid. You

content. You ready to die.

And this is something we should all be striving for no matter how old we are.

We need to be ready to die.

As Matthew Henry said:

“It ought to be the business of every day to prepare for our last day.”

Or as Billy Graham said:

“It’s difficult for me to understand how an intelligent person can spend all of

his time building for this world and have no time for the future world.”

We must be ready to die.

And this passage teaches us how to get ready. We need to see our Saviour.

You see when Jacob sees Joseph he doesn’t just see his long lost son. He also

sees the Saviour. Joseph is the Saviour of God’s people. And we will only be

ready to die when we’ve seen our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Maybe you someone here this morning who hasn’t seen this for yourself.

You’ve often heard people talk about Jesus as the Saviour. But you don’t really

know what that means for you. Basically it means that Jesus is the only One

Who can rescue you from the eternal judgment of God. You see Jesus rescues

us from something far greater than Joseph. Joseph rescued people from a

physical famine. And if you’ve seen pictures of starving children in famine-

racked lands, you’ll know that’s a terrible thing.

But Jesus rescues us from something even more terrible. The eternal judgment

and anger of God. Jesus died on the cross to absorb that judgment in your

place. And now He’s alive. You can trust Him. And through Him you can be

saved from that judgment. And so if you wanna be ready to die, then you must

see this for yourself. You need to see Jesus as your Saviour.

Well Jacob might be ready to die. But in fact Gods gona keep him alive for

another 17 years. And during these 17 years, Jacob receives even more

satisfaction. He also gets to see his people becoming great.

And you can see that firstly from the place where they settle.

Pharoah allows them to settle in Goshen. And Goshen is the best part of the

land of Egypt. Look at chapter 47 verse 5.

Pharoah said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, and

the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best

part of the land. Let them live in Goshen.”

Israel get the best part of the land. And in this way God will make them great.

You can see this clearly in the rest of the chapter.

Everyone else in the land is suffering from this famine. Look at verse 13. “There

was no food, however in the whole region because the famine was severe;

both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine.”

And eventually it gets so severe that the people use up all their money. They

don’t have money left to buy food. And so they have to sell their cattle and

livestock to Joseph in exchange for food.

But then they use up all their livestock and so then they have to sell their land.

And so eventually look at verse 20.

“so Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharoah. The Egyptians, one and all,

sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land

became Pharoah’s and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end

of Egypt to the other.”

You see, everyone else in the land is suffering because of this famine. But look

at verse 27. Look at whats happening to God’s people?

“the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property

there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.”

You see while everyone else is losing property and livestock, God’s people are

acquiring property and growing. This is what Jacob gets to see. God is keeping

His promise. He’s making His people great in Egypt.

And do you know? the same is still true in the world today.

When Jesus told his disciples that He was sending them into the world, they

were just a small handful of people. But now Christianity is easily the largest

religion in the world. According to the latest stats there are 700 million more

Christians than muslims in the world today. The growth of the church in the

last 100 years has been especially remarkable. And the greatest growth is

taking place in Africa. In 1900 there were less than 9 million believers in Africa.

Now in 2015 there are more than 541 million.

You see God is keeping His promise. He’s make His people great in the world.

And I think this is important for us to remember as Christians. Sometimes we

only speak about how bad the world is becoming. And yes that might be true.

But at the same time we need to remember that God’s people are growing.

And that’s what God promised would happen. He did say there will be terrible

times in the last days. But He also said, I will build my church and the gates of

hell will not prevail against it. And what starts out as small as a mustard seed

will eventually become a massive tree. The kingdom of darkness might be

growing. But so is the kingdom of God.

This same principle applies today: God makes His people great in Egypt.

But there’s still one unsatisfied longing in Jacob’s heart.

God’s people might be prospering. But they prospering outside the promised-

land. This isn’t where they belong. This isn’t their home. And so look at what

Jacob does in verse 29. He’s been living in Egypt for 17 years now. He’s very

close to death. And so he gets Joseph to make him a promise. Verse 29.

“When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and

said to him, “If I have found favour in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh

and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me

in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me

where they are buried.’

“I will do as you say,” he said.

“Swear to me,” he said. Then Joseph swore to him.

And before he dies, Jacob gets this guarantee. His bones will return home, to

Canaan, the promised-land.

And in the same way, if we are trusting in Jesus, then we have the guarantee

from our Saviour, that when we die, not just our bones, but our souls and one

day our resurrected bodies will be taken to our true home, to heaven, our

promised-land.

We will be taken home.

And so this is reason to worship! Our Saviour is alive. God’s people are growing

in the world. We are returning home.

This is what causes Jacob to worship.

Then Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

And so this is the great deed of faith recorded in Hebrews 11. And this morning

I hope we can see where it comes from. It come from deep longings for God’s

salvation. And it comes from the satisfaction of seeing those longings fulfilled

And so let me ask you:

what are the deepest longings of your soul? What do you dream about at

night?

What do you daydream about?

When you keep getting distracted at work, what is it that keeps distracting

you?

What is it that excites you the most?

Is it something of this world?

If so, then you will never be ready to die. Your soul will always be left feeling

empty. You will always feel discontent and unsatisfied and unfulfilled. And

especially as you see your death drawing near. You will become increasingly

bitter and discontent. You will not be ready to die.

But if the deepest longings of your soul are focused on salvation, then you will

be satisfied. You will be satisfied with seeing your Saviour. You’ll be satisfied

with seeing God’s people grow. And you’ll be satisfied in the guarantee that

when you die, you will be take home.

These are the things that can cause you to worship as you face the prospect of

your death. These are the things that will enable you to die well.

Lets pray