EXPLORE IT - Genesis 45:16-46:7, 28-30

We all desire to hear from God.  Whether we are seeking direction, answers to questions, or words of comfort, we all desire to hear the audible voice of God.  I often tease that it would be great if God would email or text, but truly, if I received an email or text from “God,” I am sure I would think it a hoax.  God speaks to me through that still small voice within me, through nature, and through trusted brothers and sisters in the faith.  But in our passage this week, God speaks to Jacob in a “night vision.”

God calls, “Jacob, Jacob” and he responds, “Here I am” (Genesis 46:2).  This is the same summons and response of Abraham (Genesis 22:1) as well as Moses (Exodus 2:4).  This is the final revelation from God to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).  The next time God speaks is in the time of Moses.  This vision is a turning point for Jacob, giving him permission to leave the promised land of Canaan.  Had Jacob left without a word from God, it may have seemed as if Jacob did not believe God would take care of him and his family as promised.

In this vision, God reminds Jacob of all the promises given to him and his forefathers Abraham and Isaac.  God reaffirms that He will make Jacob into a great nation, but he adds the word, “there.”  God reveals a little more of His plan to Jacob by letting him know the nation of Israel will progress once they are in Egypt and not while they are in Canaan.  Over three generations (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), God made promises to build a great nation.  He promised to always be with these men and their offspring, but the fulfillment of these promises took time. 

Oftentimes, God places desires in our hearts or gives us direction that takes time to come to fruition.  We live in such a “now” culture, we become frustrated when the microwave takes too long.  While we are waiting on God’s promises to be fulfilled, we have a tendency to become restless and possibly begin to think we misheard God.  You may have a calling on your life right now and you are waiting for God to move.  Like Jacob, God may be moving behind the scenes, preparing the way.  Jacob had no idea that God was elevating Joseph to a position to be able to sustain Israel as a nation through a famine.  Jacob had no idea that his family would have to move to Egypt.

Keep your eyes and ears open, be prepared to move when God calls, and as God said to Jacob, “do not be afraid to go…” (46:3).

Blessings,
Pastor Amy

READ IT! - Genesis 45:16 - 46:7, 28-30

This week, we are in Genesis 45:16 - 46:7, 28-30   (ESV).  Let's read it together today and begin to study it this week in preparation for this coming Sunday's lesson.

16 When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, “Joseph's brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

21 The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. 22 To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. 23 To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”

25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. 26 And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt

46 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”

5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

Jacob and Joseph Reunited

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they cameinto the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

PREPARE FOR IT! - Genesis 44:1-45:15

This week, we're studying Genesis 44:1-45:15 (ESV).  Let's review it again today in preparation for tomorrow's sermon.

Joseph Tests His Brothers

44 Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, 2 and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him.

3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?[a] 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’”

6 When he overtook them, he spoke to them these words. 7 They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing! 8 Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord's house? 9 Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord's servants.” 10 He said, “Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent.” 11 Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

14 When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground. 15 Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed practice divination?” 16 And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; behold, we are my lord's servants, both we and he also in whose hand the cup has been found.” 17 But he said, “Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the man in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant. But as for you, go up in peace to your father.”

18 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’ 20 And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.’ 21 Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ 22 We said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ 23 Then you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall not see my face again.’

24 “When we went back to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,’ 26 we said, ‘We cannot go down. If our youngest brother goes with us, then we will go down. For we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.’ 27 Then your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One left me, and I said, “Surely he has been torn to pieces,” and I have never seen him since. 29 If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.’

30 “Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy's life, 31 as soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. 32 For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the boy as a servant to my lord, and let the boy go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”
Joseph Provides for His Brothers and Family

45 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neitherplowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Encounter with God -- A Letter from Pastor Todd

Dear PoC,

When I went to my first Encounter weekend, I felt so incredibly safe.  It was obvious that the leaders, speakers and guides had been well trained and that confidentiality would be strictly enforced.  That was very important to me.  As a pastor, I wasn’t quite sure I would be able to open up about my own life, the good and the bad.  In fact, I was actually planning to simply “observe”, take notes, and report back on the experience for others.  But, within seconds, the power of the Holy Spirit was so thick that it quickly became MY experience, My encounter with MY God.  Honestly, I haven’t had many events in my life that were truly catalytic, but my Encounter weekend was a game-changer.  Nothing would ever be the same.  In fact, most of the joy and blessing that we get to experience each week at PoC is because of the freedom that I, your friend and pastor, found in Christ that weekend.

Our next Encounter @ PoC is November 14-15.  You can find more information and sign-up under “catalyst” at www.pointofchange.org or sign-up on your response card this coming Sunday at church.  The cost is $50 and covers all resources and food.  Right now we are recruiting guides, prayer teams, and hospitality teams who will be ready (through prayer and fasting) to serve you as you encounter God in fresh and new ways.  It will be a wonderful weekend.

Tonight I was talking with someone who said that they really felt like they weren’t able to connect with God this week.  They said it felt like everything was against them, frustrating their relationship with God.  I told this person about the Encounter @ PoC, explaining that the obstacles we face each day are common.  We all go through this.  We really can have a powerful and strong relationship with Christ, but our enemy knows our sweet spots, our buttons, our weaknesses, etc.  And, he will be faithful to use them and deceive us daily.  But, our God is greater.  He has given us more victory in Jesus than we know, and there are more spiritual resources available to us daily than we know.  At the Encounter @ PoC, we learn about and use these resources.  God gives the victory.  He receives the glory!

Would you prayerfully consider joining us for the Encounter @ PoC.  If you need scholarship, please let us know.  I want you and your family to join us.  It’s a great thing.  Who doesn’t like a good game-changer?

Your Pastor Is Praying For You!

J. Todd Keller,

Lead Pastor

Living on Mission with Joseph and Two Big Reveals

Living on Mission with Joseph and Two Big Reveals        

We find ourselves in the midst of another test designed by Joseph. This time he sends his brothers on their way loaded down with grain to get them through the famine AND their silver in their sacks. Again! But he also sends a lovely hidden “parting gift” with Benjamin – his own silver cup. (I think Joseph must have gotten this stuff from his trickster dad.)

Joseph’s servant caught up with the brothers and said, “Why have you repaid good with evil? Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.” (Genesis 44:4,5) The brothers vehemently denied the accusation. They even went so far as to proclaim that if the cup was found then that brother would be killed and the rest would become Joseph’s slaves.

When the silver cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers were had a collective meltdown. They tore their clothes. It must have been a VERY long donkey ride back to Joseph’s house. What must they have been thinking? What were they planning to do, to say?

When they arrived at Joseph’s house, we get the first Big Reveal. Judah revealed his heart. He owned responsibility for his brothers and the whole mess. Boy did he own it! He told Joseph how he had guaranteed his father of Benjamin’s safety. He told him they really had no idea how the cup and money got into their sacks. It appears they figured they deserved it because he said, “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt.” (Genesis 44:16) In the end, he offered himself in trade for Benjamin. He wasn’t about to break Jacob’s heart again by allowing Benjamin to be kept in Egypt. What a difference! Instead of sacrificing his brother, this time Judah was willing to lay down his own life to save him and to honor his father. So much love!

This was the tipping point for Joseph. The jig was up. He sent everyone out of the room and we get the second Big Reveal.  Joseph revealed who he was. He released and forgave his brothers saying, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” (Genesis 45:5) He expressed his belief that all of the events in his life were Gods doing for the benefit of others. No bitterness. No hidden anger. Only a desire to be reunited with the family and to care for all of them. So much love!

Both of these Big Reveals were birthed out of hearts transformed by love.  Lives were saved and forever changed – history was changed by these loving Big Reveal moments of sacrifice and forgiveness.

Let’s practice Living on Mission, and have Big Reveal moments of love that flow out of our changed hearts.

Pastor Angela