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February 10, 2008
Gen 50 1 -9
Farewell
a. Jacob blesses his children and prophecies of their future
A Promise of Posterity
I will make of thee a great nation, He had told Abe. and he has not changed his mind. Jacob is passing on that promise , the promise of God's faithfulness .He knows and sees through the eyes of faith that God will keep his word.
A Promise of Peace:
Gen 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be].( Shiloh = "place of rest" ) Also a city in Ephraim and temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, the place where Samuel grew up
Nu 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Seth.
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Then it happened, an angel appeared to a virgin, betrothed and spoke fulfillment:
Mt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
The Angel recognized this prince of peace as savior.
Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
The Father recognized this Prince of Peace as son of God
Mt 21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
The Crowds recognized this Prince of Peace as the son of David
Lu 1:32-33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
And the whole of creation will one day recognize this Prince of Peace as Supreme ruler.
There is hope in that for them and us...he who began will return.
Another note here:
Jacob is buried according to the customs of home (honoring the Father) 50: 7-14
These people had a Commitment to honoring the past. We do not worship our ancestors, but we must revere them. We need to have a godly honor for our parents, even in their wishes after death. In this throw away world we often swiftly move on and get back o work or life or whatever and feel that mourning is somehow weak and sissified. That's sad in its own rite, for many days they prepared and mourned. and neuroses were avoided. Now its “Give that kid a sedative” when the human psyche needs to wail and weep.
It is sad to say goodbye, even when we know we will meet again. Take time to honor the parents while alive (Jacob was not a model Dad but God wanted him honored for being their dad.)
Then we will skip down to 50:22 and see here a very important thing.
Promises made in hope to Joseph. WHEN you come into the land take my bones with you. 50: 22 -26
A commitment to honoring for the future.
Here is faith, Faith in things not seen, abiding enduring faith. Faith that meant something to him for the future. I have hard it said “I hope this all happens after I’M gone” What a selfish thing to feel. You want to wish it on someone else? But Joseph looks to the future, and to a hope that carries him beyond the grave.
Here is a hope of the resurrection. Joseph wanted to be in Canaan Land when the resurrection came. We need to be there too, not physically, but in a proper relationship with God. He had HOPE, and took needed steps.
Look at Our mandate: 1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
Are you prepared for the resurrection?
As we say good bye to Joseph and Genesis(although there is much more material here to visit someday) we need not leave without hope, hope that God will visit us and return as he promised.
Can I share a fear of mine in closing? A fear that I will fade before the end, a fear that I will not serve as I should. I like you, get discouraged at the children of God. Lose hope of seeing the church really grow into a caring unit free from finger pointing and gossip.
These things can push me to make decisions
under the influence of my emotions that can taint my rational mind. So I pray that God would strengthen me and keep me faithful. I got this poem from Steve Brown, written by Dr McQuilken of Columbia Bible college and it sums up my prayer.
Get me home Before the Dark.
Its sundown Lord, The shadows of my life stretch back into the dimness of the years long spent.
I fear not death for that grim foe betrays himself at last, thrusting me forever into life, life with you unsoiled and free.
But I do fear; I fear the dark specter may come too late. That I should end before I finish or finish, but not well- that I should stain your honor, shame your name, grieve your loving heart.
Few, they tell me ,finish well Lord, Lord let me get home before the dark . The darkness of a spirit grown mean and small; fruit shriveled on the vine, bitter to the taste of my companions, a burden to be borne by those brave few who love me still.
No Lord, Let the fruit grow lush and sweet, a joy to all who taste, spirit sign of God at work...Stronger fuller brighter at the end. Lord, let me get home before the dark.
The darkness of tattered gifts, rust locked, half spent or ill spent a life that once was used of God now set aside ,
Grief for glories gone or fretting over a task God never gave
Mourning in the hollow chambers of memory,
gazing on the faded banners of victories long gone.
Cannot I run well until the end?
Lord. Lord-get me home before the dark.
The outer me decays, I do no fret or ask reprieve
the ebbing strength but weans me from mother earth
and grows me up for heaven.
I do not cling to shadows lost by immortality
I do not patch the scaffold lent to build the real eternal me,
I do not clutch about my cocoon vainly struggling to hold hostage a free spirit pressing to be born.
But will I reach the gates in lingering pain, body distorted grotesque? Or will it be a mind wandering untethered among light fantasies, Or grim terrors.
Of your grace Father I humbly ask. let me get home before the dark.
Joseph began in faith, followed in faith and ended in faith.
He got home before the dark. Will you? You think about that
Amen.
