From Evil to Good

• 1^st – Finishing the race… vs. 29-33 
  • 1^st Jacob charged his sons (piel) intensely… vs. 29-30
    • He was to be buried (imperative) in the field of Ephron in the cave of Machpelah…
      • The field Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite to bury Sarah in Genesis 23:17-18
      • It was in that cave that Isaac and Ishmael buried Abraham – Genesis 25:9
      • It was there Esau and Jacob buried Isaac (and Rebekah) – Genesis 35:29
    • Why was this place so special – why did Jacob want to be buried there…
      • God had promised to give Israel the land – from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates…
      • Yet like Abraham – this was the only place Israel owned in the Promised Land!
      • Hebrews 11:9-10 – “Even when [Abraham] reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in a tent…  Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to… a city designed and built by God.”
      • Israel was not looking for what he could get from this life…
      • If he had – he could have been very frustrated and disappointed in the Lord…
      • Yet he was looking to an eternal reward – to an eternal city in heaven!
      • Where are we looking for God to bless us – are we looking for blessing here…
      • God does not promise us great rewards here on earth – but in heaven!
      • Matthew 6:19-20 – “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
  • 2^nd – Buried in the field of Machpelah… vs. 31-32
    • The list for the most part is exactly who you would expect – but then he mentioned LEAH…
      • We are not told when she died – last mentioned when they met Esau – Genesis 33:7
      • Presumably she lived quite bit longer than her younger sister Rachel – died in childbirth…
      • Israel wanted to be buried with LEAH – not with Rachel (who was buried in Bethlehem)!
        
    • It would seem rather strange Jacob would be buried with LEAH – rather than Rachel!
      • Genesis 29:30 – “[Jacob] also loved Rachel more than Leah…”
      • From the beginning Leah appeared to be a mistake – a trick uncle Laban had pulled…
      • Yet in the end – the MISTAKE – was the one whom Israel loved more!
      • Often in life I have heard these words – I married the wrong person…
      • As though there was one perfect ONE out there – and we missed them!
    • There is a common theology in the church – known as THE ONE…
      • The idea is that for each person God has a chosen ONE that they should marry…
      • As though from before the foundations of the earth – the choice was already made…
      • Now – it is true God KNOWS who we will marry – He knows everything – Hebrews 4:13
      • But interestingly the Bible says NOTHING about WHO we should marry!
      • We can read from cover to cover and there is not ONE passage on WHO we are to marry!
      • II Corinthians 6:14 – does say do not be unequally yoked (marriage is never mentioned)!
    • The idea THE ONE is actually very dangerous…
      • What can happen is we marry someone because we believe they are THE ONE…
      • But inevitable challenges happen in the marriage – I Corinthians 7:28
      • We can become disillusioned into thinking maybe we married the WRONG ONE…
      • Which opens up the door to look for ANOTHER ONE – who might actually be THE ONE!
    • I have met many different couples…
      • I know couples who met and got married in Bible College – both CALLED to ministry…
      • Yet after a few years their marriages fell apart – and they got divorced!
      • I also know couple who were heathens – got married in a drunken stupor!
      • Yet that couple is of the godliest I know today – do marriage counseling!
    • It is not about WHO we marry – it is about WHO is at the center of our marriage…
      • All the ideas the world fills us with about compatible personalities…
      • Or the thought we need to be physically attracted to a person – outward beauty NOT last!
      • Not that there is not SOME wisdom there – but it pales in comparison to THE ONE thing…
      • The ONLY thing that makes a marriage work – Jesus at the center!
  • 3^rd – When Jacob had finished commanding his sons… vs. 33
    • He drew his feet into the bed – and breathed his last – and was gathered to his people…
      • Breathed his last – [גָּוַע] – meaning to give up the breath of life (spirit leaving the body) …
      • When the Bible uses the name JACOB – he is not trusting in Jesus…
      • So why does the last mention in the Bible of this great man – refer to him as JACOB!
      • I have to think it is because that is who died that day – the sinful nature that was JACOB…
      • ISRAEL – the one who trusted in the Lord – did NOT die – he went to be with Jesus!
    • As longs as we are alive – we will have a dual nature – SINNER and SAINT…
      • Galatians 5:16 – “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
      • We are fighting a constant battle between our JACOB and ISRAEL nature…
      • Being a GOOD Christian – or a GODLY person – does not mean we NEVER sin…
      • It means WHEN we sin – we run to Jesus for His GRACE and FORGIVENESS – I John 1:9
      • But when we breath our last breath that battle ENDS – we are free from our sinful nature!
      • We finally become all the Lord intended us to be – as we enter into His presence!

• 2^nd – The abundant life… vs. 1-14
  • 1^st – The burial of Israel… vs. 1-3
    • Joseph fell on the face of his Father – and wept over him…
      • The death and funeral of Jacob is one of the most elaborate recorded in the Bible…
      • The amount of detail involved emphasizes the importance of Jacob…
      • Of the three patriarchs – Abraham / Isaac / Jacob – it was Jacob who gave the 12 tribes!
    • Joseph commanded his servants to ENBALM Jacob…
      • During Egyptian times – ENBALMING was a sacred process that lasted 70 days…
      • All of the dead persons organs were removed – dried – and placed in clay jars…
      • The body was then dried for 40 days by putting natron salt in the body cavity…
      • Then the body was scented with perfume and herbs and wrapped!
    • The purpose of embalming was to preserve the body from decay – LOOK alive…
      • The irony is that even if the body does not decay – it is still NOT alive…
      • The best the world can offer – is the APPEARANCE of life – it cannot GIVE life!
      • I used to have a bowl of fruit sitting in the kitchen in my house – it looked pretty…
      • But if you took a bite – you would be unpleasantly surprised – PLASTIC fruit!
      • In the same way I know a lot of people who live a PLASTIC Christianity…
      • From the outside everything looks good – but peel away the outer layer – NO LIFE!
      • John 10:10 – “I have come so they may have life, and have it more abundantly.”
  • 2^nd – Following the dead… cs. 4-14
    • With permissions from Pharaoh – a great multitude went to bury Jacob…
      • The entire family of Jacob (minus the littlest kids and the livestock) …
      • The servants of Pharaoh – the ELDERS of house of Pharaoh / and of all Egypt
      • Chariots – horsemen – a HUGE gathering – was willing to follow the dead!
      • If someone dies – HUGE crowds will often gather to walk the body to the cemetery…
      • People always seem so willing to follow the dead – but how about the living!
      • How much better to follow Jesus – not to a graveyard – but to heaven!
      • I Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow me, just as I also follow Christ.”
    • The threshing floor of Atad (thorns) …
      • There just over the Jordan river before Jericho – they mourned seven days for Jacob…
      • All the people of Canaan saw the mourning of the Egyptians – called it Abel Mizraim…
      • Abel Mizraim – the field or mourning of the Egyptians!
      • Then the sons of Jacob buried their father in the field of Machpelah!

• 3^rd – Looking for forgiveness… vs. 15-21
  • 1^st – A guilty conscience… vs. 15
    • After the death of Israel – -the brothers of Joseph thought he might seek REVENGE…
    • They had tried to kill him – sold him into slavery – where he had ended up in prison…
    • There was plenty there to be bitter for – and Joseph had the power to REPAY them!
    • There are few things more persistent – more unrelenting – than a guilty conscience…
    • The unsettling felling – conviction in our hearts – over things we did we know were wrong…
    • Time may dull it – but is like a wound that never heals – and is easily reopened…
    • The reason – God will NOT let it heal – it is the Spirit is working on our hearts to repent…
    • The only solution for guilt – repentance – with repentance comes forgiveness!
    • Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”
  • 2^nd – A plea for mercy… vs. 16-18
    • The brothers told Joseph a story (perhaps true – perhaps not) about their father…
      • Please FORGIVE (imperative) the EVIL your brothers did to you…
      • FORGIVE (imperative) the servants of the God of your FATHER!
      • They then fell down before Joseph – we are your servants!
        
    • Joseph was not the answer to their conscience…
      • It is true that sin can cause us to be separated from our relationship with others…
      • But ALL sin is against God – it separates us from our relationship with the LORD…
      • We need to fix the relationship with Him FIRST – then He will take care of the rest!
      • Psalms 51:2-4 – “Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.  For I recognize my shameful deeds—they haunt me day and night.  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.”
  • 3^rd – I am NOT God… vs. 19
    • Do NOT be afraid – am I in the place of God…
      • Do NOT [אַל] be AFRIAD (jussive) – do not LET yourself become fearful…
      • It was not the responsibility of Joseph to JUDGE his brothers for their actions…
      • He understood that ONLY God the righteous JUDGE can REPAY men for their sin!
      • Because we would NEVER be JUST in how we would dole out JUDGEMENT!
    • The Old Testament version of JUSTICE was an eye for eye – Deuteronomy 19:21
      • The Law was not meant to be vindictive – it was meant to be limiting…
      • Meaning you were not allowed to do more to someone in revenge than they had done!
      • We want revenge – if you take my eye – I want to take both of yours / and ears / nose!
      • Therefore God is very clear – we are NEVER to JUDGE others – vengeance is His alone…
      • Because ONLY God can JUDGE fairly – giving out the VENGANCE that is deserved!
      • Romans 12:19 – “Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
    • That does NOT mean we cannot JUDGE fruit…
      • Luke 6:27 – “Judge not, and you shall not be judged…”
      • I have heard people say you CANNOT judge me – only God can judge me…
      • And to some extent I think I understand what they mean – but they are WRONG!
      • This is not talking about judging ACTIONS but judging the INTENT of the heart…
      • We absolutely can JUDGE the actions of someone – by comparing them to the Word…
      • If what someone is doing in CONTRARY to the Word – then we can say it is WRONG!
      • But we CANNOT judge why someone does something – what their MOTIVE is…
      • Only God knows the motive of the heart – only He can Judge that!
      • Psalm 44:21 – “For He knows the secrets of the heart.”
  • 4^th – What you meant for Evil… vs. 20-21
    • What you meant for evil (perfect) – God meant for GOOD (perfect) …
      • Joseph was not mad at them – far from it – he saw a much bigger picture…
      • Their betrayal – and selling him into slavery…
      • Being falsely accused by the wife of Potiphar – forgotten by the chief butler…
      • Joseph saw God had used it all for GOOD – to save many people!
      • Therefore do NOT be afraid – Joseph promised to provide for all their families (famine)!
    • Joseph understood this was all part of the PERFECT plan of God!
      • What does that mean – did God CAUSE the brothers to sell Joseph into slavery…
      • Certainly NOT – God would never MAKE anyone do something that was sinful!
      • James 1:13 – “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”
    • It means God uses ALL things to fulfill His purposes…
      • God USED the EVIL of the brothers to accomplish His purposes…
      • Meaning God TRULY does use ALL THINGS to bring about His will in our lives!
      • Ephesians 1:9 – “Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself.”
      • We tend to look for something to be either category Good or Bad in life…
      • I caught COVID – that is a BAD thing – but yet God used it to teach me to depend on Him…
      • I got a promotion – that is a GOOD thing – unless is distracts me from the Lord…
      • The truth is there are NOT – GOOD or BAD – things that come into our lives…
      • There are just TOOLS that God will use to bring about His PERFECT will for our lives!
    • If we can grasp that perspective – it will transform how we look at the world around us…
      • That person who hurt us – whom we have never been able to forgive…
      • That sickness or difficulty – that caused us to question the love of God…
      • No matter WHAT happens in our lives – if we understand God is in TOTAL control…
      • And He will use ALL things – then in ALL things we are able to give Him thanks!
      • I Thessalonians 5:18 – “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God…”
        
• 4^th – Greatest act of Faith… vs. 22-26
  • 1^st – Joseph lived to be 110 years old… vs. 22-23
    • He saw lived to see the children of Ephraim to the third generation (great great grandkids) …
    • And the sons of Manasseh to the second generation (great grandkids) …
    • Even though Manasseh was older – Ephraim was having kids faster!
    • Already he was growing into the greater tribe Israel has prophesied!
  • 2^nd – Take my Bones… vs. 24-26
    • On his deathbed he made his family make a promise…
      • This is likely NOT his brothers – as they were almost all older and had likely passed…
      • God will surely visit you and BRING you out of THIS land – the PROMISED land…
      • WHEN God brings you out– take my BONES with you – bury me in the land!
      • God did redeem His people – and bring them to the Promised Land…
    • So Joseph died – was embalmed – and his coffin was put in Egypt!
      • When Israel left 400 years later – they took the bones of Joseph – Exodus 13:19
      • When they entered the Promised Land – they buried him – Joshua 24:32
    • Recorded in the Hall of Faith…
      • Joseph was a ruler / a king – who saved the lives of thousands from famine…
      • He was a Godly brother / father / grandfather / he was even a great grandfather…
      • Yet of all the things Joseph did – the one was recorded in the Hall of Faith…
      • Was his request to take his bones and bury them in the Promised Land!
      • Hebrew 11:22 – “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”
    • This was his greatest act of FAITH…
      • Joseph could have had them bury his body right then – like they did for Jacob…
      • But he wanted to leave a legacy – something to remind future generations…
      • God WOULD be faithful to His Word and bring Israel out of Egypt – Genesis 46:4
      • Therefore the greatest act of Faith of Joseph was not something HE did…
      • It was believing – and showing others – God would be faithful to do what He says!
      • If we want to live a life of GREAT FAITH – it is NOT about what we do for the Lord…
      • It is about believing what God says He wants to do for us!
      • Living a life that points others to the Word of the Lord – to the promises of Jesus!