Genesis 46

Review:

Genesis 44 & 45

At Joseph’s Request, His Brothers have returned with Benjamin

44:1-2-

Joseph has their sacks filled with as much as they can carry; but also has his silver cup put in Benjamin’s sack

Learned about 2 Marks of Maturity

The Maturity of Responsibility - (44:16)

Care for the people around you;

Judah takes care for Benjamin and doesn't throw him under the bus.

(44:18 -32)- The importance at times for us to be vulnerable and share our love and care;

Its important to share your heart, even when it’s scary

The Maturity of Self Sacrifice (44:33-34)

Judah was willing to stand in the gap and give of himself for the sake of Benjamin to be able to go back to his dad.

The New King James Version (Chapter 46)

Genesis 46:1-4

1 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 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”And he said, “Here I am.”3 So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

Our Peace and Assurance is Built through Worship

V:1- Inasmuch as Jacob was filled with Joy to know that Joseph was alive, he went to Beersheeba to seek the Lord and to hear from Him.

Beersheeba: “Well of Oath”-

Beersheba had been a place where God had spoken to and acted on behalf of Jacob’s Grandfather Abraham and His Father Isaac.

Abraham

Gen 21

A covenant is made between Abraham and the Philistene King Abimelech

Abraham names the location Beersheba

Plants a tree in Honor to God and Calls out to him in Worship

Gen 22

Abrahams faith is tested and shines bright, in his willingness to sacrifice Isaac

Isaac

Gen 26

Isaac Experiences a Theophany (Where God reveales His presence on earth)

Isaac then Builds an alter to worship God

He is assured by God three times that His presence is with Him

He wanted to get away to His quiet place with God

Where is your quiet place?

Mine is out back…its not about the place…but the space you are giving God in your heart...

To worship Him and remember that He is God

Remember that when we worship Him and seek His face…He will speak and make himself known to us.

Jeremiah 29:13-14a

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity

He wants to Bring us out of Captivity

For some of us tonight “Captivity” looks like a sin or a struggle that we need to lay down at the feet of the Cross

Its something that has held us back or ensnared us from seeking God whole heartedly and seeing Him move and operate in a peace filled manner.

For Joseph- I believe that it could have been a heart that was held captive to the grief and loss of his Son over 20 years prior or maybe we are hindered and held back and stuck from operating in the Peace of God because of the pain of situation or a relationship that we have.

We need to trust Him and allow him to release us from the captivity that we are in.

Worship Him for the God that He is...

Our Peace and Assurance is Built as we Worship....With the fullness of our heart

2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”And he said, “Here I am.”3 So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

Patiently wait for God to reveal the Path and the Plan

God confirms the path and the Plan to Jacob

Through His Peace

Through confirmation of what God has already spoken

The Path and the Plan is confirmed through His peace

Here at Coast Hills we believe that God has called us to be in Real and Right Relationships with God and others.

Having intimate, real and vulnerable conversations that relationships go deeper and go further.

He wants us to share THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY

V:3 Do not fear to go down to Egypt

God knew that there was a fear and a hesitation that Jacob had of going to Egypt

Abraham

Gen 12- Moved during famine, looking for greener pastures...

There was a famine in the land and Abraham took it upon himself to leave Bethel, to find something better

Genesis 12:10–13 (NKJV)

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

Abraham operates in His own strength, doing what he knows, not waiting for the peace of the Lord.

They get kicked out of Egypt

God speaks to him and gives him that peace

V:3- Do not fear to go down to Egypt

Romans 15:13 May the God of All Joy and Hope, give you peace, as you trust in Him

What is God asking you to Trust and Wait Patiently on, as He confirms the plan to you?

Is it a business deal, you are putting before the Lord

Is it waiting and listening to His plan for a medical procedure for yourself or a loved one.

Is it a big move to Texas or Idaho like so many others that went looking for Greener pastures.... That are already looking for how they can come back to California :P

Gen 46:3-

So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.

The Path and the Plan is confirmed by what He has already spoken.

V:3- “I will make of you a great nation”

Abraham

This is the very promise that God spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3

“2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

God then reiterated with the birth announcement of Isaac in Genesis 17:19

And again in Gen 18:18 when the angels visited Abraham as he is praying for revival in Sodom.

V:4-  I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again;

Jacob

This very promise was spoke by God in Genesis 28:15

“15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.””

Consider tonight, what are the promises that God has spoken to you personally or through his word, that will help you navigate life?

Genesis 46:5-6 “5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.”

Then- As Jacob received confirmation from the Lord, he was then able to take decisive action.

V:8-27- For the Sake of our time and the comedy of errors with my pronunciation we will skip over.

The Genealogy groups the sons under their mothers (Leah, Zilpah, Rachel, and Bilhah).

Listing 70 people in total

This is thoughts to be a typological reference as the number 70 represents the idea of TOTALITY

What I also want us to consider is the influence and responsibility that parents have in the shepherding and guidance of their families.

Our decisions as parents and grandparents, friends and leaders have significant impact on those that are watching our lives.

We see this with the way Jacob processed his decision based on the example that was set for him.

We also see this by how the obedience of Jacob, saved his entire family and led them to safety in Egypt.

Genesis 46:28-34 “28 Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen. 29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.” 31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’ 33 So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

When we follow faithfully we get to enjoy abundantly

God was glorified through the faith-filled Marks of leadership in both Jacob and Judah

V:28- We see that Judah is sent out as the scout to lead the expedition to Egypt

V:34-Jacobs entire family dwelt in the land of Goshen which is the most fruitful and very best land to pature animals.

How can your example of following faithfully God have an impact on you and those around you?

The New King James Version (Chapter 12)

Hebrews 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

LIFE is the acronym we use for the opportunities we have to bring God glory in our lives. LEAD HUMBLY WITH LOVE AND TRUTH We hear a call, see a need, or have an opportunity, and by faith we step up to serve the Lord and bring the love of Christ and the truth of God’s Word in the power of His Spirit. INVEST ETERNALLY WITH HOPE AND PURPOSE We cheerfully and strategically give our time, talent, and treasure believing God will use it to make an impact in the lives around us, locally, globally, and eternally. FOLLOW FAITHFULLY WITH GRIT AND GRACE We trust and obey God daily with a determination that doesn’t quit and a heart that is quick to repent. ENJOY ABUNDANTLY WITH JOY AND THANKFULNESS We take pleasure in and give thanks for Jesus, one another, our own life, as well as what God has given and how God is working.