People and promises, but no place...yet

God will give His people rest in they have faith in Him

People

Joseph

In Genesis 45:24 Joseph reminds his brothers not to argue on the way back home. He knew what would come to light when they found themselves back home with their father. But he attempts to remind them of what God has done in providing and to not d

Jacob continues to say throughout this section are about death, before it was a sense of loss, not it is “fulfilment and hope”

Hebrews 11:21–22 “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

-Even in the face of death Jacob looks forward to God’s promises

Jacob is losing his eyesight likes his father when he blesses Joseph’s sons.

-Jacob adopts Joseph’s sons like his own sons, they are his like his firstborn sons Reuben and Simeon. They had defiled their father.

-Genesis 49:4 “Turbulent as water, you will not excel, because you got into your father’s bed and you defiled it—he got into my bed.”

-1 Chronicles 5:1–2 “These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. He was the firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. He is not listed in the genealogy according to birthright. Although Judah became strong among his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright was given to Joseph.”

-In giving these blessings we see Joseph’s story come full circle

Judah

What does it tell us about Judah in Genesis 49:8-12?

“Until he whose right it is comes”...

The Rest of Jacob’s sons

Reuben

Although strong and powerful as the firstborn, he had defiled his fathers bed and would be cursed

Turbulent water shows that he did not have self-control

Judges 5:16 “Why did you sit among the sheep pens listening to the playing of pipes for the flocks? There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.”

Simeon and Levi

Both are dangerous, they do not provide justice but anarchy. They were at the center of the judgment earlier because of what occurs to their sister.

Simeon would become a lesser tribe, while Levi would actually have a position of prominence

Zebulun and Issachar

Zebulun will provide support for others near the coast

Issachar will trade liberty for possessions

Dan

Will “judge”, but will do so with violence

-Not in the Tribes that receive the promises in Revelation 7:5-8

Jacob hopes for Dan to be saved from their cruel nature

Gad

Reminds us of Satan and Jesus in Genesis 3, he will overcome but not be a great tribe

Asher

Fertile tribe, near the sea. Blessed in many ways

Naphtali

Will win respect through Barak. They will live free in the mountains

Joseph

Through Joseph, all of Jacob’s sons will prosper. God’s hand was on him

Benjamin

Fear tribe, seen in King Saul and his life

Promise

God will deliver them from Egypt

Genesis 46:3–4 “God said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you back. Joseph will close your eyes when you die.””

-God tells Him to go to Egypt, It was what God had already told him in Genesis 15

-”I will make you a great nation”

-V. 5-7 show all the blessings God has given them, how he has fulfilled his promises up to this point.

Genesis 15:13–16 “Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.””

Why did Joseph tell his brothers not to tell Pharoah they were shepherds?

-Probably because those who lived in cities looked down on nomads

-But through this they actually received what they desired, a place they wanted to live in

God allowed Joseph to continue to be blessed in Egypt, bringing more land to Pharoah

Jacob blessed Joseph in Genesis

48:15-16 by mentioning:

-The Covenant God of his fathers, faithful to His promises

-His shepherd, who protected him against the nations (even his own) and blessed his family, cursing those who cursed him and blessing those who blessed him

-The God who would make the Israelites more numerous than the stars in the sky

God will forgive His people

Genesis 50:14-21

1 Peter 4:19 “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.”

Place

When Jacob dies they go back to the land God promised to bury Jacob.

-They mourned him for 70 days, even the Egyptians

-Notice how much they are blessed by the Egyptians at this time. Even Jacob is known by Pharoah, but in several generations they will be forgotten

Joseph would ask for his bones to be carried from that place, believing the promise they would be brought back to the land God promised.

Application

Do not forget God’s promises

God will come again

Genesis 50:25 “So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.””

-”God will come to your aid”

Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”