Joseph Gathered to His People

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 134

Psalm 134 ESV

A Song of Ascents. Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

Scripture Memorization: Genesis 50:19-20

Genesis 50:19–20 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Scripture Reading: John 11:17-27 (Micah)

John 11:17–27 ESV

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Sermon:

Good Morning Church!

I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

To Just dive into it, our passage for today is Genesis chapter 50. Verses 22 through 26. There are 50 chapters in the Book of Genesis. There are 26 verses. In the 50th chapter of Genesis, that means this is the last new passage that we will be preaching through the Book of Genesis.

After this morning, we will have read through the book in its entirety out loud. We will have Heard, and God willing understood the message and the thought of the Book of Genesis. It's not our last sermon in this series, we have one more next week, a sort of summary, trying to think through all that we've learned. But here. At the end of Genesis, we have a Fitting narrative.

I had originally titled this sermon in my Paper that I work through, and I outline what I'm going to preach “Joseph dies”, but We've had a lot of sermons, Abraham dies, Isaac dies, Jacob dies, Joseph dies, so instead I went with a bit of a euphemism.

It's one we saw two weeks ago. In the passing of Jacob - Joseph will be gathered. To his people. Like all people at all times since the fall. Joseph - Even praiseworthy Joseph - Joseph that God had his hand upon - Joseph, who dreamed his dreams, who, who, because of his actions and his faithfulness many people were kept alive as they are today. Joseph - Praiseworthy as he is Even he will succumb to death.

As we Trace through the ongoing themes of Genesis (and this will be our goal next week, so consider this a preview of that… ) One of them starts in Genesis 3.

This idea that there will be a descendant of The woman… the seed of the woman that will crush the head of the serpent, in other words that will defeat the enemies of mankind. That will somehow conquer the curse that was seen in the promise “If you eat of this, you will surely die” … there is a hope that we will see that seed of the woman and that with this one. That will all end.

We've hoped and haven't seen it yet. And it wasn't Able. He was killed by Cain. And it wasn’t Noah… in fact he ended worse than he began.… And it wasn’t Abraham, though he was given promises. He died too. So Wasn't him. Abraham's sons, we had Isaac and Ishmael. We thought maybe it would be Isaac, but it wasn't Isaac. Isaac had twin Sons Jacob and Esau. We hoped it might be one of them. It wasn't Jacob. It wasn't Jacob's son, Joseph, for even he will die.

Genesis chapter 50, verse 22.

Genesis 50:22–26 ESV

So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's begin our time together with a word of prayer.

Dear Lord, we thank you for your goodness and your grace. For your faithfulness. That we may trust all of the promises that you have given to us for You are the one who keeps them according to your power, your Sovereign will, and your Sovereign hand. We thank you. That you see fit to save a people such as us. Deliver Us from this body of death, we thank you for the promises we have, it's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen. And amen.

Here, Joseph. Meets his demise. The same demise that has affected all people - as we mentioned earlier - will come for Joseph.

But just like Joseph has lived a good life, and there's been much that we can learn and much to admire from Joseph and how he's lived his life. So too Joseph in his death. Can teach us many good lessons. As well. The first thing that we should note about Joseph when he dies. Is, he gets to experience. Earthly. Blessings!

EARTHLY Blessings

When you hear the story of Joseph, this is something I've had to confront in my own thinking in my own sort of heart.

You think of Joseph often as a tragic pitiable in some ways character. He didn't deserve to be thrown in the pit by his brothers. He didn't deserve to be thrown into slavery. He didn't deserve the false accusations lobbied against him by Potiphar's wife. He didn't deserve to be forgot about by the cup bearer of pharaoh. And you begin to think that Joseph's life is just tragedy after tragedy after tragedy. But that's not the full story. In fact, all of those tragedies just listed. Occurred before his 30th birthday. (Genesis 41:46)

And so. When we read “Joseph remained in Egypt. He and his father's house, and Joseph, lived. 110 years.” We can note that there is a great gulf between the time of Sorrow. And the time of. Being second in command of all of Egypt, overseeing the Affairs being the second most powerful person in the world being reunited with his family, having children, and having all these things.

The better time, That's the bulk of his life.

Then we note, A long life here on this Earth is a gift from God. To live many years to have to be full of years. We've even seen that phrase earlier in Genesis is he was full of years, and he lived a blessed life here. Joseph receives this same Commendation. Though not. 900 years of some people earlier in Genesis or even the 147 years of his father… to make it to 110 years It's blessed.

God preserved the life of Joseph. He kept the life of Joseph. Joseph got to experience Earthly blessings. He lived 110 years and. He got to see. His children's children's children’s Children.

“Joseph saw ephraim's children. Of the third generation.” The blessings of seeing that God will grow and multiply. Already, Joseph has the blessing of both of his sons, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Being elevated to the status of tribes. Thus, receiving a double portion in many ways for Joseph. And here he gets to see the Fulfillment of promises his children's children's children to the third generation he gets to see ephraim's children.

The joy of Ephraim being born. We saw this that God had made him forget all of his hardships and experienced Joy. The joy of a grandchild? That he gets to hold and keep. The joy of a grandchild's? Child. That he gets to witness and understand God's faithfulness to him and his family. the joy of seeing a third generation after that. This is an ENORMUS blessing

To know that he will grow, that his family will grow into a nation. God is faithful, and he sees this in these Earthly blessings.

So much so that the children of Machir the son of Manasseh. So, Manasseh's son, Machir, his children. So his children's children's children… In the ESV, it says they are counted as his own.

I will just note that there's a weird translation thing here, where the the ancient Hebrew is hard to know exactly what's going on here, LITERALLY they were “born upon the knees of Joseph...” which many translations have some version of that…

What's being said here? He even had a close relationship is the best way we can understand this… to get the fullness of what's being said here. He sees Ephraim's children to the third generation, and he he gets to hold. And care for. And father. in a great-great-great-grandfatherly way, maybe? Even the sons of Mahiar, the son of Manasseh.

Joseph receives blessing after blessing. After blessing. Though his life was difficult for a time, though his life was filled with trials and troubles, though there was a time of difficulty and pain. And even in the time of blessing, his life wasn't free from Pain. We just read he had to go bury his father. There's heartbreak still. And tragedy. But when we look at the the overarching scope of Joseph's life. It is one that is blessed and kept by God.

Because he knew that God had a plan. To bring it about. The many people should be kept alive. Joseph is, in many ways, living out the thoughts we'll see in in second Corinthians that this. This light momentary Affliction is not worth comparing to the weight of Glory.

In Joseph's life, we see that in microcosm. He has. 30, some years of difficulty pain, suffering ostracism - difficulty pain, sorrow, and then 110. Minus the 30, so 80 years of Enjoying his family. Seeing God's blessing, experiencing the goodness of God. This light momentary Affliction is not worth comparing to the weight of Glory. Joseph says that. In one Earthly life. How much more we who look to Eternity? Can have similar thoughts. Because this ties into our next thought.

What gives Joseph the ability to rise above these circumstances? What in Joseph's life makes him so praiseworthy? It's his Divine. Confidence.

DIVINE Confidence

As he is dying. Breathing his last. He calls his brothers to him.

I am about to die. And we've noted this before with other Patriarchs. The blessing of knowing? A life well lived and that it's time, and that God allows you to see your children's children and experience. For Jacob, he knew his time was coming, so he was able to bless all of his sons.

He knows. His time is coming. I am about to die... but. God.

I've said it before. I'll say it again these two words when put together are the most fantastic two words in the English language.

But God.

I may die. But God.

God's gonna do something God has done something God has promised. God will be faithful. I may be about to die, but God, this is divine confidence! And what will God do?

“God will visit you and bring you up out of the land to the land that he swore to Abraham to Isaac. And to Jacob.”

Joseph... who's been caring for them… right lets just make sure we remember the full context here… So, Joseph, who's been providing and caring... who gave the land of Goshen to these people who cared for, who provided for them who Caravaned up to go bury his father, Joseph, who through his actions many people are kept alive. Joseph, who's been the provider and caregiver, says I'm gonna die, but don't worry, but God.

God will visit you. God will be with you. God will take you home. God will provide for you, the God who swore. To Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To our fathers, fathers, father... that God… He has not forgotten. He will not forget. That God Is not impotent. He has all power. He will visit you. He will care for you. He will fulfill his promises. How can we die with confidence? It's because we have confidence in the Divine.

Joseph doesn't say… We do this, pastors do this… but it's a helpful thought. We, we put our own thoghts just to see how weak they really are.

Joseph doesn't say. Don't worry. I wrote out a will. And I made sure that you would be taking care of after I pass. I put my Affairs in order. Pharaoh knows what to do. Don't worry, I will take care of you even after I'm gone. It's not where he puts his confidence. It's a good thing he doesn't put his confidence in Pharaoh because Exodus, chapter 1, the next chapter in the Bible. If you're just reading through them. Exodus chapter 1, verse 8, there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

So, it's a good thing he doesn't put his confidence in Pharaoh. Because Pharaoh is gonna die. He doesn't put confidence in himself because he's going to die. Who does he put confidence in? God! God will visit you. God will deliver. God will bring you home. God will fulfill his promises, look to God. Don't look to yourself. Don't look to me. Don't look to any man look to God. As Joseph is gathered to his people. He experiences Earthly blessings.

He's lived this long life, but where does he put his confidence, not in his sons? He doesn't even say, look. I've lived a long life. You'll live a good long life, and you'll get to see your children children's children. So he puts his hope. The hope is that God will visit you. God will deliver. Just like God has been with me, And what you meant for evil God meant for good. Just like God has delivered me, just as God has cared for me, just as God has been Sovereign over my whole life, so too. God will care for you.

Joseph stands in Divine confidence.

He does not set his heart. On things that are immediate. Or even visible. Joseph. It seems has distant longings.

DISTANT Longings

Genesis 50:25–26 “Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”

Don't let me Be buried here. Don't let me stay. In Egypt.

I'm not Egyptian. And this land. Is not my home. This place where I'm at It's not where I belong. Don't leave my bones here.

Instead. Carry my bones. Back into the land of promise.

Now, there's some difficulty that we need to work through here. It sort of started appearing with Jacob when Jacob's like, I can't be buried in Egypt. And here it is again with Joseph, like, don't leave my. Bones here. What's going on?

Well, what exactly is running through Joseph's mind? We do not have access to. Did he think his bones needed to be there so that it when the resurrection happened? His bones would be in the land that we don't know exactly what's going on. Here's the best way to think through it:

Joseph. Is longing for. Trusting in? And putting his hope in. The promises of God. And so if God promised that he would visit his people, they would be blessed and there would be a land and there would be a blessing and they would grow. Joseph, saying my hope is not in Egypt. My hope is not here on this side of the Wilderness. My Hope Is Not here, though. Egypt held me for a while I have a true longing for the promises of God. Long for the not yet,

He sets his longing on that which he has confidence in! He's saying God will come and visit you. God will deliver you, and when he does, he will take you to the promised land. And when he does that, that's where my heart is too.

The best way to think through this is just to know and understand that what Joseph is counting on. Is the Fulfillment of God's promises!

And so take me to the land. God promised take me to the place. God promised to help me. To be in God's promises. Thats my hope

It's interesting to note.

God's faithfulness. And in some sense, the brother's faithfulness. To this request.

Exodus chapter 13. Verse… We'll start in verse 17. Let's get a little context.

Exodus 13:17 “When Pharaoh let the people go…

So, this is the end of Moses time asking “lket my people go”… and the ten plagues that that God sent against Egypt. After all of this and Pharaoh's heart is hard and Pharaoh's heart is set against God and God shows his power, God shows his power. God shows his power. Finally, Pharaoh lets the people go.

Exodus 13:17–18 “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.”

Where is God leading the people? To the promised land. When Joseph said, God will visit you and God will bring you out of this land. We're already seeing the Fulfillment here. In Exodus 13, God is leading the people, not through the land of Philistine, but rather, we're going to go by the Red Sea.

Exodus 13:19 “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.””

God's faithful and the brothers are faithful. Bones of Joseph. Are going to be taken. In fact.

Joshua. Chapter 24. This is the end. As you think through the Old Testament just to help us out a little bit here. You have the pentatuch Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy. The first five books, also known as the books of Moses. That describe creation Genesis, The Exodus, the giving of the law, and preparing them to enter the promised land.

Then you have the books of History, the books of the time of God’s people IN the land: Judges Ruth, 1-2 Samule, 1-2 Kings...

Joshua is not quite a book of history... Those are the times where the people are in the land. And, and they have they're being established as a nation, but it's also not quite the pentateuch because Moses, who wrote it... is dead and gone.

Joshua exists in this weird middle ground. It's sort of the end of one in the beginning of the other. But how does the Book of Joshua end. Showing that placing your hope in distant longings will be rewarded!

Joshua 24:32 “As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.”

Joseph's bones will be brought to the promised land. With an added note, we remember back just a few weeks ago, when Jacob was blessing Joseph. He said. Then, Israel said to Joseph Genesis, chapter 48:21-22

Genesis 48:21–22 “Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.””

Important. Jacob said this to Joseph hundreds of years before The Exodus and the entrance into the promised land.

Moses wrote this. On the precipice of the people entering the promised land not knowing for certain the ending of Joshua… and God is the one who fulfilled the promise given hundreds of years before the bones of Joseph were brought and placed on the mound that God promised to him.

Joseph died. Having never seen the Fulfillment of these promises, yet he longed for this. His Hope was not set on what his eyes could see. His Hope was not set on on Egypt in what was around him. His Hope was not set on what he could see. His Hope wasn't even set on his children's children's children to the third generation that he saw his Hope was set on God and what God had promised, though it may be for him distant. Though it is maybe for him separated by some Gulf.

He trusted in what the Lord would do. He didn't long for what he could see and hold instead because of his confidence in God and what God would do and what God had promised. He set his longing on things further than he could ever grasp.

That's the lesson for us.

You may experience. Earthly blessing. I'm the type. I, I won't just say “May”. You have and are currently experienced Earthly blessing. I know this for you. Have breath in your lung and your heart... God willing.. is still beating right now. Each moment, a blessing from God here on this Earth. But so many more. But do not let the Earthly blessings. Cloud your judgment. Don't set your Hope on these things. Instead, put your confidence in God and what he has promised and set your hope. Your longing on things further.

Matthew. Chapter six. verse 19.

Matthew 6:19–21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Our Longing… Should be for heaven.

Joseph is gathered to his people, just like Jacob was gathered to his people, just like Isaac was gathered to his people, just like Abraham was gathered to his people, just like Noah was gathered to his people… To remove the euphemism… Joseph died just like everyone in history, has died. Joseph died. Jacob died, Abraham Isaac died, died. They all died. And yet their reward was not seen here on Earth.

Abraham died, having never owned any land.

Joseph died. Putting his heart and his hope. Take my bones out of here.

And in case you think I may be overselling this whole “take my bones thing”… the Writer of Hebrews says that of all the times of Joseph’s life. THIS is where we see his faith most clearly

Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”

There's land that's earmarked for me. God has promised that he will take you. And God does fulfill his promises. So don't store up Treasures here on Earth. Don't set your hope for anything here this side of Heaven. Instead, set your hope and your longing. On the good promises of God.

For God, so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but will have. Eternal. Life. For if my hope is here on this Earth, and there is no hope of the Resurrection I of all people of most to be pitied.

For. My hope is not here on this Earth IT IS NOT HERE.

My hope is in what God will do. That he will raise his people from the dead. That those who are born again will not experience. The bitter taste of second death, rather. In a twinkling of an eye, we will be restored. The perishable will put on the imperishable. The corruptible will put on the Incorruptible. It will be like Jesus.

Hope's not here on this Earth. Its never here on this Earth. Our hope is in heaven.

Let's pray.

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