Evening Service June 2018

Simply (Continue) Trusting - 24th June

I prefer - to inform Yin Chan and KK about this change.

would like to change the title to: Continue Trusting.

The story of Genesis started with GOD creating the heavens and the earth and ended with the story of Joseph’s dying in Egypt.

Like a great story, a well written one, Joseph’s death was a spring board to the next chapter of GOD’s historical redemptive narrative.

We see this very clearly in the plead of Joseph to the sons or decendants of Israel or Jacob to remember to bring his bones back to the promised land for burial.

Like Jacob and propheised by Jacob, GOD will one day lead them back to Cannan, to the land GOD promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The death of Joseph is not just a death.

If was about a life that GOD had in His hand and what he had planned for him.

Joseph summerised his life this way;

Genesis 50:19–21 KJV 1900

And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

GOD gifted Joseph for the task He had for him and Joseph was tested and brought up through much hardship to fulfilled it faithfully.

So faithful was Joseph that he carried out his duties to Pharaoh with an upright loyalty - always doing things for the good of pharaoh - he was unweavring in his committment to Pharaoh.

He was also faithful to his father and buried him in the cave that his great grandfather bought for Ephrom the Hittie.

All these came out of his faith in YWHY.

What is GOD saying in ?

What is GOD teaching us in these 5 verses?

GOD summerises Joseph’s live before his death

GOD reminded them He is going to lead them back to the promised land

Joseph’s respond to the promise of GOD.

GOD’s summary of Joseph

v22-23

Joseph and his brothers and their family continued to live in Egypt.

Knowing the outcome and effects of their long term stay in Egpyt, we cannot help but see this statement as a sign that bad things are coming.

Their stay in Egypt did provide for them materially and physically.

But spiritual, by the time GOD lead them out, they were bankrupt.

They were so spiritual bankrupt that every adult, 20??? and old, who left Egypt did not enter the Promised Land.

The stay in Egypt had so corrupted them spiritually that even the very wonders, miracles and presence of YWHY in the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, we not ignored.

I do not need to recount their sins here.

You know the story.

We are in this sinful world - and its something like Egypt.

We can be in the same position as them because Jesus said;

Luke 16:27–31 KJV 1900

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

lk16.

We too have “Moses and the Prophets”.

Are we persuaded by them as recorded in the Scriptures?

Joseph lived to 110 years old and saw 3 generations of his family line.

He saw 3 generations of his family line.

There are some debates whether Joseph saw his grand children or great grand children.

This does not really change the message from GOD that Joseph has a long life

Longevity is a sign of blessing from GOD.

And Longevity is a sign of blessing from GOD.

This message was further emphasised that Joseph had his own children and he had descendants.

The wicked are curses with no descendants and their names are lost in time.

Not the name of Joseph - we are talking about him even today!

The last one for v22 and v23 was GOD had blessed Joseph

GOD reminded them He is going to lead them back to the promised land

v24

The Promised Land re-vsited.

When Joseph was on his death bed, he repeated Jacob’s prophesy - GOD will lead them back to where they came - back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - to the promised land.

What is the significant of the Promised Land such that GOD will lead them back there?

Is Egypt not good enough and even when it is not, the people could move to another place that is better - why must it be Canaan?

The literal and spiritual understanding of the Promised Land.

There is no denying that the land that the country of Israel is in, is the Promised Land of GOD.

That the Jews continues to be the chosen people of GOD and we Christians are “grafted branches” into that olive tree. ().

The motif or pattern of the Promised Land as a covenant of GOD to His people has significant implications to their relationships with YWHY.

Joseph’s respond to the promise of GOD

v25-26

Joseph remained in Egypt

The Death of Joseph

Joseph knew they will leave Egypt

Joseph was “not at all reticent to talk about GOD in the present of the pharaoh, v16.