Hand Me Downs

Introduction

I am humbled and thankful to be with my family tonight. My faith is full and I am expectant for a move of God tonight. I want to honor my pastor, staff, leaders, and you. We have been unpacking God’s Kingdom.

Scripture(s)

(ESV) — 24 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.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

(ESV) — 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.”

(ESV) — 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.

(ESV) — 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.”

(ESV) — 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

Illustration

Most of us are familiar with the concept of hand me downs. In essence it is when something that belongs to someone else is passed down to another. Some of us with older siblings knows this process well, what was once your brothers, is now yours. It can range from furniture to cars. My first car was a hand me down 84 Chevy Chevette. My son is eyeing my car now, often even refers to it as his. Sibling hand me downs are one thing because for the most part, at least you are still in the same decade. When your parents hand something down, that is completely different. My dad gave me a leather coat. He was so excited about it, I did not share those emotions. Ever have someone elated to give you a gift and you have to manufacture happiness? That was the case with this jacket. I politely smiled, tried it on, put it in storage to never be seen again.

Transition: Background/Context

Here’s the thing, most of us can relate to some type of hand me down of some sort. In this context, the people of God had a promise that was passed down from generation to generation. Starting with , there was this promise that served as vision and encouragement no matter the season they were in. Abraham passed the promise to Isaac, then Isaac passed it to his son Jacob/Israel and Israel spoke a blessing over his sons but then they end up in bondage for 400 years. For 400 years they had this promise of freedom in front of them. So when they are finally set free, they get some resources () and a bag of bones. In the midst of all the busyness, Moses grabbed a bag of 400 year old bones. () It seems so insignificant to grab a bag of 400 year old bones when it is so many other things they could have taken. However, I think Moses understood that the bones had a deeper meaning. The bones represented a promise. No matter your season, take the promise with you. Taking the bones was synonomous with taking the promise with them into a new season.

In this context, the people of God had a promise that was passed down from generation to generation. Starting with , there was this promise that served as vision and encouragement no matter the season they were in. Abraham passed the promise to Isaac, then Isaac passed it to his son Jacob

While I believe we could spend an entire series unpacking what this gesture means, I want to highlight three things that stood out to me.

Just a bag of bones

This passage has always been one that has been of interest to me, especially now that I am a grandfather. I tend to think about traditions and heirlooms and inheritance and

Background/Context

Favor with father

The coat

Illustration

Transition

Hand me down dreams

Hand me down dreams

The coat

The dream

The pit

God’s plan becomes our dreams; dreams turn to vision and obedience becomes strategy

Don’t settle, God has some other things he wants you to walk out

Airport and baggage illustration

Hand me down discipline

Favor with Potifar

The wife

Don’t pray for a marriage and stop praying when you get married. Don’t pray for children then when you have them stop praying for your children. Don’t pray for provision and stop praying when you get the job.

Hand me down dominion

The dream

The pit

The wife

Have you ever felt forgotten?

Favor with Pharoah

Favor with Pharoah

Closing

It seems as though each critical moment in the life of Joseph, there was a wardrobe change. The text says they stripped him of his coat and threw him in a pit. He walked with integrity and fled from temptation and left his coat behind. What is so fascinating is both garments were meant to reflect favor and blessing and they both were essentially stripped from him. However, his favor remained in tact; God’s hand was still on his life when he was in the pit. God’s hand was on his life while he was sold into slavery. God’s hand was on his life when he was falsely accused. God’s hand was on him when he was in prison. Hear me…they can strip you of position, but they can’t strip you of your favor. They can strip you of your job, but they can’t strip you of your provision. They can strip you of your home but they can’t strip you of your covering. They can repossess your car, but they can’t repossess your destiny. If God is for you…NOTHING can stand against you. What was meant for evil, God will use it for good. He works ALL THINGS TOGETHER.

Alter