Genesis - HAMPTON ROADS CHURCH

A final sermon in our study of Genesis by Tim Rees. 

Jacob departs the Promised Land to be reunited — at last— with his beloved Joseph! But before he departs the land of promise, he sacrifices to God in faithfulness. God responds by reaffirming Jacob's role in His Mission, a Mission from God!

In Hebrews 11:21, Jacob's entry into the "Hall of Faith" describes a mountaintop moment of faith for him. It's not his wrestling with God. It's not his wonder at the stairway to heaven. It's not even his sacrifice to God before departing the Promised Land. Instead, it's the event of this chapter, Genesis 48, where Jacob worships on his staff as he blesses Joseph's sons. 

To affect a wonderful reuniting of Jacob's sons, God orchestrates true repentance. Joseph will have a grand reveal before his brothers, and his brothers will have a grander repentance before him. 

When we are in the midst of discipline and training from the Lord, we are often left wondering, "What in the world is God doing to us?" He skillfully applies the events of a fallen, broken world to our darkened broken soul to produce holiness, righteousness, and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:10-11). God continues His reclamation project of Israel through the famine that extends to Canaan as His people get ready to head down to Egypt. 

God refines His people, usually by suffering that produces perseverance that produces character that produces hope (Romans 5:3-4) or by testing through fires (1Peter 1:6-7). Here He refines Israel through famine and Joseph through slavery, imprisonment, and later — interestingly— through fame.

Joseph, unlike his jailhouse companions, never gives in to self pity because of his unwavering trust in God. He reveals his steadfast faith in an explanation to Pharaoh where he affirms, "the matter has been firmly decided by God." Thus, we find that Joseph has always held to the affirmation of his own two dreams rather then fall into despair during thirteen years of trials that included betrayal, slavery, injustice, and imprisonment. 

The ignoble origin story of Judah in Genesis 38. Tamar's desperate gambit for social justice brings repentance to the line of Judah through eye-opening confrontation with difficult truth. 

Like many new adventures, love interests, careers, and pursuits of self-validation, we begin with heightened expectations only to end up in settled disappointment. Such was the case for Jacob as he went to bed with Rachel but in the morning, behold, it's Leah!

God comes down to disrupt and exhort Jacob at his lowest point — alone, afraid, abandoned, and broke — show him the Kingdom and the plans for his life to bless all. Jesus likewise shows up His Kingdom and His affirmation to be with us as we walk and work with Him to bless all people. 

There's a deep desire within all of us for sincere blessing, especially the blessing that comes from our Heavenly Father. In for us to be blessed and to become a blessed, Jesus needed to become a curse for us.

After our introduction to the twins in Genesis 25, Jacob connives to secure Esau's birthright for a bowl of stew. Worst deal ever, but that's the peril of living life without the ability to delay immediate gratification. Ultimately, Jesus denied his immediate gratifications because he had a greater delayed gratification - us.

From Israel's perspective (whether the setting is their fearful entry into the promised to battle the inhabitants or their despair while in captivity in Babylon), this is the story of how they came into being — or said another way, "How I Met Your Mother." Abraham's servant finds a bride for Isaac to continue the promises established in Genesis 12, 15, 17, and 22. As an aside, we'll also glean a lesson on finding an appropriate spouse in the Lord.

We struggle with God's test of Abraham (and Isaac) but marvel at God's sacrifice of His only son, whom He loves to ransom us from our self destruction.

The tension of ten chapters of anticipation gets resolved as 100 year old Abraham and 90 year old Sarah celebrate Isaac's birth with "laughter." Genesis 21:1-7

God affirms a covenant with Abraham (no longer called Abram) to be the father of a multitude through Isaac, if Abraham will walk faithfully and obediently with God. Abraham responds to God's offer by circumcising himself and his household that same day. For us, circumcision of the foreskin holds no value, but Christ does circumcise our flesh when we raised to new life in Him. See Colossians 2:11-14

God exalts Abram for his faith by credited him with righteousness. Yet Abram repeatedly expresses his doubts even in the midst of faithful walking with God. "How can I know?" he asks. God responds with covenant ratification ceremony that amazes Abram and anchors us in real hope. No one could see this coming!