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Sermon for 21th February 2010 - Jacob: Father of Jospeh

So Far
  • Joseph, son of Jacob
  • sold into slavery
  • served at Potiphar’s home
  • now serving at Pharoah’s court
  • became the Saviour of Egypt, and Canaan
  • was re-united with his brothers
  • now to be re-united with his father, Jacob

Genesis 46: 31 to 47: 31
  • Family in Egypt
  • Jacob sends Judah ahead
  • The family has arrived in Egypt
  • Jacob sends Judah ahead
  • Joseph meets his father at Goshen
  • Joseph instructs his brothers on what to say when they meet Pharoah
  • Joseph went to Pharoah, bringing along 5 brothers and his father
  • Jacob blesses Pharoah twice
  • Famine worsens
  • People came to Joseph for grain
  • They bought grain with money, livestock and with their lives
  • Joseph re-located the people
  • He instituted a grain policy of 80-20

Joseph
  • A Great example of God's providence
  • A wonderful testament of God being in charge
  • Integrity and Character
  • An example of great leadership


But what about Jacob?
  • son of Isaac & Rebekah, brother of Esau
  • deceiver/supplanter
  • Traded for his brother’s birth-right
  • Stole his brother’s blessing, and runs off
  • Had a vision at Bethel
  • Conned by his uncle, Laban
  • Marries Leah, and Rachel
  • fathered 12 sons and 1 daughter
  • Left his father in law, Laban in a hurry
  • Angels met him at Mahanaim
  • Wrestled with ‘a man’ at Peniel
  • Re-conciles with Esau
  • Trouble at Shechem
  • Returns to Bethel
  • God re-names him, Israel
  • Rachel dies when giving birth
  • Genesis 47:9
    So Jacob said to Pharoah,
    "The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant has been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning."
  • Promise to bless him: Genesis 28: 13 to 15
  • Had a Trouble-some life: with Esau (twin brother), Laban (his father-in-law), his children
  • Had some God encouters: Bethel, Mahanaim, Peniel. Renamed Israel
  • Few and unpleasant...: Genesis 42:36, Genesis 45:28

Yet
  • He would live on for another 17 years
  • He would bless Pharoah (twice)
  • His family would prosper during the famine
  • His children would go on to form the people of Israel

A hope and a future
  • Jeremiah 29:11 - ‘For I know the plans that I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’.
  • Philippians 1:6 - For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12: 1 & 2
  • LET US also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us
  • LET US run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus

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