Tawa Baptist

Nose to Tail

Scripture: Genesis 49:29-50:26

Video Link: https://youtu.be/hqiV5tY437E

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Joseph’s forgiveness
  • Joseph’s death
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

Some of you may have heard of ‘nose to tail’ cooking. ‘Nose to tail’ is about ensuring every edible part of the animal is prepared and eaten, as opposed to using only the high value cuts.

Cousins to the ‘nose to tail’ approach are ‘fin to gill’ (using every part of the fish) and ‘root to shoot’ for fruit and veges. ‘Nose to tail’ cooking utilizes the whole beast, reducing waste and providing greater nutritional value for the eater.

Today, after six months, we conclude our ‘nose to tail’ sermon series in the life of Joseph. Perhaps the key take-away from the Joseph story is that God, in his grace, is able to make something good out of the offal and gristle of human behaviour, as well as the rump and eye fillets.

The Lord uses all of Joseph’s family to bring about his purpose of salvation. God does not waste anything.

Our message is in two parts this morning. The first part deals with Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers. And the second part tells us about Joseph’s death. From Genesis 50, verse 15, we read… 

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”  16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.

Joseph’s forgiveness:

In his book “The Peacemaker”, Ken Sande recalls a joke he once heard.

A woman went to her pastor for advice on improving her marriage and when the pastor asked what her greatest complaint was, she replied, “Every time we get into a fight, my husband gets historical.”

When her pastor said, “Don’t you mean hysterical,” she responded,

“I mean exactly what I said; he keeps a mental record of everything I’ve done wrong, and whenever he’s mad, I get a history lesson.”

Clearly the husband has not forgiven his wife. By continually reminding his wife of the things she has done wrong, he is punishing her and trying to hold her captive to guilt. He is using the past against her.  

Forgiveness is about letting go of past hurts and grievances. With forgiveness we don’t necessarily forget the bad stuff. Rather we make a conscious choice not to hold people’s mistakes against them. We give away our right to get even.

Refusing to forgive someone is like handcuffing yourself to that person. It keeps you both captive. Forgiveness unlocks the handcuffs. Forgiveness breaks the shackles of bitterness, setting you free.

In the passage we just read from Genesis chapter 50, Jacob has recently died and now the brothers are afraid that, without their father around, Joseph will want to make them pay for all the wrong they did to him.

By this stage it had been nearly 40 years since they sold Joseph into slavery. And, for the past 17 years they have been living in Egypt near their brother. But even after all this time they are still afraid of Joseph.

Fear has messed with their perception and caused things to appear other than they really are. Joseph has forgiven his brothers. More than this, he has tested them to re-establish trust. Joseph is ready to move forward, but the brothers are stuck in the past. It seems they haven’t been able to forgive themselves.

If you touch a live wire on an electric fence with the palm of your hand, the current running through the wire causes your hand to clench into a fist automatically, so you can’t let go no matter how hard you try.

Forgiving ourselves can be like trying to let go of an electric fence. We want to find release, but we just don’t seem to be able to achieve it on our own. We need someone to turn the power off.

The disciple Peter found it difficult to forgive himself. Peter denied Jesus three times, the night of his trial. Oh, the torment Peter suffered for that. But later, after his death and resurrection, Jesus restored Peter saying, ‘Feed my lambs’.

There was no reprisal or recrimination from Jesus. To the contrary Jesus turned Peter’s fear off. Jesus reassured Peter with an act of trust.

Joseph points to Jesus. Joseph turns the brothers’ fear off by reassuring them and speaking kindly to them. Joseph wants a right relationship with his brothers, one that is based on love, not fear.

In verses 16 and 17 we read how the brothers tried to deceive Joseph by saying, ‘Our father Jacob gave instructions for you to forgive us’.

Joseph’s response is to weep.

Perhaps Joseph is sad because his brothers have thought the worst of him. They have misunderstood him. It hurts to be judged wrongly, especially by those close to us.

Perhaps also Joseph’s tears are an expression of compassion for his brothers. The sons of Israel have been bullied by guilt and fear for nearly 40 years. They have suffered their own silent torment.

In verse 18, Joseph’s brothers come to him, throw themselves at his feet and offer themselves as his slaves. Joseph’s dream of his brothers bowing to him (all those years ago) is fulfilled again, only now the meaning is clearer.  

The brothers are trying to make amends. They had sold Joseph into slavery and now they are saying they will repay their wrongdoing by becoming Joseph’s slaves. This shows their desperation. They have been slaves to guilt and fear for so long. They see Joseph as a kinder master.

The brothers (collectively) remind us of the prodigal son, in Jesus’ parable. After hitting rock bottom, he came to his senses and decided to return home and beg to work as a hired hand for his father.

He had his speech all planned. ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son…’ But before he could ask for a job, his father welcomes him with generosity and joy. The father does not need another hired hand. The father wants his son back.

Joseph does the same for his brothers. Joseph does not need any more slaves. He wants his brothers back.

The first thing Joseph says to his brothers (in verse 19) is, “Don’t be afraid”. He says it twice actually. By accurately naming their fear, Joseph shows his brothers that he understands them, and fear begins to lose its power.

The second thing Joseph says here is, “Am I in the place of God?”

The brothers were afraid that Joseph would exact his revenge. But to Joseph’s mind, judgement and revenge are God’s business.

It’s like Joseph is saying, ‘I am not your judge. I am just a man, like you. Far be it from me to condemn you. God is your judge and mine, and he is more merciful and gracious than you think’.

In verse 20 Joseph says, “You intended to harm me…” Joseph does not deny what his brothers did. Joseph acknowledges the truth that they meant him harm.He doesn’t do this to make them suffer more. He does this to help them feel better.

It’s a paradox you see. Pretending something didn’t happen doesn’t make anyone feel better about it. In fact, it usually makes people feel worse. It becomes an infected wound, breeding mistrust and doubt.

But when we acknowledge honestly what happened, in the context in which it happened (that is, with the people concerned), trust is restored and healing is able to take place.

Although Joseph’s brothers intended to harm him, God intended it for good, to save many lives. This is the main point of the Joseph story.

Joseph is highlighting the amazing grace of God. The Lord used the brothers’ decision, of selling Joseph into slavery, as a means of salvation. By placing Joseph in Egypt, God saved many lives from starvation.

It’s not that God needed the brothers to betray Joseph. If the brothers had been kind to Joseph, then God would have found another way. The point is, God (in his grace and providence) transformed evil intentions into a good outcome.

We are reminded of Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans…

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose.

This is ‘nose to tail’ salvation. This is the Lord not wasting anything.

This is God working all things for good. Was God pleased when Joseph’s brothers plotted against him? No, I don’t expect he was. But the Lord saw a way to redeem it.

The brothers had offered themselves to Joseph as slaves, but Joseph wouldn’t have a bar of it. Joseph says he will provide for his brothers and their children. Joseph’s intention is not to get even. His intention is to provide and protect. Jacob made Joseph leader of the family and that is what a leader does. They provide and protect.

Verse 21 of Genesis 50 says that Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them. The English translation here disguises the original Hebrew which literally reads… And he spoke to their heart.

Meaning he spoke tenderly and intimately with them. He addressed the deeper things for them. Conveying forgiveness is not just about trying to find the right words. It’s also about using a tender manner. It’s about communicating in a winsome way, with kindness and warmth. Heart speaks to heart.

Martin Luther King said, “Forgiveness is not just an occasional act – it’s an attitude”. As human beings, made in the image of God, forgiveness is meant to be our default setting.

Sometimes we can be lulled into the false idea that forgiveness is something we only need to do once and then everything will be sweet. But the reality with deeper hurts, like the ones suffered by Joseph, is that forgiveness is an on-going decision.

Forgiveness is like giving up an addiction. Not only do we have to decide to give up our revenge once, but we must go on giving up our revenge every moment of everyday. Sometimes the temptation is intense and all we can do is call out to God for grace and strength. ‘Lord, help me to let this go.’ 

Rather than re-playing his brothers’ wrong-doing over and over in his mind, I believe Joseph chose to replay the outcome achieved by God and this became his shield against bitterness.  

The 2010 film, 127 hours, tells the true story of mountaineer, Aron Ralston. Aron goes hiking in Utah’s Canyonlands National Park. Unfortunately, he doesn’t tell anyone where he is going.

While climbing through a slot canyon, a boulder comes loose and traps his right arm against a wall. There is no way for him to move the boulder and he can’t wriggle out of it.

Over the next five days he rations his food and water. Eventually he has to drink his own urine to survive. When it becomes apparent that no one is coming to his rescue, and that he will die if he does nothing, Aron uses his pocketknife to cut off his arm and free himself.

Cutting off his arm, like he did, took real grit, real willpower. Aron’s motivation to do this came from a vision he had of one day becoming a father. Aron imagined his yet unborn son. He focused on the outcome.

If Aron did nothing, he would die. He would lose his whole body and never get to live his life or have children. But if Aron sacrificed his right arm, he would save the rest of his body and have a future.

Forgiveness is essentially about release. It can be tempting to think that forgiveness is achieved with time. That simply by waiting, our feelings of bitterness will eventually go away. This is a myth. Time can help, but by itself it is not enough.

Forgiveness is not a passive thing. Nor is it an involuntary feeling. Forgiveness can be painful. It involves an intentional act of the will.

A decision to cut off your desire to get even, in order to free your mind and soul.    

I imagine for Joseph, the decision to forgive his brothers took real grit, real resolve, like cutting off his arm (metaphorically speaking). But what option did he have? If he held onto the bitterness and hurt, he would die between a rock and a hard place.

Joseph chose to think about the outcome God had created. Joseph magnified God’s grace and imagined a future in which he enjoyed a better relationship with his family. Would Joseph have been able to forgive his brothers if God had not provided a good outcome for everyone? I’m not sure.

Now most things you are required to forgive in this life are not as big as cutting your arm off. Most people are not sold into slavery by their family. More often, forgiveness is smaller, like removing a stone from your shoe so you can walk without hurting yourself.

Forgiveness is usually about little things, like when others leave you in the lurch or snap at you because they’re having a bad day, or you find someone has keyed your car. That sort of thing. Whether it is a big thing or a small thing though, we need God’s grace to forgive others and to forgive ourselves.

Joseph’s death:

Joseph was probably in his mid-fifties when his father died and his brothers asked for forgiveness. Another fifty odd years pass between Jacob’s death and Joseph’s passing. From Genesis 50, verse 22 we conclude the Joseph story…

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also, the children of Makir son of Manasseh, were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees. 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

These closing verses of Genesis tell us that Joseph lived a long and full life. After having been told a lot about the first half of Joseph’s life, we are not told anything about the last half of his life, except that he stayed in Egypt and got to see his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In a way, that points to the reality for all of us. We are each like Joseph in a way. We have a public life that people see and a private life that no one really sees (like the dark side of the moon). No one that is but God.

We do well to remember this. None of us knows the whole story of another person’s life and so we should reserve judgement. We don’t know half of what others endure.

In echo of his father Jacob, Joseph’s last words are words of hope, binding the family to God’s promise. Twice Joseph says, ‘God will surely come to your aid’.  Joseph foresees a time when God will lead the people of Israel out of Egypt and back to Canaan, the land of promise.

Do you feel like you are trapped in Egypt at the moment? Could this be a word for you? Can you believe that God will surely come to your aid.

Joseph asks his descendants to take his bones back to Canaan when they go. Joseph’s coffin (a symbol of death) becomes a sign pointing future generations to the hope of returning to their homeland.

Joseph points to Jesus. The cross of Christ (once a symbol of torture and death) has now become a sign of forgiveness and hope for those who believe. A reminder that Jesus will return in glory one day to reveal God’s kingdom in its fullness.  

Conclusion:

The book of Genesis starts with creation and the fall, and it ends with forgiveness and hope. Forgiveness is about letting go of our hurt and hope is about holding on to God’s promises for the future.

Forgiveness puts an end to fear and guilt. It puts the past to rest and in so doing creates a new beginning and new hope. Jesus is the one who makes forgiveness and hope possible. Jesus is the alpha and omega.

He is the beginning and the end and his grace sustains us in between.

May God help us to see the good outcome he is working in this world. Amen.    

Questions for discussion or reflection:

  1. What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?
  2. What is forgiveness? What does it mean to forgive someone? Why is it important to forgive?
  3. How might we ask for forgiveness? How might we forgive ourselves?
  4. Discuss / reflect on Joseph’s response to his brothers in Genesis 50:19-21. Why does Joseph say what he says? What might you say (or do) if someone came to you for forgiveness?
  5. Why does Joseph focus on the outcome God has created? What good outcome(s) has God worked in the circumstances of your life? Take some time to thank him for these.
  6. Do you feel like you are trapped in Egypt at the moment? Have you ever felt like this? Are you able to believe that God will surely come to your aid?   
  7. In what ways does Joseph point to Jesus?
Tawa Baptist

Grieving With Hope

Scripture: Genesis 49:29-50:14

Video Link: https://youtu.be/___6tWI6qGM

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Grief
  • Hope
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

If you have ever been on a long road trip with children you will have heard the chorus, ‘Are we there yet’. Some journeys seem to take forever. More than a few of you are probably thinking, are we there yet, with this current sermon series on the life of Joseph.

We started back at the beginning of February and now, nearly six months later, we are still going. Fear not. Today’s message is the second to last in this series. This week’s sermon focuses on the death and burial of Joseph’s father, Jacob. It’s about grieving with hope. From Genesis 49, verse 29, we read… 

29 Then he [Jacob] gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. 2 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father, Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, 3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. 4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favour in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, 5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’” 6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt— 8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. 9 Chariots and horsemenalso went up with him. It was a very large company. 10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. 11 When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim. 12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them: 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.

In this reading we are shown how Joseph and his brothers grieve for their father Jacob and how Jacob binds his sons to hope. Let us begin with Joseph’s grieving process.

Grief:

Grief is the natural response to loss. If you lose someone or something important, then you will experience grief in proportion to the magnitude of your loss. Or, to say it another way, grief is the price we pay for love.

Grief is like a vomiting bug. Except with grief, you are not throwing up the contents of your stomach. You are throwing up the contents of your soul. Your anger and pain, your hurt and sadness. Releasing these feelings is necessary to the healing process, but it’s not pleasant.

Grief comes in waves. You are not in control. Just when you think you are okay, you throw up again, ambushed by tears or rage or both. After a while, you feel empty, tired, exhausted, spent. It takes time to recover your strength. Time before you are ready to risk enjoying life again.

When Jacob dies, Joseph throws himself upon his father and weeps. Joseph knows Jacob’s death is coming and so he skips the initial shock that often accompanies the news of significant loss. There is no stiff upper lip with Joseph. He lets his feelings out in the form of tears.

Tears are a kind of natural anesthetic. They are nature’s pain killer. If you cry for several minutes, from emotional pain, the body releases feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins.

Sobbing also helps to improve your mood by reducing the temperature of your brain. It calms you. More than this, when other people see you crying, they are likely to give you support or at least not be mean to you.       

After having a good cry, Joseph directs the physicians to embalm his father. Embalming was more of an Egyptian thing than a Hebrew thing.

It was a way of slowing the rate of decay, to preserve the body. From a practical point of view, this was necessary for transporting Jacob’s body to Canaan. 

When we experience significant loss, it can feel quite scary, like we have no control in the situation. To prevent ourselves from being overwhelmed by fear it helps to do something that gives us a feeling of mastery or control. Like mowing the lawns or cleaning the shower or baking a cake.

By directing people to embalm his father’s body, Joseph was able to buy a little more time and regain a quantum of control in the face of death.

Can you remember what you were doing on the 31 August 1997? It was the day Princess Diana died. It seemed like the whole world stopped. Yes, we were sad for Diana’s loss and for her sons, William and Harry. But it was more than that.

Diana’s death touched something in our collective unconscious, so that people everywhere felt they had permission to grieve their own personal losses. It was a time of lament for all the things in this world that are not as they are meant to be.

In verse 3 of Genesis 50, we read how the Egyptians mourn for Jacob for seventy days. That’s ten weeks. Whenever one of the pharaoh’s died, the nation would mourn for 72 days. Jacob gets almost the same honour and respect as a pharaoh.

It seems that Jacob’s death touched something in the collective unconscious of the Egyptian people. Most of them would not have known Jacob personally but they knew Joseph had saved them and without Jacob there would be no Joseph.

Jacob’s passing was not untimely, as Diana’s was. But perhaps, like the passing of Diana, it provided an opportunity for people everywhere to mourn their own losses.   

Grief is a heavy weight to carry. Honouring the people we have lost is an important part of the grieving process. It is necessary to acknowledge the truth that this person matters to me. Their loss is no small thing.

We honour the people we have lost by taking time to plan their memorial service. By speaking good words, true words, in memory of their life. And by not rushing back to a busy schedule too quickly. Giving ourselves time to heal. Slowing down and leaving room to feel our loss and express our grief.   

After the 70 days of national mourning have passed, Joseph gets permission to bury his father in the land of Canaan, as Jacob had requested.

It is difficult to know what to say when someone dies. We want to give words of comfort to those who are grieving, but no words are adequate.

Sometimes all we have to offer is our presence, which is precisely what Pharaoh’s officials give. They take time to accompany Joseph on his journey, so he is not alone. They show up to the funeral.

When Joseph and his brothers finally arrive in Canaan to bury Jacob’s body they lament loudly and bitterly, observing a seven-day period of mourning. This is at least three months after Jacob has died. Grief isn’t something we get over quickly. Grief keeps its own unpredictable schedule. It is a process punctuated by deeply felt emotion. 

Verse 13 of Genesis 50 gives a very specific location for Jacob’s burial plot. This is the second time in today’s reading we are given this geographical reference. It shows that Jacob’s sons were obedient in carrying out Jacob’s dying wishes.

It also provides a marker for future generations. This urupa (cemetery) is sacred ground. A symbol of Israel’s stake in the land.

Hope:

Some things on your dinner plate are not that pleasant to eat on their own. Take broccoli for example. You can eat broccoli by itself, but it tastes better with a bit of grated cheese on top. Likewise, mashed potato is okay on its own, but it really goes better with some gravy.

Grief on its own is like broccoli without cheese or mashed potato without gravy. Grief needs to be topped with hope.

We’ve heard how Joseph handled his grief. Now let’s consider how Jacob bound his sons to hope. 

Hope is like cherry blossoms in spring; reminding us that summer is coming. Or, to say it more plainly, hope is the belief that good things wait for us in the future.

Hope is not blind. Hope is a beautiful thing to behold. Hope sees the blossoms with the eyes of faith. While you can’t eat the blossoms, you know from experience they are a sign of summer fruit to come.

Hope is like a kite; it rises against the wind. Hope cannot fly without some opposition or difficulty. When life is easy, we have no need for hope.

Of course, for the kite to work, you need to hold on to it. Faith is the string that keeps us connected to our hope. When we believe that God has good things in store for us, our heart dances with joy, like a kite on the breeze.   

Hope is like a sail; it moves you forward. But for the sail of hope to work, you must raise it. Just as sailors need to take care of their sails, so too we need to take care of our hope.

Wise faith is the act of raising and trimming your sails to suit the conditions, so the boat doesn’t capsize and the sail doesn’t tear.

Hope is like a harness; it catches your fall. If you are abseiling down a rock face or being winched to safety by a rescue helicopter or gliding to earth with a parachute, the harness holds you and keeps you secure.

Obviously, for the harness to work, you need to stay attached to it.

Faith is wearing your harness. Faith and hope save you.   

As we heard earlier, Jacob instructs his sons to bury his body in the land of Canaan, where his parents and grandparents were buried. Jacob is living in Egypt at this point. A journey by camel to Palestine is no small thing. It would take weeks; it would be tiring and it would involve risk.

So why does Jacob put his sons out like this? Well, Jacob means to bind his sons to God’s promise.

You see, God had promised Jacob he would give the land of Canaan to Jacob’s descendants. In Genesis 48 and 49, Jacob speaks words of blessing and destiny to his sons. These words were intended to bind the next generation and those that follow to God’s promise.

Jacob’s request to be buried in Canaan is another way in which he harnesses his family to God’s promise and the hope that gives.

Death is an ending and it is often sad and emotionally painful for those left behind. What Jacob’s sons need, at this time, is to see the blossoms of hope. They need to know that God has good in store for them. And that good is the land of Canaan.

It’s like Jacob is handing the kite of hope to the next generation and saying, ‘Take this and hold on. Let the joy of what is to come dance in your heart, even as you grieve my passing’.

The people of Israel would live in Egypt for another 400 years before leaving that country in a great exodus. Hope is the sail that would transport them. Jacob wants his descendants to raise the sail of hope and keep it trimmed through the long years that lie ahead.

Some of you may have seen a film called The Way. The movie tells the story of Dr Thomas Avery who goes to France to collect the body of his son, Daniel, who died in the Pyrenees while walking the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St James).

Tom’s initial purpose was to retrieve his son’s body. But once over there he decides to walk the Camino, taking his son’s ashes with him. While on the trail Tom meets other pilgrims all looking for greater meaning in their lives.

Sometimes when we are grieving, we can isolate ourselves (emotionally) from others. We may become more grumpy and irritable than usual. More cold and prickly. This has the effect of driving people away.

It’s a self-protection thing. When we are in pain, we don’t want to let people get too close in case they touch our sore spots or remind us of our loss. What we really need though is some tenderness and love. We need people who will understand and see passed our changing moods. 

Tom starts the journey cold and closed off to his fellow travelers. He is distant and pushes them away. But they seem to understand, and they hang in with him until eventually he opens up. The pilgrimage through Spain becomes a way for Tom to work out his grief. 

A pilgrimage, such as Jacob asked his sons to take, can be a powerful thing. It changes the soul somehow. Grief is like a pilgrimage; it’s the journey of letting go of our hurt, pain and anger and taking hold of hope. The destination is acceptance.

By asking his sons to repatriate his body in Canaan, Jacob is (perhaps) giving his family a way to process their grief and find a common hope, together. Jacob is showing his sons, this is your homeland. This is where you belong. This is the purpose and hope for your descendants.

The word land is the fourth most common noun used in the Old Testament, after God, Yahweh and Israel. Clearly, real estate was important to the people of Israel.

But when we get to the New Testament, the word land hardly gets mentioned. Jesus had more to say about the kingdom of God and eternal life.  

As followers of Jesus, our destination, our hope, is not to own a quarter acre section in the middle east or even in Tawa. Our hope is to fully enter God’s kingdom, the kingdom of heaven.

We are bound to that hope by faith in Jesus. Faith and hope in Jesus are our sail and our harness. This life is our Camino.    

Conclusion:

As I look out at this congregation, I am conscious of the losses many of you have experienced and the grief you carry.

Many of you have outlived husbands or wives. Some of you have lost parents, at a young age, and others have lost children. A number of you have survived divorce or cancer or something else. It seems none of us are untouched by suffering in this life.

In preaching on a passage like this I don’t mean to open old wounds.

We each need to know we are not alone in our grief. Although grief pierces the human heart in different ways, the experience of loss is felt by everyone eventually. Others before you have walked the way of grief and have found hope.  

Jesus is a witness to your grief and pain. He sees what others don’t see. May Jesus (who himself suffered more than we can imagine), may he honour you for the grace and the courage and faithfulness you have shown. And may the joy of resurrection fill your sails and bring you home. Amen.  

Questions for discussion or reflection:

  1. What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?
  2. What losses have you experienced in life? How have these losses affected you?
  3. How did Joseph handle his grief? How do you handle your grief?
  4. What did the Egyptians do to support Joseph in his grief? What can we do to support other people in their grief?
  5. Discuss / reflect on the images of hope offered above. That is, hope is like cherry blossoms in spring, like a kite, like a sail, like a harness. What other images come to mind when you think about hope?
  6. Why did Jacob ask his sons to bury his body in Canaan?
  7. Israel’s hope was bound up with the land. As Christians, what (or who) is our hope bound to? 
Tawa Baptist

Prayer Revisited – By Peter Barnett

Structure:

  • Introduction 
  • Helps for prayer
  • When and where do we pray?
  • Examples of answered prayer
  • Places for prayer
  • Different types of prayer
  • Prayer diaries/journals 
  • Conclusion

Introduction: 

It is over four years ago since I gave a talk on the subject of prayer here in this church. Needless to say, many prayers have passed under the bridge since then. The last time I opened with comments to the effect that I have always loved to swim. I always have. I grew up not far from the beach. Even as a child in the summertime I would go off swimming every day of the school holidays. But I didn’t learn to swim by reading a book. You can read as many books as you like on how to swim but if you don’t actually get into the water and have a go you will never be able to say you can swim. 

It’s much the same with prayer. You can read as many books as you like and listen to all the podcasts you can manage to digest but if you never get around to actually praying it is unlikely you will ever become a convinced pray-er. 

What Scripture says about prayer: 

In Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 and 7, we are told – “not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guide your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. 

Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 17 and 18 “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”. 

Without prayer we go through life’s difficulties on our own. While with believing prayer we can face the same problems in the unlimited power of God. When this happens, our situations can take on a completely different aspect. 

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. 

In Luke 11 we read that Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Even the disciples who were with Jesus on an ongoing basis and were well aware of his prayer life asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. 

What we can do to help us in prayer

There is an acronym “ACTS” which has been used by people for many years to help with prayer.  

A – is for Adoration, C is for Confession. T is for Thanksgiving and S is for Supplication. You may have been using this method of structuring your prayers for many years. Many people have found this method helpful in organising their prayers. Approach God with Adoration as He is the one to whom all adoration is due. He is the one we worship, the creator, the sustainer, the living God. He is the one who wants us to have a living relationship with himself. That is a concept that still amazes me even though I have been a Christian for many years. God wants us to have a personal one to one relationship with him. 

C – is for Confession – this is an opportunity to sort out those things that get in our way with our relationship with God. Tell Him and come clean with God about those things – whatever they are – you know what they are and so does God. God is in the forgiveness business and he loves to forgive and have a whole relationship with his people. 

T – is for thanksgiving – Thank God for everything. The small things and the big things. We have so much to thank God for. Philippians 4 says, in verses 6 and 7,  “Do not be anxious about anything but by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God”.

S – is for supplication – My wife had a friend who said that when it comes to prayer she didn’t want to bother God with things in her life. He is far too busy and He would not be very interested anyway. This always makes me smile. It’s good to be able to say that nowhere in the Bible is there any evidence that God is too busy and that He doesn’t want to be bothered with people and their lives. In fact, it’s quite the reverse. Anyway, how do we measure what is a big thing or a small thing in our lives that we might determine the extent of God’s interest? With God there is really no big or little thing. God is very interested in every detail of our lives so we should talk to him about everything and listen to him and he will guide us as we trust him moment by moment. 

The Lord’s Prayer can also be used as a template for prayer. This template is available on the internet. This template gives very helpful and specific information on how to pray. 

When and where do we pray? 

The Philippians verse just quoted says – “but in every situation”. It does not say only when it is important, or when we are in church or the home group or some other place or situation. We can pray at any time and any place about anything. It’s almost as if God can hardly wait to hear from us. He wants to be involved. 

Jesus on many occasions exhorted us to “ask”. He said, “You have not because you ask not”. Numerous times Jesus is recorded begging us to ask. Jesus is making it very plain that God wants us to make our requests known to him and that he wants to give. So why don’t we ask?

God wants us to pray. Not because it seems a nice thing, a “spiritual” thing to do but God wants us to talk with him. He created us for fellowship with himself. Not just in emergencies or when things get a bit difficult but all the time about all and everything. Not just the big things. So don’t let anything or anyone put you off talking with God.  

The more you pray the more you will find to pray about and the more you’ll be led to pray for others. Don’t allow unanswered prayer to discourage you or cause you to doubt that God has heard you. If you have received Jesus and are praying in his name, God hears you and something is happening whether you see it manifested in your life now or not. In fact, every time you pray you are advancing God’s purposes for you and others covered by the prayer. 

And what if you feel your prayers are not being answered? 

We need to remind ourselves that God’s timing is not our timing. I guess if God said “yes” to everyone’s request the world would get into quite a mess within a short space of time. God answers every prayer, it’s just that across some he writes “The time is not right yet”. Job, with all his trials asked, “How long will this trial last? Why doesn’t God answer?” Because it takes as long as it takes – and usually feels as uncomfortable the whole time. But there’s good news. Eventually your prayers become less about getting and more about connecting with God. By letting him work 1. You begin to realise he is with you. 2. You develop a deeper level of intimacy with him 3. You discover you can trust him entirely. 

Examples of answered prayer 

Earlier this year my son Daniel and his wife Amy asked my wife Patricia and myself if we would like to take an overseas trip with them to South America. We leapt at the opportunity as Patricia and I had never been to South America and so the flight seats were booked. About six weeks before we were due to depart, I managed to damage my sciatic nerve quite badly. It’s a very disabling pain affecting the spine. It was so bad that I could not walk upright. Well, how was I to sit in a plane for many hours let alone getting about sightseeing etc. Well of course there were prayers volunteered by various friends. One prayer occasion I remember distinctly was at a monthly meeting of the church prayer group. That’s the group of people who pray after each Sunday service down the front of the church. The meeting had just finished when Cate our leader suddenly said, “We forgot to pray for Peter’s back!” And so, we prayed. Well, my back started to improve gradually but still left me with a lot of pain right up to the day before we left. On the day we left I was totally free of pain. The second day I was free of pain and thanks to the Lord, subsequent days also. So, I’m a great believer in the power of prayer. 

Is God simply someone who exists to supply all our needs? A sort of Father Christmas God? We don’t pray simply for God to meet all our needs or rescue us from difficult situations. When we pray, we begin to realise that God is with us in our difficulties and he is also with us moment by moment, day by day. 

In Matthew 18 verse 19 Jesus says, “Whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in Heaven.”  Last time I spoke about prayer I quoted an extract from the Word for Today which was published some years ago now. Some listeners at the time enjoyed the story so much I will repeat it again here. 

Another example of answered prayer

Becky Smith was eighty-four years old and her sister Christine was eighty-two. The years had taken sight from the first and bent the body of the second, so they couldn’t attend church. Yet their church needed them. They lived on the Isle of Lewis off the North West coast of Scotland, and a spiritual darkness had settled on their village of Barvas. I looked up Barvas on Google and it had a sort of Chatham Island remote ambience about it. The congregation was losing people, and the youth were mocking the faith, speaking of conversion as a plague. In October 1949 the Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland called upon their members to pray. But what could two elderly housebound sisters do? Quite a lot they determined. They turned their cottage into an all-night house of prayer. From 10pm until 4am two nights each week, they asked God to have mercy on their island. After several months, Becky told Christine that God had spoken these words to her: “I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground”. This is from Isaiah 44:3. She urged her pastor to conduct a revival and invite the well-known evangelist at the time, Duncan Campbell, to speak. When Campbell refused to come, she insisted: “God says he is coming and he’ll be here in a fortnight’. And it happened! For five weeks Campbell preached every night to overflowing crowds at 7pm, 10pm, midnight and 3am. Sinners were converted, pubs closed for lack of patrons and the Isle of Lewis tasted the presence of God – All because two women prayed in agreement. 

I’m sure that if we were really convinced how much God loved us, we would be so much more prayerful. I like to think we have a covenant God – not a contractual God. God loves us unconditionally. Not because we are “good.” This is his covenant – he has forgiven and redeemed us. He still loves us in spite of the fact we can’t keep our side of the bargain or covenant. We don’t have to earn brownie points with God. We don’t pray to get God to do what we want Him to do. We pray to find what God wants us to do – It’s as if he enlists us for a purpose and a plan. 

Imagine that! God wants to have a relationship with you and me. He constantly says throughout the Scriptures that he wants a relationship with us – why are we so slow to take him up on this???

Places for prayer

Now prayer can take place in different situations. 

Daily devotional prayer. You may read a part of the Bible or some form of Bible devotional material such as Daily Bread or Word for Today. My wife Patricia and I like to use Word for Today. 

You may be comfortable praying by yourself in a daily devotional way. 

Some groups have a prayer time after they have completed a time of Bible study. 

Some people have a prayer partner where they meet regularly for prayer in a one-to-one arrangement. 

In this church we have prayer here at the front of the church after the service for those who would like it. It is interesting to note that in recent times more people are taking this opportunity for prayer to involve God in their lives and the lives of others. 

What about walking prayers. This has become quite popular with some groups. People like to pray while walking around say, a house or school or a district asking the Lord to bring blessing upon that place and the people living there or constraining Satan and his activities. There is Biblical support in the Old Testament for this type of prayer. 

What about fasting and prayer? Fasting and prayer have been the experience of the church across history. Prayer and fasting could be defined as going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God’s glory that they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire. Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision and wisdom you need. 

Different types of prayer

There are different types of prayer. Emergency prayers – God’s 24/7, 0800 phone line. You know that situation where you may be speaking with someone and can’t interrupt but you rush off a silent prayer anyway.

There are intercessory prayers where we pray on behalf of others. We have this type of prayer in our services at Tawa Baptist where we intercede on behalf of others on a wide range of local and overseas situations. 

Chat prayers where we sit down with God and discuss all the things going on in our lives along with things going on in the lives of others. Some people we may know and some we may not know. 

Mother Teresa was once asked by a journalist “When you pray what do you say to God?” She replied, “I don’t say anything, I just listen”. “And does God say anything to you?” “No – He just listens”. I know of some people who just remain silent and quietly listen to God. They don’t say anything but simply listen. 

Another source of prayer is our church prayer chain for those who would like prayer. Often for those who are facing an operation or other health issue. You can contact Will or the church office. An email request is then sent to those who undertake to pray for the person or situation. 

There is also the church Prayer Quilt support. The Prayer Quilt group use their skills to produce special prayer quilts. The quilt is displayed at the front of the church during a service and people are invited to come to the front and tie a knot on the quilt along with prayer for the person concerned. The quilt is then given to the person in need of prayer support. 

Prayer diaries or prayer journals

One way to be really encouraged in prayer is by keeping a prayer journal or diary. In the journal or diary, you record your prayer request or you may make a note of some biblical question that puzzles you. You pray about this and ask God for insight. Sometime later, say months or a year later, you go back to the journal and see how the Lord has answered your prayer or gives you clarification or insight. The internet has numerous templates for Prayer Journals so look them up on the internet if you want to start a prayer journal of your own. 

In Hebrews 9, verse 24, we read “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf”. 

Prayer is a vital part of our Christian life. Jesus made the way open to God with what he has done in breaking down barriers. Through his death and resurrection we are able to go before his throne of grace. He has made the way for us. 

Conclusion:

So let’s pray without ceasing – don’t give up. As already mentioned in I Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 16 to 18, we are told to rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

Let’s close with prayer…

Thank you Lord for prayer. Thank you that we can share all aspects of our life with you. The big and the small. We thank you Lord for your blessings and all you have done for us. Help us Lord to be more prayerful – to seek you and trust you more. In Jesus name, Amen.

Tawa Baptist

Destiny

Scripture: Genesis 49:13-28

Video Link: https://youtu.be/DjrHzeXa9p0

Structure:

  • Introduction
  • Genesis 49:13-28
  • Conclusion

Introduction:

Good morning everyone.

If I were to say, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get’, who would I be quoting? [Wait] That’s right Forrest Gump.

A box of chocolates normally contains a variety of flavours, some we like and others not so much. The point here is that life is full of unknowns. We don’t always know what’s coming our way. Some experiences will be to our liking and others we may prefer to spit out.

Today we continue our series in the life of Joseph. We’ve come to that part in the story where Joseph’s father, Jacob, is on his death bed saying his last goodbyes to his twelve sons. Jacob’s poem gives each of his sons an insight into their character and the destiny for their descendants.

It’s sort of like Jacob is saying, this is the flavour chocolate I see for you. The sons can do little else but listen and swallow their father’s words. Last week we heard what Jacob had to say to his four eldest sons. This week we hear Jacob’s words to his eight younger sons. From Genesis 49, verse 13, we read…

13 “Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon. 14 “Issachar is a raw-boneddonkey lying down among the sheep pens. 15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labour. 6 “Danwill provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward. 18 “I look for your deliverance, Lord. 19 “Gadwill be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. 20 “Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king. 21 “Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns. 22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. 23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayedlimber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of your father’s God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below, blessings of the breast and womb. 26 Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, thanthe bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince amonghis brothers. 27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.” 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.

Genesis 49:13-28

One of the themes explored by the film Forrest Gump is the question of whether our lives are subject to destiny. Is our storyalready written by some higher power, or is what happens to us just random?

Towards the end of the movie Forrest says this…

“I don’t know if Momma was right or if it’s Lieutenant Dan. I don’t know if we each have a destiny or if we’re all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze. But I think maybe it’s both.”

With last week’s message in mind, we might want to add that the choices we make affect our lives as well. Yes, there are things in this life that are beyond our control. We don’t always know what flavour chocolate we might get. But the principle that we reap what we sow also holds true.

In verse 13, Jacob says, “Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon”.

Zebulun was Jacob’s tenth son, the youngest of the boys born to Leah. In this verse Jacob seems to be indicating the location of the land that will be allotted to Zebulun in Canaan. The problem is that history does not square with Jacob’s prediction.

Zebulun’s territory was landlocked with no sea in sight. Jacob’s prediction (if it is to be taken literally) fits better for Asher. So how do we explain this?

Has something been lost in translation? Did Jacob get it wrong? Did God change his mind? We simply do not know.

Personally, I like the anomaly. It suggests that a people’s destiny is not set in stone. Yes, some things about the future are predetermined. Jesus will return in glory one day. God’s kingdom will be realized on earth in its fullness. There will be a resurrection of the dead and a day of judgment.

But there is also some flexibility, some wriggle room. God, in his grace, gives us options. The choices we make do matter, for this life and the next.

Remembering that this is poetry, Jacob’s words may not be intended to support a literal reading. The image of one of the tribes of Israel being a haven for ships is quite beautiful really. It speaks of welcome and sanctuary for foreigners. It’s about making room for people who are not part of ethnic Israel.

After all, the people of God don’t exist exclusively for themselves. God intended Israel to be a blessing to the nations. Perhaps this is the destiny (or the purpose) Jacob had in mind for Zebulun.

In verses 14-15 Jacob addresses Issachar, his ninth son. Issachar is compared to a donkey lying down. This is a strange image. Donkeys are work animals, the ancient equivalent of a ute. And yet this donkey is resting. Donkeys were also symbolic, in ancient Israel, of peace (in contrast to warhorses).

Is Jacob saying that Issachar’s tribe will be peaceful but lazy? We can’t be sure. Verse 15 sheds more light though, saying, “he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labour”, apparently to remain on the land.

The idea of forced labour suggests the tribe of Issachar will be oppressed at some point. If a people are oppressed, they basically have three options:

Fight back, find somewhere else to live or stay and submit.

Issachar’s tribe choose to stay and submit, such was their love for the land.

Submitting probably doesn’t seem as brave or patriotic as fighting back, but the tribe of Issachar’s choice to submit is not dishonourable. This is, in fact, what Jesus instructed his followers to do.

Jesus told the Israelites of his day to submit to Roman rule. Turn the other cheek. Walk the extra mile. Don’t take up arms against Rome for you will lose. ‘My kingdom’, said Jesus, ‘is not of this world.’  

Dan was Jacob’s fifth son, the eldest born to Bilhah. Jacob says that Dan will provide justice for the people of Israel. He will be like a snake that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

A snake generally attacks alone and by stealth, taking the horse and rider by surprise. It could be that Jacob is talking about Samson here. Samson was one of the Judges of Israel and part of the tribe of Dan. Samson had superhuman strength and a temper to match.

Samson did not sit in a court of law, following due process and passing verdicts. He wasn’t that kind of judge. Nor did he lead an army. Samson was more like Judge Dread. He acted alone as judge, jury and executioner. Samson’s justice was destructive. Issachar’s tribe submitted to oppression, but Samson (from the tribe of Dan) fought back.   

In verse 18 Jacob pauses to offer a prayer to God saying, “I look for your deliverance, Lord”. This is interesting. Even though Samson dealt some heavy blows to Israel’s enemies, he did not deliver Israel (not properly).

Violence begets violence. Revenge may provide relief from oppression for a short while but eventually the weeds of hate and injustice grow back.

Jacob was looking to the Lord to provide a lasting deliverance. Not an unreliable peace, brought about by brute force, but a permanent peace brought about by justice and mercy. Jesus is God’s answer to Jacob’s prayer for deliverance. Jesus is the Prince of peace.

In verse 19 Jacob says that Gad, his seventh son, the first born to Zilpah, will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels. Yet again we read of the sons of Israel facing opposition and attack.

The land allotted to Gad was on the border of Israel and was subject to raids from other people groups. Consequently, the tribe of Gad became renowned as warriors who defended the borders of Israel. Their symbol was a military tent.

The image of attacking the raiders at their heels suggests the raiders will be chased off by the tribe of Gad.  

Given what’s happening in Israel and Gaza at present, we may feel uncomfortable with this military imagery. I don’t understand the politics of the middle east so best not to share my ignorance on that subject.

I will say though that the Bible should not be hijacked or weaponized to serve a contemporary military / political agenda. Nor should we impose our twenty-first century context on the Old Testament. The world we live in is not the same as the ancient near east.  

If you want to take anything from Jacob’s words to his sons, take his prayer for the Lord’s deliverance. As followers of a crucified Messiah (who understands human suffering first hand) our role is to pray for God to deliver all sides from the war.     

In his letter to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul writes…

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…

As Christians, who live in New Zealand, our fight is not a geo-political one. Our fight is a spiritual one. Our weapons are not guns and grenades. We protect ourselves with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.

They say that geography is destiny. Where you are born and where you live has a huge influence on what happens to you in this life. If you were born in New Zealand, then you won the lottery. Your destiny would look a lot different if you lived in the Ukraine. New Zealand is not perfect, but it is still a relatively good place to live. Our generation has the privilege of not needing to go to war.  

The tribe of Gad were not so fortunate. Located on the eastern border of Israel, they faced more armed conflict (in ancient times) than the tribe of Asher, who were situated out of harm’s way by the Mediterranean Sea.

Jacob says, Asher’s food will be rich; he will provide delicacies fit for a king. This is an image of prosperity. The soil of the land of Asher was particularly fertile.

The tribe of Asher was renowned for the abundance and quality of the olive oil they produced.  This oil was used in cooking and in religious rituals. It made the tribe of Asher rich. I’m reminded of the oil of God’s Spirit who enriches our lives and relationships.

In verse 21 Jacob comes to his sixth son, Naphtali. The name Naphtali means my struggle, my strife or wrestling. (Not the cutest name for a baby.) Jacob had more than his share of struggle and strife. He wrestled with God and man.

So, it is significant that Jacob says, “Naphtali is a doe set free that bears beautiful fawns”.  It’s like saying my struggle is over. My strife is finished. I am released from my wrestling match. The image here is one of deliverance from some ordeal. Jacob sees good things in store for the tribe of Naphtali.

In Luke 4, verse 18, Jesus said…

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…”   

It is through Jesus that we too can share in the blessing of Naphtali, to be set free from our struggle and strife.    

And so we come to Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son and Rachel’s first. We need to remember that Jacob’s blessing for Joseph is also a blessing for Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who Jacob had adopted as his own.

In verse 22, Jacob describes Joseph as a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. There is some ambiguity with the original Hebrew here which means we should be cautious with our interpretation.

A fruitful vine that is well watered by a nearby spring so that its branches climb over a wall, speaks of vitality and abundance and growth. The vine and its fruit do not exist for its own sake. The vine exists to feed and sustain others. As Prime Minister of Egypt, Joseph’s outreach in feeding the nations was far and wide.

Looking further ahead from the time of Joseph, we note that Joshua (the great leader of Israel mentored by Moses) was descended from Joseph’s son, Ephraim. Joshua led the people of Israel in climbing walls and taking possession of the land.

But, even with this wonderful image of a fruitful vine, life was not plain sailing for Joseph. Joseph faced some serious opposition and so would his descendants. In verse 23 we read how archers attacked Joseph with hostility, but Joseph’s bow remained steady.  

I don’t know if you saw Country Calendar last Sunday. It featured a farmer from Southland who grows veges. The farmer was explaining his attitude to life. He said, when you are running with the ball (in rugby) you can expect to be tackled. When that happens, you get up again and carry on with the game.

When Joseph was running with the ball, his brothers (those on his own team) tackled him. But Joseph didn’t stay down. He got up and carried on with the game. Joseph was not rattled. His bow remained steady and his arms strong.   

But Joseph did not do this in his own strength. Joseph prevailed because the hand of God steadied him and blessed him and made him strong.

Do you remember Gideon from the time of the Judges, who famously laid a fleece? Well Gideon was also descended from Joseph, through Manasseh’s line. God’s hand steadied Gideon so he defeated thousands of Midianites with just 300 hundred men.

Like Judah, who we heard about last week, Joseph gets five verses, while most of the other brothers get just one or two verses. The descendants of Joseph would rule the northern tribes of Israel, just as the descendants of Judah would rule in the south.

Six times the word blessing is repeated in connection with Joseph and his descendants. Blessings of the skies above and blessings of the deep springs below is a poetic way of saying Joseph’s tribes will be surrounded by blessings wherever they go. It’s like that song, Love is all around me and so the feeling grows…

Blessings of breast and womb refer to sustenance and fertility. Joseph’s tribes will be large in numbers and well fed. And your father’s blessings, which are greater than the ancient mountains, speak to the resilience of the blessing Jacob gave Joseph and his sons. The blessing will last, like the hills.  

The poem finishes with Jacob’s words for Benjamin, his youngest son.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”

Wolves have a fearsome reputation. But, as apex predators, they also have an important role to play in protecting the environment for all creatures. Without wolves, grazing animals would become too numerous and destroy the vegetation, upsetting the balance in nature.  

Unlike snakes, which are solitary creatures, wolves are communal. They normally hunt in packs, with a leader. This improves their chances of survival.

The tribe of Benjamin were known as skilled warriors, sort of like the special forces of ancient Israel. Perhaps the most famous descendant of Benjamin was king Saul, the first king of Israel.

Sadly, it did not end well for Saul. While king Saul had some early success, he also had a tendency to go rogue and act without reference to God. So the Lord gave the leadership to David, who was from the tribe of Judah. David was a shepherd, not a wolf.

Conclusion:

When we look back at Jacob’s words to his twelve sons, we notice that most of the descendants of Israel faced a destiny that included fighting or opposition of some kind. While Jacob certainly had good things to say to his boys, the blessings are mixed with hardship and difficulty.

Jesus’ message to his disciples was similar…

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

This implies that the ultimate destiny for those who follow Jesus is a reward in heaven. But the road to that destiny is marked by opposition. May God give us strength to stand and hope to endure. Amen.

Questions for discussion or reflection:

  1. What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?
  2. What did Forrest Gump mean when he said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates…’? Do you agree? What ‘chocolates’ has life given you?
  3. Do you believe we each have a destiny or is life more random than that? Why do you believe this? What difference do our choices make?
  4. Of the twelve sons of Israel, who do you identify with the most and why? If you had a choice, which tribe would you want to be a part of? 
  5. How do you normally respond to conflict or opposition? What opposition do you face? What is your best strategy for managing this?
  6. What does Jacob mean when he prays, ‘I look for your deliverance, Lord’? What deliverance do you look for from the Lord?
  7. Where were you born? Where do you currently live? How has this shaped your destiny? 
  8. In what ways do the sons of Israel point to Jesus? In what ways are they different from Jesus?