THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO GENESIS When God Is For You, He Keeps His Promises-Part I Genesis 45-47 READ TEXT. PRAY. I. INTRODUCTION a. OPENER Hook Peter Pan s broken promises i. The adventurous, mischievous hero of Neverland who vowed never to grow up has forgotten who he is. Indeed, he has grown up but only to become a fat, overworked alcoholic who hides from his family. Selfish. Dismissive. Angry. ii. Yet, his son idolizes him. In spite of all of his fatherly failures, Jack still expects his dad to come to keep his promises and come to one of his ball games. Yet, time and again, the promise is broken. iii. My word is my bond. iv. Yeah, junk bond. b. Comments. I am thankful this morning that we serve a God who is unchanging, who has not grown fat and selfish and dismissive toward us, who indeed has won our victory and provision in Christ and who keeps all of His precious promises to us. c. Transition statement. In recent weeks, as we have watched the book of Genesis near its end, we have followed this God of promise and His Christ in the life of Joseph. i. Joseph is the blessed righteous son who through faithfulness and suffering secures the salvation and blessing of His people. ii. Joseph is the blessed righteous son who, falsely accused and cast into the pit, is rewarded for his suffering, and having been highly lifted up, becomes a blessing to the nations. iii. Joseph is the blessed righteous son, afflicted by his brothers, falsely accused and cast into the pit by his enemy, who as exalted judge over his persecutors, responds with forgiveness. d. Main Point of the Text. Today, Joseph is the blessed righteous son, afflicted now exalted, who plunders his enemy, provides for his people and insures the promises. e. Comments. God s people, that is Joseph s brothers and his father, are called to rest in the victory, provision and assurance of God offered through this blessed righteous son. f. Christ Connection. Jesus is the blessed righteous son, afflicted now exalted, who plunders his enemy, provides for his people and insures the promises. g. Main Point of the Sermon. God s people are called to rest in the victory, provision and assurance of God in Jesus Christ.
h. Transition statement. To rest in the victory, provision, and assurance of God in Jesus Christ, we need to examine two themes prominent not only in this text but throughout the book of Genesis promise and fulfillment. II. THEME #1 CERTAIN PROMISES ARE MADE CONCERNING GOD S PEOPLE a. EXPLANATION To rest in the victory, provision, and assurance of God in Jesus Christ, we need to understand that certain promises have been made concerning His people. i. First, there is the promise of earthly provision 1. PERSONAL ILLUSTRATION God has always provided for our needs, even during times of unfaithfulness. 2. Joseph promises earthly provision to his father and brothers a. He makes these promises by virtue of his earthly authority i. Courtesy of Pharaoh 45:16-20 b. He makes these promises by virtue of a heavenly authority 1. Genesis 45:8-11 3. Joseph offers assurances to his brothers of the promise he has made a. Presence 1. Genesis 45:12 b. Plunder 1. Genesis 45:13 c. Provision i. Garments ii. Money iii. Transportation iv. Feed a. Genesis 45:21-23 d. Precept 1. Go Genesis 45:9 2. Say Genesis 45:9 3. Come Genesis 45:24 Do not quarrel 4. Joseph s father and brothers obey his commands a. Joseph s brothers obey i. They go ii. They tell iii. They show iv. They carry
a. Genesis 45:25-27 b. Genesis 46:5-7 b. Jacob obeys i. He believes ii. He goes iii. He worship a. Genesis 45:27-46:1 b. STORED APPLICATION To rest in the victory, provision, and assurance of God in Jesus Christ, we need to understand that the promise of earthly provision has been made concerning His people. i. God has promised us earthly provision a. Matthew 6:25-34; 7:11 2. SPECIFIC APPLICATION a. Do not be worried i. Food ii. Clothing b. Seek His kingdom/righteousness c. Trust in His promises a. Trust in His love ii. Transition statement. Not only is there the promise of earthly provision but there is the promise of spiritual provision as well. iii. Second, there is the promise of spiritual provision (covenant) 1. God promises spiritual provision (covenant) to Jacob v. 3 a. He makes these promises by virtue of His presence do not be afraid to go down b. He makes these promises by virtue of His power I am God c. He makes these promises by virtue of His faithfulness the God of your father i. To Isaac ii. To Abraham 2. God offers assurances to Jacob of the promises He has made. a. Joseph will close your eyes. i. The son who was dead is alive. ii. The son who was afflicted is now blessed. iii. The son who was a slave now rules and reigns. 3. Jacob obeys God s command a. In light of the promise b. In light of the assurance
c. In action i. He trusts God 1. Rising 2. Riding ii. He trusts God with all he has 1. His possessions 2. His people a. From the text i. Genesis 46:5-7 iii. He trusts God to keep His promises a. Genesis 46:28 c. STORED APPLICATION To rest in the victory, provision, and assurance of God in Jesus Christ, we need to understand that the promise of spiritual provision has been made concerning His people. i. God has promised us spiritual provision a. II Peter 1:3-11 ii. SPECIFIC APPLICATION 1. Apply diligence to your faith a. Moral excellence b. Knowledge c. Self-control d. Perseverance e. Godliness f. Brotherly kindness g. Love 2. Apply diligence to your practice a. So as not to stumble b. So as to enter the kingdom 3. Apply diligence to the mission a. Go. b. Tell. c. Show. d. Carry. iii. God has offered assurances to us of the promises He had made 1. The son who was dead is alive. 2. The son who was afflicted is now blessed. 3. The son who was a slave now rules and reigns. iv. So we trust and we obey, not to obtain the promises and assurances but IN LIGHT of them. d. ILLUSTRATION Trust and Obey
i. Verse 1 When we walk with the Lord In the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! Let us do His good will; He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey. Verse 2 Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay; Not a grief or a loss, Not a frown or a cross But is blest if we trust and obey. Verse 3 But we never can prove The delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows And the joy He bestows Are for them who will trust and obey. Verse 4 Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we ll walk by His side in the way; What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go; Never fear, only trust and obey. Chorus Trust and obey, For there s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey. e. SUMMATION AND RESPONSE We are called to rest in the victory, provision and assurance of God in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the blessed righteous son, afflicted in our place on the cross but raised and now exalted to the right hand of God the Father, has plundered the enemy,
Satan, sin, death, and the grave, he has provided for his people, salvation and eternal rest in Him, and he has insured the promises by the presence of His Holy Spirit and the advancement of His kingdom throughout the world.