Joseph No.20 Jacob's request to Joseph

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for loving me.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord, for loving me.

You went to Calvary and there you died for me. Thank you, Lord, for loving me. You went to Calvary and there you died for me.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me. You rose up from the grave to give your life to me. Thank you, Lord, for loving me.

You rose up from the grave to give your life to me. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, Lord. The book of Genesis and chapter 47 reads some very interesting words, which we'll just pan out a little more by taking on a few relevant verses from the next chapter, and then even further explanation by some verses from the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. You recall how last time we were looking at Joseph and Jacob in the presence of Pharaoh, and how remarkably Pharaoh asked Jacob to bless him.

Now some years have elapsed. Jacob and his sons are settled in Egypt, and there are certain things that are still perhaps not a worry, but nonetheless a challenge in the mind of Jacob, and he expresses them to his trusted son, Joseph. So Genesis 47, verse 27.

Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there, and were fruitful, and increased greatly in number. Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven.

When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thighs, and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried. I will do as you say, he said.

Swear to me, he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Now turn over the page, and to the forty-ninth chapter.

Similar sort of scene, but not just Joseph present, but rather the rest of the brothers. Verse twenty-nine. Then he, Jacob, gave them, the sons, these instructions.

I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephraim the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial place from Ephraim the Hittite, along with the field. There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah.

The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites. 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. Now Hebrews in chapter eleven.

The thirteenth verse makes reference to the patriarchs, that is, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, all the outstanding men of the first book of the Bible. And it says this in the thirteenth verse of Hebrews eleven. All these people were still living by faith when they died.

They did not receive the things promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one.

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Verse twenty-one. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshipped.

As he leant on the top of his staff. Just the ladies. Now the men.

Stranger. Everyone. When you.

Over me. My. There are many things, are there not, which are commendable.

About the life of Joseph. In many ways he anticipates the New Testament. In many ways he gives us illustration of the sort of person that we ought to be as we endeavor to live our lives for our Lord Jesus here on this earth.

Not only does he anticipate the New Testament, but he anticipates some of the teachings of God in the Ten Commandments. Which will be entrusted to the descendants of Jacob in later years. Our Lord Jesus singled out as one of the great commandments, the first great commandment with promise.

Honor. Thy father. And thy mother.

I wonder if you do that. Do you honor your parents? Those of you who still have parents alive. It's a very wonderful thing.

In the sight of God. To see children. Adult children.

Who respect and honor. The parents that he gave them. Well, that it seems to me was one of the keys of Joseph's success.

You say, what do you mean? I mean that he read the heart of God. And in dealing with his own kith and kin, as we've seen his brothers, but even now, more particularly with his father. He did what God wanted.

Here's that old man. Jacob. He comes with fullness of years into Egypt.

Somewhat reluctant to go. Seeking the permission of God before he set foot in Egypt. Which had known many unpleasant experiences for his forebears.

And that decrepit man, he makes his way towards Joseph. And Joseph, you recall, introduces him to Pharaoh. And as I said last time, I think that one of the staggering historical incidents in the Old Testament.

Is described when Pharaoh says to Jacob. Bless me. The Egyptian.

And the Hebrew. The regal. And the rustic.

The modern. And the ancient. The man who was all success.

And the man who seems at the materialistic level to be all failure. And it's Pharaoh who says. Bless me.

Jacob. And that he does, you recall. In the presence of.

Joseph. And the years go by. You might have thought from the reading in the ninth verse of this chapter.

That that was to be the end of Jacob's life. But actually, there was still 17 years longer. For Jacob to enjoy the company of Joseph in Egypt.

Before the final sands went through the glass. And so we get another picture. In the 28th verse.

And it's good for you to realize how long a distance of time has elapsed since that previous incident. And this one. Jacob lived, verse 28, in Egypt 17 years.

And the years of his life were 147. And then. Well, then he seems to be in some way.

A little concerned. Not distressed. But concerned to ensure that certain things in his life were absolutely in order.

I think it's a great Puritan who says. To people like ourselves. When you come to the point of dying.

Ensure that all you have to do. Is simply to die. What that somber comment meant was this.

Ensure as best you can. That you've tidied up everything. That you've done what you ought to have done.

That there are no loose strings. You see. The man, the woman who doesn't look after his affairs.

When he or she dies on this earth. Does not honor God. As best you can.

Using the intelligence that God has given you. And the abilities to settle your affairs in order. So you should.

It seems to me that this is a genius. If you like of Jacob. In one sense.

The last years of his life were the best years. It seems to me that Jacob became Israel. Jacob the Twister becomes the Prince of God.

Particularly during those last 17 years. And I latch on to that. I find great hope in that.

Because it encourages me. And encourages some of you. Who are in middle years.

Or in later years of life. That the last decade and a half or so. Can be the best.

I wonder. And here I just muse. I wonder if the reason why Pharaoh says to Jacob.

Will you bless me. Was because he saw something in that decrepit old man. In his eyes.

He saw something of faith. An understanding. Something that Jacob knew.

That Pharaoh did not know. About the afterlife. You see.

No thinking person. Goes through life. Without some concern.

As to what happens at the end. It may be that in rash moments. People say these things don't concern them.

Don't believe that rash moment. It is clearly demonstrably untrue. The Egyptians.

The aristocracy of the Egyptians. Were always preparing for the afterlife. There somewhere in one of the great Egyptian cities.

Or on the outskirts. A mammoth mausoleum was being built. To this Pharaoh.

To house his remains ultimately. And to entomb the servants. Who worked alongside him.

And his wives. To have placed within them. The chariots.

And all the golden utensils. In his palace. So that somehow.

In some mystical magical fashion. All these could be translated into another world. But maybe Pharaoh wasn't so convinced.

He sees this old Hebrew. There's something about godliness. That radiates itself.

Do you know Jacob. You seem to have no terror. When you talk about dying.

You refer to your life as a pilgrimage. And a pilgrimage means. Moving from one place to another.

The place you're going from. That I understand. For I share life with you.

But the place you're going to. When speak. With such certainty.

That I don't understand. Will you bless me. Jacob.

It's a bit of a legend. And I'm rather a sentimentalist. As you'll have gathered.

If you've heard me over the years. In some respect. There's a legend about the donkey.

In the Middle East. Do you like donkeys? There's something about the donkey. Isn't there? That always looks friendly.

He may not be. But he always looks it. And there's a bit of a conceit.

In a donkey's face. Have you ever seen that? And the legend is this. That well.

A donkey was used to carry Mary. And Jesus down to Egypt. And ultimately our lord.

Used a donkey to. Enter into Jerusalem. And the suggestion is.

That donkeys took people. To the foot of the cross. And that somewhere.

In one of these journeys. The donkey had the secret. Given to him.

This beast of burden. Over against all other animals. That one day.

God had got something special. For this world. Well you can take the legend.

Or reject it. Though you're hanging on to every word. When I was just telling it.

You see you're obviously lying stories. But it does seem to me. That there is that sense of.

A knowledge. An appreciation. A lack of fear.

For what lies beyond. On the part of Jacob Israel. You see he's not always.

Been close to his God. But when news came. Of Joseph being in Egypt.

And he having to up anchor. And go with his sons to Egypt. He made his peace with the Lord.

Again you recall. He went to Beersheba. And all those promises.

And all those covenants. That God had gone. Had enacted with Abraham.

And with Isaac. With Jacob's forefathers. They were all underlined afresh.

In Jacob's own conviction. And when he speaks of his death. He now does so.

Not with pessimism. But with optimism. I shall go.

I shall go to my forefathers. And I wonder if that's the reason. Why Pharaoh.

Detected something about Jacob. That he never saw in anyone else. And thus he asks.

That Jacob the lesser. Might bless he Pharaoh. The greater.

But all that by the by. 17 years have elapsed. And Joseph.

Is once more sought for. By Jacob. Because he has something.

That he wants to entrust to his son. And who better to ask for. An assurance.

That his wishes will be done. When he dies than Joseph. The one who's always.

Been faithful to him. So verse 29. When the time drew near.

For Israel to die. He called for his son Joseph. And said to him.

If I have found favor in your eyes. Put your hand upon my thigh. And promise that you will show me kindness.

And faithfulness. He's troubled. Not about dying.

But where his body will remain. The final end. To his human remains.

He doesn't want to stay. In Egypt. He's not an Egyptian.

He's a Hebrew. He'll die a Hebrew. He's grateful for the kindnesses of Pharaoh.

But he knows an even greater than Pharaoh. And where Pharaoh in his generosity to. Offer Jacob some corridor.

Some spacious room. In that mausoleum that's being built. So that his remains could be there alongside Pharaoh's.

Jacob Israel would have said no. I'm not an Egyptian. My grandfather bought a cave.

At Machpelah. In the land of promise. There my remains.

Are to be entombed. Joseph. Put your hand on the intimate part of my body.

On my thigh. Standing for the procreation activity. Of the human race.

And on that very holy spot of my body. Will you promise me as Abraham's servant promised. My grandfather when he was entrusted to find.

A wife for his son. Will you promise me that I won't be buried. In Egypt.

There is that of Joseph. That you find illustrated. In his father towards the end of his life.

You couldn't have said like father like son. In the earlier years. Because there was so much disparity between Jacob.

And Joseph. In those earlier decades. But now Jacob Israel.

Is showing himself you see as the prince of God that he really is. It's amazing what God can do with a man. And so he calls his own trusted son.

And he says will you ensure. That my death. My interment.

Does not take place in Egypt. Now let's just pause for a moment and read behind the story a little. I've drawn out the fact twice thus far.

That Jacob has been 17 years. In Egypt. I would argue that this perhaps was the best part of his life.

I don't just argue it because it's my thought. Charles Spurgeon got in before me and anticipated my coming. The best part of his life.

You see he's already told Pharaoh has he not. The years of my pilgrimage verse 9. Are 130 my years have been few and difficult. And do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.

And that was perfectly true. But the last 17 years. He got his children around him not so.

And his children's children. And his children's children's children. They were all there in Goshen.

He lived in the reflection of the glory that belonged to Joseph. Under the protection of Joseph. The brothers were to enjoy life in Egypt.

Look at verse 27. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. And if Jacob Israel had been a lesser man than he really was.

If he'd been like me. Then I reckon the attraction of Egypt would have numbed in some senses. Any affiliation that he felt towards the promised land.

Here have been the years of blessing. Here he has known Joseph's company. His beloved Joseph.

Son of the beloved Rachel. Here there's been so much joy and so much happiness. But it's the end of his life.

The sands are going through the glass. That he brings Joseph and he says promise me this. When I'm gone.

As far as my spirit's concerned. Take my bones. Take my body.

Back. To Egypt. He dies in faith.

All my brothers and sisters. If I could wish you anything. I speak sensitively and sincerely.

I could wish you fullness of faith. At the moment of your departure. He died trusting in God.

You see he'd never inherited any of the promised land had he? Apart from that tract of land that Abraham had bought from the Hittites. None of the promised land belonged to him. He was Egypt.

He was Goshen. He is Joseph. He is Pharaoh.

Here is the intercourse that he has with his sons and their daughters and so on and so forth. But this man. He's a pilgrim passing through.

He's got his eyes that are fixed on a better land. On a greater promise. And when he dies.

He'll die full of faith. In the assurance that what God spoke to Abraham. And to Isaac.

And to he Jacob himself God would perform. The fullness of faith when you die. So that you know your times are locked up in the purposes of God.

And he takes you from this world into the next. Oh my friends. The great problem I say today.

Is the attraction of Goshen. You see what I mean? It's the idea that somehow we're here forever. We say in our services on a Sunday.

And we sing in our hymns that this is not the case. But demonstrably so. It is.

For many of us. If your eyes are more fixed upon this world. What this world offers.

The pharaohs. And the legitimate relationships of ordinary people. If that's all that you're living for.

Then I tell you Jacob rises up. Son of Joseph. Father of Joseph.

And he acts as a corrective. No he says. Even beloved Joseph.

Your company that I've enjoyed for these last 17 years. Does not blind me to the fact. That foremost of all.

I am a child of God. An inheritor of the promises. When I die.

Have me not buried in Egypt. He's a perceptive man. Is this Jacob.

Israel. You see he knows that not all his sons. Have the same quality of godliness.

As Joseph. And things have gone well. In Egypt not so.

And if his own remains are to be interred. There in Egypt. They slip by in godliness.

Peters to an all time low. As far as his sons are concerned. Then the possibility is.

They will never contemplate. That they're only in Goshen for a while. They'll settle for Egypt.

And the old man says. Through Joseph to his sons. Never do that.

Never settle. For Egypt. If I found favor.

What an incredible. Expression. For this man.

Who's often been such a rogue. So firm. Always out for the best.

What an expression for him to use. To his to his son. If I found favor.

This is a different Jacob Israel. That speaks to his beloved Joseph. Then promise me this.

As I'm honoring you. Now Joseph. So honor my final words.

Bury me not. In. Egypt.

Joseph died. Jacob died. In faith.

He died. On board. That's what I'd wish for you to.

You say what you mean. Well really I've already linked up. On that thought.

A few moments ago. He's in Egypt. But Egypt isn't in him.

To die without this world. Having got. Its tentacles into you.

To die the free man. That Jesus died on the cross of Calvary. To make you into.

So that all your life. Has as its fixed point. That conditions every.

Sub decision that you have to make. The fact that Jesus died for you. And you're destined to spend.

Eternity with him. He died. On board.

He died in Egypt. But Egypt. Not.

In him. He died prepared. As a very interesting verse which I never even spotted before.

Until I was reading it. Earlier this. Past week.

When in the 29th verse and onwards of the following chapter. You. Read.

That actually. Jacob had dug. His own cave.

I'm sorry. It's in the 50th chapter. Jacob had dug.

His own grave. When the days of mourning. Verse 4 of chapter 50.

When the days of mourning had passed. Joseph said to Pharaoh's court. If I have found favor in your eyes.

Speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him my father made me swear an oath. And said I'm about to die.

Bury me in the tomb. I dug for myself. In the land of Canaan.

Well I'm not suggesting that you take it as literally as all that. As far as you're concerned. But you see the point.

He'd already mapped it out years ago. Where he was to be buried. Alongside Abraham and Isaac.

He. Jacob Israel. Was always.

A son of the promise. Wanting to go back to the land. That he ultimately believed.

God had given to him and to his descendants. So I summarize. He died in faith.

He died on board. He died. Prepared.

It doesn't really matter where you die. Physically. Jesus's own internment in Mother Earth.

For three days. Makes the world. A potential cemetery for you and for me.

It's no. Importance to us to be buried in Palestine. But it does great.

Challenge to us. To die full of faith. To die.

On board. To die prepared. And so he puts his request to his son.

And Joseph. Swears. I will do as you say he said.

Swear to me he said. Then Joseph swore to him. A double oath.

The old man's word. Would be carried through. And then.

Then look at what you read. The last part of the 47th chapter. The final verse.

Israel. Worshipped. As he leaned on the top of his staff.

He's ready you see. He's ready to go. The old man.

With the hands that indicate the. Years that have gone by. He takes hold of his trusted staff.

Why that staff? Well if you go back to Genesis 32 and verse 10. You will see how that staff. Had some sacramental and historical value for.

Jacob Israel. For when he is reflecting on. Certain incidents in the earlier part of his life.

The way that he's crossed Jordan. He says chapter 32 verse 10. I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness.

You have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan. But now I have become two groups.

The staff. Of Jacob Israel. It had become for him.

Like the old briar pipe for some. Ancient retainer. Like the trusty Bible of many an older friend.

That staff. He'd had with him for years. That staff had been his help when God caused him to be lame.

And he halted upon his thigh. And now in a very remarkable significant. Symbolic way.

Perhaps still reclining on his bed. But with a staff on his hand he leans over. And he starts to worship God.

The old man. With a full heart. Praising the Lord.

For what he had done. The staff is symbolic not so of the shepherd. Of the pilgrim sort of life.

The idea that here you have no resting place. The staff. It was Jacob's badge.

It's felt a lot out in terms of memory. When he reflected upon the way that God had led him. And now at the end of his life.

He takes his staff. And he leans upon it. And he worships.

We're people of the staff are we not? When God spoke through Moses to the Israelites. About the Passover meal. He said don't sit down to have this meal.

Stand up. Lean upon your staff. And remember this.

You're people for action. You're pilgrim people. Ready to leave Egypt.

And the people of God have always been people of the staff. Thy rod and thy staff. They comfort me.

The old man. With beloved Joseph in his company. He makes his peace.

With himself. As Joseph agrees. That his body will be taken.

And interred in the cave. With Abraham. And Isaac.

Jacob Israel. Prince with God. He's tidied it all up.

All the loose ends. They've been brought together. And so he puts his head.

Upon his staff. And he the pilgrim. Worships the pilgrim's God.

And what does he sing? Give thanks. With a grateful heart. For all that you've done for me.

For the way you've kept me. For the way that you've guaranteed my safe conduct. For the way you've brought me back here.

To my Joseph. I give you thanks. And now.

Now I'm ready. To be taken into the place where my fathers are. To be taken not into a spirit of limbo and nonexistence.

But be taken through. To those. Who already have died.

In faith. Jacob. In the company of.

Joseph. Makes his final peace. May God enable you.

And me. To look upon our last hours. In exactly the same way.

With the sheer confidence. That Jesus has bled and died. To guarantee us.

A safe conduct. From the Jordan of this life. Across the Jordan of the next.

Into our fathers. Immediate presence. Let's bow our heads in prayer.

There was a time when Jacob was very weak. Spiritually and God strengthened him. There was a time when he was very poor spiritually.

And God enriched him. In the most incredible way God took this man. And identified with him.

And linked his name. To his. So Jacob.

Israel when he. Was out from this world. He does so with praise upon his lips.

You and I can be like him. Having trusted Jesus as savior. Enriched by the grace of God in all things.

Prepared for the end. Of our pilgrim life. On earth.

Let's stand and sing this song. It's in the white supplement if you can't see these words. And now.

Let the weak say. I am strong. Let the poor say.

I am rich. We know what the Lord has done. For us.

And now. Let the weak say. I am strong.

Let the poor say. I am rich. Father we thank you for.

What you make possible. In our lives. As we humble ourselves before you.

And whether we're at the beginning. Or the middle or the end of life. We just ask.

That you'll come so close to us. That our lives may be lived. For your honor and for your glory.

Help all to make. A faith commitment to you. In the name of Jesus our savior.

Amen. Now just before we go. I want to sing a lovely old hymn.

The king of love my shepherd is. Whose goodness faileth. Never.

I want. The king of love my shepherd is. Whose goodness faileth.

Never. I love him. I rely on him.

And he is mine. Forever. I love him.

I rely on him. And he is mine. Forever.

I love him. I rely on him. Forever.

I love him. I rely on him.