The Thrill of the Reunion with the Son - Gen 45:25-28, 46:1-6, 28-30
Intro. Start with a thought I gave you last week. Imagine as Jacob looked back to that coat of many colors, the blood, and thought it was the death of his beloved son - but that coat was never what he thought it was! It was redemption for his family. No one believed except Jacob observed 37:11 (kept them in his heart) them.
And the Dream had came true!
I. The Energizing of a Saint - 45:24-28 (Text)
A. The Revelation of Life - vs. 26 - he is alive
I can tell you, Jesus is alive! It is not merely a story, not made up by some followers, but Jesus is alive. He is at the right hand of the Father and coming again.
B. The Response of the Heart - vs. 26 (heart fainted) Oh no, and hallelujah at the same time! When we truly realize the Deity of Christ, His authority, His judgment and at the same time, His Love, Mercy and Grace - We realize that mankind is hung between hope and fear
(that is what Jacob felt). Oh no, and hallelujah at the same time!
C. The Recognition of Provision - vs. 27 - wagons that Joseph had sent
1. They Told Him the words (vs. 9-12) Ps 19:7 "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." Words were enough!
2. He saw the Wagons (Just the beginning of what Joseph had)
Eyes have not seen, we are only possessors of the beginnings and the words 2Pe 1:2 "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
God is good - A little boy and his father visited the country store. The owner of the store offered the little boy some free candy. He pointed to a big jar, and said "get a hand full of candy", the merchant said to the boy. The boy just stood there looking up at his father. The owner repeated himself, "Son get a hand full of candy, it’s free." Again the boy did not move continuing to look up in the face of his father. Finally, the father reached into the candy jar and got a hand full of candy and gave it to his son. As they walked back home, the father stopped and asked his son why he did not grab a hand full of the free candy. The boy with a big smile looked at his dad and said "Because I know that your hand is bigger than mine."
D. The Revival of the Soul - 27b Notice closely vs. 27 - - the Spirit of Jacob (the old man) FOUND REVIVAL vs. 29 - And the new man - Israel, appears!
When we are restored by confession, we will find Revival for the soul.
Jacob was ready to die! But the news of a living son brought REVIVAL.
Does revival escape us because we have forgotten the news of the Living Son?
It is Enough, Let’s go see him - Jacob was ready to face the son, with a revived heart and a willingness to go. Are we ready to face the Son? Would we say, "it is enough, I want to see him now?" Our expectation of seeing the Son will fuel our own hearts. Do we believe the Son is alive? Do we believe His words and provision today?
Are our hearts excited about the reality of the son? Are we looking for the Son?
And Jacob departed to see the son! But something happened first:
II. The Expression of Sacrifice 46:1-6 Joseph was thought to be dead. The family was summoned to come to Egypt, and dwell in Goshen, in the midst of the famine. And you would think Jacob would hurry to Joseph, but there is a stop along the way. The Journey began, but there was a stop along the way, Beersheba, the well of the Oath. It was a place where he and his fathers had known the blessings of God - Remember - Jacob had been changed!
A. A Delay of Necessity - vs. 1 (About 16 to 20 miles from Hebron)
1. The Need to Worship
- To Praise God for What He had done (Joseph was alive)
Psalms 107 says 5 times "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" God is Good!
- To Pray to God for a Safe Journey - new place ahead, never been before
2. The Need of Confidence - Here we find that Israel, the patriarch, does not
venture to even go to his beloved, until he has full divine sanction from the Lord!
B. A Dedicated Attitude - vs. 1-2
1. He brought his Family to Beersheba (children and grandchildren)
2. He brought his Wealth to Beersheba (all is God’s)
3. He brought his Will to Beersheba - Here am I
Ps 37:5 "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established."
C. A Divine Reminder - vs. 2-4
1. The Presence - vs. 2- God reveals Himself again - and HE IS STILL GOD!
2. The Provision - vs. 3-4
- God is still Able
Fear Not (Faith), vs. 3 Hebrews 13:6 "So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
- God would go with Him - vs. 4
3. The Promise - they would not be there forever!
Just because there was a famine did not mean that God was no longer God!!!
- The Land was still theirs
- God’s Promise was still true
2 Cor 1:19 "For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."
- I will Bring you back, vs. 4 (He knows the way) Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
No matter where we are, or how bad the drought is
1 John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
D. A Defined Reward - vs. 4b Rewarded for our Journey
This phrase means that Jacob would see Joseph before he died.
1. Jacob would be Rewarded because of his Faith
2 Peter 110 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
2. He would be Rewarded for Faithfulness
2 John vs. 8 "Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward." (The Reward He wants us to have)
E. The Deliberate Journey - VS. 5-6 - The Plan of God
1. A Journey of Provision for the Famine
- God Provided in the Famine
- Jacob’s pain and now his path, gave provision for his family.
2. A Journey of Promise for the Future - vs 3
"for I will there make of thee a great nation"
God will perform in us what will bring glory to Him, when we stay on the journey even in famine.
III. The Excitement of Seeing the Son - vs. 28-30
A. The Prelude of Praise - Jacob sent before Him Judah! PRAISE!!!!! We need to recapture the hearts of praise that God Intends His children to Have
B. The Presence of Grace - Joseph met them
C. The Pleasing Reunion - Hugging and weeping!!! Can you imagine?
Concl. I want to send Praise and Glory ahead of me into heaven, and when I get there, and we leave this land of Famine, I want to see those I love, but first of all I want to see the ONE WHO PROVIDED MY PASSAGE!
Are We Faithful In the Famine? Are We Walking in His Will?
Are We Ready for the Reunion?
This Journey began with a READINESS to SEE THE SON! They Stopped by the Well of Promise, and ended at the feet of the Sovereign Ruler!
Oh for the excitement to see the SON!!!!! And we will see Him soon!
The Thrill of Reunion with the Son - Are we ready?
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
