A few years ago, I got on an elevator at a children’s museum in Indianapolis and as I crowded into the elevator, I noticed that the reason why it was crowded was because the lady that was on the elevator had brought her 18 grandkids to the museum that day.
As I sardined into the elevator, I smiled, realizing that grandmother had supersized her day with the responsibility of caring for so many grandkids at one time. As I looked at her, I simply said: “How are you?” With sweat on her forehead she smiled back, almost laughing, and said: “Brother, I am blessed.”
Ever since then, I have wondered what that meant. What does it really mean to "be blessed?"
What does it mean when people say: “God bless you?” For some it is just something that we say after someone sneezes. Right?
The reason why we say “God bless you” to one another when we sneeze is because you cannot breathe and sneeze at the same time. If you continually sneezed you could not live because you could not breathe. Therefore, people say: “God bless you.”
We also say, “God bless America.” It’s part of our national narrative isn’t it? We want our nation to be blessed because the Bible tells us: “Blessed is the nation who’s God is the Lord.”
It is also interesting to see that we can bless other people. In today’s passage, twice we are told that Jacob blessed Pharaoh In verse 7 we read: “...and Jacob blessed Pharaoh” then we read it again in verse 10.
What is this all about? The Bible mentions “blessing” 67 times and covers a ton of Biblical real estate when it comes to this call of blessing.
Jacob knew a little about blessing because God promised his grandfather saying: “And through you all the nations of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:3
The first mention of God blessing in the Bible is found in Genesis 1:22 where we read that God blesses the birds and creatures that move on the earth as we read: “God blessed them saying, Be fruitful and multiply...”
Jesus even talked about blessing because in Matthew 5-7 we read a sermon that Jesus preached and in every segment of His message began with the word: “Blessed.” In these three chapters he talked over and over about the conditions necessary to be blessed by God.
Transitional Sentence: From Jacob’s life we learn what it means to experience “the blessed life.” Let’s ask a few questions about “being blessed.”
I. What Does it Mean to “be Blessed?”
vs. 7- “Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh...”
vs. 10- “The Jacob blessed Pharaoh..”
Explanation:
Most people think that “being blessed” means that you live a happy life. Yet, the blessed life is something more. It is a lifestyle that God wants to give you.
The word “blessed” in Hebrew and Greek means one simple thing. It means: “A life filled with God’s favor.”
Life had not always been happy for Jacob. He told the Pharaoh: “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.” vs 9
That does not sound like his life was blessed does it? It sounds more like it was cursed than blessed. It was full of fear more than favor. It was full of pain more than God’s promises. It was full of more struggles than victories.
Yet, on the heel of making such a statement, we are surprised to read the words: “And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” (vs. 7, 10)
I don’t know what Pharaoh was thinking at the moment, but with today’s definition and what most people think “being blessed” is; if I would have been Pharaoh I might would have said: “Jacob, no thank you. I’d prefer to pass on the blessings of your God. I’d rather just move on. I’d prefer to enjoy what I’ve already got.”
Yet, being blessed is much more than fun; it favor. It’s favor with God. Let me ask you, are there any of you who’ve got problems but still know you’re blessed?
Are there any of you who struggle that still know you’re blessed? Are there any of you in the middle of heartache; but your heart is full of God’s blessing?
The word “blessed” has something to do with what is going on the inside; not what is going on outside. Blessing doesn’t mean there won’t be unpleasant days; but it does mean that you will sense the presence of God in all your days.
Jacob blessed Pharaoh and in doing so he was pointing Pharaoh to something that he didn’t have. You see, Pharaoh had the stuff. He had the grain everybody else needed. He had the palace, everybody wanted. He had country that everybody envied. He had all the stuff; but He didn’t have what really satisfies; He didn’t have God. He was not “blessed.”
I know a bunch of people who have nice houses; but they don’t have much of a home because God’s not present.
I know a bunch of people who have lots of money; but feel bankrupt and would give all they have for a moment of real joy that comes from God being present with them. .
Romans 14:17 tells us that the blessed life is the kingdom life. Do you know why? A kingdom is not a kingdom without a king.
Romans 14:17 tells us what the blessed life is. It says: “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking...” The Pharaoh had all that and then some. He had so much food in the middle of a famine that Joseph could give Benjamin five times more than he gave his brothers. (Genesis 43:34)
The Pharaoh had so much that Joseph’s brothers were able to “feast and drink freely with him. “ Genesis 43:44
Yet, the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. It’s not about the stuff out there that we put in here; in or on our bodies.
The blessed life is the Kingdom life and Romans 14: 17 says: “for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Jacob had trouble, but he had righteousness. Jacob had problems, but he had peace. Things had not always gone Jacob’s way, but he had joy do you know why? The Spirit of God was with him. He lived life with the King; so the Kingdom of heaven was present in his life.
Illustration: Sebastian Florida sign
Sebastian Florida is has been called one of the best places in America to live.
Yet, their welcome sign reads: “Welcome to Sebastian: Home of Pelican Island. Friendly people and six old grouches. “
Others say, there are 5042 happy people there and 6 old grouches. Yet, it’s such a happy place that the population has swelled to 25,000 since the signs were put up a few years ago.
Yet, no one really knows who the six old grouches are. Some say that it refers to the old City Council members who created the town of Sebastian. Yet, they are all dead. That was back in 1924. But the fact is; all those old grouches have been laid to rest.
The bottom line is that the city wanted to communicate that it’s such a pleasant place that everyone ought to be happy there; but not everyone is so they wanted to give everyone fair warning just in case they bump into a grumpy old man on the street who don’t feel “blessed in Sebastian.”
Application:
If you are looking for real joy and long-term satisfaction in life it doesn’t come from an address or things you acquire does it? The Pharaoh had it all! He basically had the whole known world in his hands.
Verse 14 says: “Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan for the grain which they bought...”
Pharaoh had money, power, prestige, and everything that most humans pursue but Jacob knew there was something more. Jacob knew that there’s a God-sized hole in the heart and life of humans that makes someone alive.
The “blessed life” is the Kingdom life where the one who was meant to be king of your life sits on His rightful throne of your heart and fills your kingdom with His.
Transitional Sentence: From Jacob’s life we learn what it means to experience “the blessed life.” Let’s ask a second question about being blessed.
II. What Happens to People Who Are Blessed?
Vs. 11-26- “So Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them possession in the land of Egypt, in the best land of Rameses as Pharaoh had ordered. “
Explanation:
When we are living the blessed life, we become a blessing to people around us. God’s primary goal in blessing us goes beyond us; it extends to others around us.
It has often been said: “God will give to you if He can give through you.” Joseph became conduit by which God showed up and showed out in Egypt.
The reason why a blessed person is such a blessing to others is because people see God through your life. You don’t have to depend on someone else’s testimony; you have your own.
Jacob was a blessed man because he had a testimony that blessed others.
Everyone in life has pain; but in Jacob’s life here was something different; there was a testimony. The narrative of Jacob’s life did not end in chapter 37 when he thought his son had died; God had chapter 46 just ahead where he would be reunited with his son who was actually alive.
Your life is a blessing because when God is in the story; your story is never over.
Listen: God finishes the story. He’s got more chapters ahead in your life. The first chapters communicated pain; yet there were more chapters ahead that where the presence and power of God.
Jacob is a blessing to us because his story provides a powerful testimony that even if your life has been hard; God’s not finished with the story yet.
Likewise, we see from this chapter that Joseph had a testimony. God had not only seen him through, but God’s person was seen through Him.
You see, Joseph was an interpreter of dreams. Yet, Joe didn’t know the future; but He had a God who blessed him with knowledge to know what God knows.
Likewise, Joseph was a man of grace. As a human being, Joe didn’t have the fortitude to forgive; yet “with God” all things are possible. Not only did he forgive his brothers but he blessed them.
In verse 11 we see how Joseph was a blessing.
In verse 11 we read: “So Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them possession in the land of Egypt, in the best land, in the land of Rameses as Pharaoh had ordered.”
In verse 27 we read the results. It says: “Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous.”
Likewise, in verse 13 we find that Joseph was a blessing to all the known world. We read: “Now there was no food in all the land, because the famine was very severe, so the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of famine.”
In verses 14-19 we read about Joseph gathering money, livestock, and the people were so desperate that they offered to become slaves instead of starve to death.
Yet, instead of enslave them, he spread them out over the land of Egypt (vs. 21) and ordered them to plant crops with the seed he gave them, and 1/5 of the produce from it became Pharaoh’s and 4/5th of it belonged to the people.
You see, this was a win/win for the Pharaoh of Egypt and a win for the people as well. It has been speculated that part of the reason why Egypt went down in history as one of the most prosperous places on earth was because of the wisdom and blessing Joseph was in preparing and providing leadership during these years.
Yet, do you know who got the glory for it all? Joseph or Joseph’s God? The answer is easy; Joseph’s God was in the story, details, and direction of where everything was headed.
Illustration: Mathematics – Change the variable= Change the outcome
I’m not much of a mathematician, but there are some simple rules of mathematics that I know is true.
Very early on I was taught about the existence of variables. A variable is defined as: “An alphabet or term that represents an unknown number or unknown value or unknown quantity,” It’s a placeholder for mathematical objects.
I always said, “When numbers become letters in math; I’m out.”
Yet, one thing I do understand about mathematics is that when you change the variable in an equation, you change the outcome of the equation.” In other words, when you factor in the new variable; everything changes.
Application:
The same is true in your life. When you factor God into your life’s equation, the outcome is about to change.
The blessed life is one when God has been factored in and he changes the whole outcome of the equation.
The Bible communicates things like this: “With God--- all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
The Bible also says: “I can do all things --- through Christ—who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
How many of you know that when God gets involved and our lives connect with Christ; the outcome changes. Listen: Let me encourage you to invite God into your life equation and see what happens.
Jacob did and his sob story became a celebration story.
Joseph did and he went from prison to Prime Minister and Preacher of the faithfulness and power of God.
These blessed men became a blessing. That’s what happens when we are “blessed.”
Transitional Sentence: From Jacob’s life we learn what it means to experience “the blessed life.” Let’s ask a few questions about being blessed.
III. Where Does The Blessed Life Take You?
vs. 28- Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacobs life was one hundred and forty-seven years.”
Explanation:
In verse 28-29 we learn that Jacob had 17 birthdays in Egypt. Yet, in verse 28 we get a glimpse of Jacobs final requests. The Bible says that “When the time for Israel to die drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, Please if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt.”
Jacob was a blessing, and now he was about to inherit his ultimate blessing.
You see, this world is not the ultimate blessing. In Jesus’ sermon about “blessing” called the beatitudes he points us to the final destination of the person who lives a blessed life; take note of the final “blessed” future:
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
8. Blessed are the persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Listen: The greatest blessing is the blessing that death is not the final chapter; death is the door into the true promised land; the glorious Goshen. the perfect Promised land! The greatest place of blessing!
Yet, notice what Jacob was focused on. He said: “Joe, if I have been found in your favor...” (The Hebrew word for “favor” means: Blessing. In other words he was saying: “Joseph would you bless me before I bless you in death?”
Then he asked: “Don’t bury me in Egypt.” What’s the big deal with that? Who cares where they are buried? Jacob did. But why?
The reason why was because he wanted his burial place to leave a legacy. He wanted to be buried with his grandfather (Abraham) and Father (Isaac) and in doing so continue the legacy of faith that began with his Dad and grandad. He wanted all future generations to remember his faith in God.
He wanted his legacy and life story to interconnect with his family legacy. He wanted everyone who came to his burial place to remember his faith and be blessed and encouraged by it.
Conclusion: Jacobs burial place
A few years ago I went to Hebron where Jacob is buried. It’s known as the Cave of the Patriarchs. I visited there a few years ago and stood in front of his tomb. As I stood I reflected on this passage and the blessed life of Jacob, I could not help but reflect on mine as well. I reflected on his faith and how it has shaped my faith. I reflected on his legacy.
Jacob certainly was blessed; but I am as well.
The blessed life is mine because by God’s grace, through Jesus, not only by faith was Jacob a child of Abraham -- and God; so am I.
As many from my family and friends stood near Jacobs tomb; which was near Abraham, Sarah's, Leah, and others who we've learned about in the book of Genesis, I realized that I was standing at a "family tomb."
No, I am not Jew; I am Gentile. No I did not live in their day; I live in this present day.
No, my life story does not grace the pages of scripture; yet I am connected to those who are in it. I am a child of Abraham because I am in the family because my God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
As my family and friends stood together and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving that through Christ, we have been grafted into the family of God. I considered that moment one of the greatest moments of my life. Do you know why?
Flooding over me was a sense of joy, peace, and blessing as I remembered the words of Galatians 3:29- that says: "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Invitation:
Would you receive the blessing as well? Would you be blessed? Would you be a blessing? God is in the blessing business and wants you to receive the blessing yourself; He's present and ready to give it to you today.
Salvation is not free; it's prepaid. That's the greatest blessing of all.
