A Reunion in Goshen
Preached - Sunday, July 20,2003 - Thompson Family Reunion Worship Service
Rosemary Missionary Baptist Church - Reverend Clarence Sanders
Camden Alabama
Scripture: "And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
Genesis 46:28-29
Introduction
This morning, I want to talk about "A Reunion in Goshen". The New International Version says of this text: Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen. Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arm around before him, he threw his arm around his father and wept for a long time." "A Reunion in Goshen."
My brothers and sisters, saints and sinners, bond and free children of the Most High God, all of you that love the Lord, and to all of you in your respectable places. We do greet you in the name of the unparalleled, incomparable, and matchless name of Jesus, and do share with you his word of inspiration, wisdom, and hope. For his word is rich and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that we might be equipped for every good work.
A Reunion in Goshen
Family is considered by many as the closest bond on earth. I can remember going to Grand-momma’s house. I remember playing hide-n-go seek, freeze tag, kickball, dodge ball, I even remember playing church. I remember going into the house and asking for a Popsicle on a hot summer day. I remember whippings and lectures after getting into trouble. I remember going to Sunday school and morning service. I remember carrot cakes and potato pies. I remember harvesting corn and okra from Granddaddy’s garden. I remember the warmth of the smiles and the joy of laughter. But I also can remember the heartache and pain we felt at separating time. I remember the sad faces and tears that engulfed us when time to go our own separate ways comes.
Some of my relatives left home. Some went of to college, others to the military. We even lost some to the grave.
I missed running and playing with my cousins. I missed the joy they brought into my life, because it is now gone. But there is hope. For once a year there is a three-day family get-together, that we call the "Thompson Family Reunion." Aunt-tees, uncles, cousins, parents, and grandparents come together for fellowship, fun, and food, cookouts, church, and celebration.
I can see Cousin Charles talking about the good old days. I can see Cousin Otis sitting at a card table. I can see Daddy standing over a grill. Aunt-tee Texas and Aunt-tee Marsha is somewhere playing dominos. Scooter and A.B. are playing football and basketball. Joyce is somewhere stirring up some laughter. The music is blasting. The sun is shining. Even a Bud-wiser is sliding down somebody’s throat. We are having a mighty fine time.
Exposition
When the Holy Ghost shines his light on this Text, we find Joseph having a family reunion. This reunion is a very joyful time for him, because he hadn’t seen Poppa Jacob, Momma Rachael, Stepmomma Leah, and the 10 bullies he called brothers plus one little tike of a brother. Let me bag back into the corridors of the histories, and pull out a chronicle title: "The Life and Times of Joseph" and dig out of it some spiritual nuggets to deposit into your spiritual bank account.
Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob, was the Rachael first child and Jacob’s favorite son. This is most clearly shown by the special coat, which Jacob gave to him. This favoritism eventually brought severe trouble for the whole family. Joseph’s ten older brothers hated him because he was daddy’s favorite and because he had dreams which he interpreted t his brothers in a conceited way. It is no surprise that they hated him enough to kill him.
Joseph and his family were shepherds in the land of Canaan. One day, the Bible says that, Jacob sent Joseph to search for his brothers, who was tending the flocks in the fields. When Joseph found them, they seized the chance to kill him. The only opposing voice was Reuben’s, but they decided to sell him into slavery to passing merchants.
To hide the deed from their daddy, Joseph’s coat of many colors was dipped in animal blood. When Jacob saw it, he was convinced that a wild animal killed Joseph.
Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he was sold to Potiphar, an officer of the ruling pharaoh of the nation. His good manners soon earned him the highest position in the house. Potiphar’s wife became infatuated with Joseph and tempter him to commit adultery with her. When he refused, she accused him of the crime and Joseph was sent to prison.
While in prison, Joseph’s manners earned him a position of responsibility over the other prisoners. Among the prisoners Joseph met were the Pharaoh’s baker and butler. When each of them had dreams, he interpreted their dreams. When the butler left prison, he failed to intercede on Joseph’s behalf, and Joseph spent two more years in prison.
When the pharaoh had dreams that none of his counselors could interpret, the butler remembered Joseph and mentioned him to the Pharaoh. Then Joseph as called to appear before the Pharaoh. He interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams, predicting seven years of famine. He also advised the Pharaoh to appoint a commissioner to store up supplies during the plentiful years.
To Joseph’s surprise, the Pharaoh appointed him as food commissioner. This was a position of great prestige. Under Joseph’s care, many supplies were stored and the land prospered. Joseph was given many comforts, including servants and a wife. He was called Zapenath-Paneah, which means the revealer of secrets. When the famine hit, Joseph was second only to the Pharaoh in power. People from all the surrounding areas cane to buy food from him.
Many years passed since Joseph’s arriving in Eygpt as a slave and his rise to power in the nation during famine. The famine struck Canaan and the other sons of Jacob eventually came to buy food. When they met Joseph, they did not recognize him. He recognized them, however, and decided to test them to see if they had changed. He accuse them of being spies. Then he sold them food only on the conditions that Simeon stay as a hostage until they ring Benjamin, the youngest brother to Egypt.
Upon returning to Canaan the brothers told their daddy of they experiences. He vowed not to send Benjamin, but the continuing famine forced him to change his mind. On the next trip Benjamin tagged along to Egypt.
When they arrived, Joseph treated them royally, weeping openly at the sight of his baby brother. Simeon was released. After buying their food, they started back home. But when they started back home, a servant that accused them of stealing Joseph’s silver cup stopped them. The cup was found in Benjamin’s bag, where Joseph had placed it. The brothers returned to face Joseph, who declared that Benjamin must stay in Egypt. About that time, Judah began to beg, saying that this would break their daddy’s heart.
Joseph was overcome with emotion. He revealed himself to them as their brother, whom they had sold into slavery many years ago. At first the brothers were afraid that Joseph would take revenge against them, but soon were convinced that Joseph’s forgiveness was genuine. Judah’s plea on Benjamin’s behalf was evidence of the change that Joseph longed for. He sent them back to Canaan with gifts for his daddy and invited them to come live in Egypt.
The grace of God working in the family is evident in the way that Joseph dealt with his brothers. He did not want revenge he wanted restoration. He realized that his personal sufferings had preserved his family, as an instrument of God’s divine will.
Conclusion
Can’t you hear Joseph running all over telling everybody "There is gonna be a reunion in Goshen. I gonna see daddy over yonder in Goshen. I gonna meet with my brothers over yonder in Goshen."
But not only is there gonna be a reunion in Goshen, there is gonna be a reunion in Zion!
I gonna meet:
- Jake over there
- Cat over there
- Ethel over there
- Man Hooks over there
- Abraham over there
- Benjamin over there
I gonna meet:
- Caleb over there
- Daniel over there
- David over there
- Elijah over there
- Elisha over there
- Ezekiel over there
- Gideon over there
- Hezekiah over there
- Isaac over there
- Isaiah over there
- Jacob over there
- Jesse over there
- John over there
- Lazarus over there
- Luke over there
- Mark over there
- Matthew over there
- Moses over there
- Nicodemus over there
- Noah over there
- Paul over there
- Peter over there
- Philip over there
But most of all I gonna meet a man called Jesus over there
+ He had no home but He promised believers a mansion.
+ He had no bakery but he produced bread to feed 5,000
+ He had no pills or hospital but yet he healed the sick
+ He had no money yet he paid His friends taxes
+ He attended no college yet he taught not as the Scribes, but as one having the authority and holding a Ph.D. Degree.
+ He was born in a borrowed stable. Luke 2:7
+ He was laid in a borrowed cattle manger. Luke 7, 12
+ He used as His pulpit a borrowed boat. Mark 4:1
+ He fed thousands with a borrowed lunch. John 6:9-11
+ He taught from a borrowed book. Luke 4"16-17
+ He slept in a borrowed bed. Luke 9:58
+ He rode as King on a borrowed donkey. Matthew 21:2-3
+ He observed the Last Supper in a borrowed room. 26:18
+ He was mocked as King in a borrowed robe. Matthew 27:27-31
+ He was crucified on a borrowed Cross
+ He was buried in a borrowed tomb. Matthew 27:59-60
But early Sunday morning when the women went to the tomb they found that the stone had been rolled away. Yes, Jesus is all that you need. Jesus rolled away the Rock that sealed the Rock, that entombed the Rock, that was the Rock of Ages. And the Rock of Ages walked out of the Heart of the Rock with all Power in Heaven and Earth in His Hands. Jesus rose from the mist of the Rock with All-power in His hands. H e had Saving Power, Deliverance Power, Healing Power, Redeeming Power, and Holy Ghost Power in His hands.
