Exodus Part 1 –God’s Blessing

September 7, 2008

Sam Ford

Abraham’sPromise is Jesus

We’re just beginning our study of the book of Exodus. Last week, I sprinted through the first 2/3 of the Genesis in order to give some backdrop to the book of Exodus. In Genesis, God forms a world that is beautiful when it works according to His design. But, because of man’s choice to disobey, creation and all that was in it is became deformed. Our relationship with God was broken, our relationship with each other was broken, our relationship with creation was broken, even our self-identity became filled with shame and fear. In love, God initiated the reformation of all things by showing mercy to all and grace to a few broken men like Abraham promising them that He will make him a great nation, that through his offspring, the world shall be blessed. And although Issac was born to Sarah and Abraham, Galatians 3 makes it clear that ultimately God was talking about his super-great grandson Jesus who bless the world, especially those who put faith in him.

One Jacked-Up Family Tree

Genesis then is the story of Abraham’s family which is our family by adoption. And we have to wonder why God chooses to use such a jacked up family? Why does he allow so much sinto occur? We have Abraham sleeping with his wife’s servant only to throw her and her son out on the streets; we have Abraham’s grandsons, daughter in-laws, nephews, and cousins being deceptive; his grandson Jacob marries two girls only to sleep with four to eventually produce 12 children who, we will see today try to kill their own brother. We’re left to wonder…why this family? Why this way?

Why this way?

Before the fall, God allowed man a choice. Man chose todisobey, he chose independence from God, chose to believe the Father of lies, Satan, who said that God was lying and that man could be like God. Man chose to sin, man chose to deny the creator, man chose to ignore that he needed God, man chose to rebel, man chose to disobey, man chose darkness, and God holds man responsible.Inproviding for that choice, God allowed man to fall in such a way where he humankind could not get up save himself. And God knew even before the creation of the world, that whenmen sinned, unless he acted, unless he initiated, unless he pursued us, man would never seek Himin his brokenness. Broken, rebellious, and evil, men are in a very real sense free to choose—with the exception that they can not choose him—their rebellious natures devoted to their own desires would not choose him.

God doesn’t love us because we’re lovable. I believe it is wrong to believe:man is in any way good and deserving of love, and that God allows bad things to happen to these good people.

Rather, we believe that when compared to a holy God who is good, we are bad. We are sinful, rebellious, dirty, sick, broken, in need but not willing to admit it, knowing the truth but fighting against it, finding new ways to worship new things (other than God), deserving nothing.

Despite this, God shows grace to broken sinful people like Abraham’s familythat the many might be blessed. In a real sense, he doesn’t have any other kind of person to work with. Our God takes the ashes of our sin makes something beautiful. He makes much of us that we might make much of Him. Exodus 14.18 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” He is not saving the people for their good alone, but for his glory.

Events of leading up to the story of Joseph
Making much of Him, even in our affliction, is the road to redemption. This fact is no more evident than in the story of Joseph at the end of Genesis and the beginning of Exodus. Exodus 1.1-7 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

So who is Joseph and how did he get to Egypt?

When we left last week, we ended talking about Jacob meeting his brother Esau. He had fled from his brother 20 years prior for several reasons, none less than the fact that he wanted him dead. He stays in Haran with his uncle Laban where he ends up marrying both of his uncle’s daughters and prospering greatly. He also has 11 kids between four women, Rachel, Leah, and there two servants.

Eventually, Jacob leaves Haran and travels back to the land of Canaan where his grandfather Abraham had been originally sent by God. Because he has to go through the land of his brother Esau, in fear, Jacob sends messengers and presents to appease the anger of Esau. Genesis 33.1-4 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

Jacob goes to Bethel, to Bethlehem, then settles in the land of Canaan

Per God’s instructions, Jacob travels to Bethel where he wrestles with the Lord and his name is changed to Israel. He continues to travel and Rachel goes into labor, giving birth to the 12th son Benjamin, only to die after doing so. Rachel is buried and Jacob and his boys settle in the land of Canaan. Jacob and his sons lived in Canaan and Esau with his sons ruled just East in Edom.

Joseph hated by brothers and loved by Dad

It’s clear that Jacob has a special affection for his 11thson Joseph just as he had a special affection for his bride Rachel. Joseph is the first of the two sons that Rachel gives him. Genesis 37.1-4 Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah (servants), his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
Joseph’s Dream and Big Mouth

Genesis 37.5-8 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Joseph Sold by Brothers

His brothers go North to watch one of Jacob’s flocks in Shechem and he asks Joseph to go and “report” on whether they are doing what they are supposed to. Despite the fact that he knows his brothers hate him, he obeys. He leaves Hebron, travels north and discovers his brothers are nowhere to be found. A stranger tells them they went toDothan. When Joseph finds them, his brothers plan to hurt him. Genesis 37.18-25 18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” They throw him in a pit and sell their brother to some Arabs for what amounts to about seven ounces of silver. Then they take his beloved coat, rip it up, slaughter a goat, dip the coat in blood, and complete the faked death by bringing the coat to their Father who mourns.

[Interlude] with Judah and Tamar/Birth of Perez, in line of Jesus

During Jacob’s mourning and Joseph’s travels down to Egypt, there is a brief interlude for Judah. Although the sons of Abraham, and Issac, and Jacob are told NOT to take wives from the Canaanites, Judah is tempted by lust does and Er is born. Judah’s firstborn son then takes a wife named Tamar. But Er is wicked in the eyes of the Lord and God kills him. His brother Onan, Judah’s second son, has a cultural responsibility to raise up offspring through Tamar FOR his brother’s name. Practicing his own form of contraceptive, Onan refuses and God puts him to death.

Then Judahtells Tamar to live in his house and when his youngest, Selah, grows up who will then fulfill the duty. Judah never makes good on that promise so Tamar, much like Sarai, Rachel, and others, sins by deception. Playing off the lustful heart of Judah, she dresses as a prostitute and tricks him into impregnating her. A few months later when it is discovered that she is pregnant, he calls for her to be burned until she reveals proof that he is the Daddy. Two twin sons are born out of that union, Perez and Zerah.

MEANWHILE…BACK IN EGYPT

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

  • Joseph is put to work for an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard
  • Finds favor because he’s successful because the LORD is with him
  • Egyptian leaves Joseph in charge of entire household
  • Captain’s wife has the “hots” for young Handsome Joseph – “Let’s have sex”
  • Joseph refuses and she grabs his shirt, “Let’s have sex” – He runs
  • She accuses Joseph of trying to rape her and throws him in prison

Joseph and Prisoner’s Dreams

  • Pharaoh throws his cup-bearer and baker into prison
  • Both of them have dreams that trouble them
  • Joseph asks what troubles them and proceeds to interpret their dreams
  • Cupbearer will live, Baker will die—comes true

Joseph and Pharaoh’s Dreams

  • Two years later, Pharaoh has a dream and calls for wise men to interpret, couldn’t
  • Chief Cup-bearer remembers Joseph and tells Pharaoh
  • Pharaoh sends for Joseph who tells him he’s not special, God is
  • Joseph explain the dream, that there will be 7 years of plenty followed 7 years of famine
  • Joseph is place over all of Pharaoh’s house, 2nd in command to Pharaoh Genesis 41.40-44 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

Joseph’s Brothers Arrive

The famine comes but Joseph and thus Egypt were prepared. Jacob sends his sons down to buy food from Egypt. In one of the most amazing stories in the Bible, Joseph brothers, the ones who had sold him for a few ounces of silver, the ones who had hated him, the ones indirectly responsible for all of the hardships he face in Egypt, stand before him just as the dream that started it all had foretold. And Joseph shows them grace.

Eventually, Jacob brings his entire family down to be taken care of and Joseph ensures they live in the land of Goshen because Egyptians despise shepherds. When Jacob eventually dies, his brothers fear that Joseph’s true resentment will be revealed. He responds: Genesis 50.20 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Opening of Exodus 1.1-7 –God’s faithful, aware, and in control

Exodus 1.6-86 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. The story of Joseph iswhere the story of Exodus begins. They are very similar stories in that Joseph and Israel are seemingly left to wonder…where is God?

GOD IS FAITHFUL, HE DOES WHAT HE SAYS: God makes and keeps his promises according to his plan, his way, his power, and his timing. He is God, not a man, he keeps his word. Genesis 12.2-3 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”…Genesis 15.3-6 Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of household will be my heir. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number then.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believe the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. (Genesis 16; 17, 22, 26, 35, 48) When Joseph welcomes his family toEgypt, they are numbered as 70 men, 150 people. The Bible records that when they exited Egypt, they numbered 600,000 men without counting women and children. (1Timothy 2.13…even if we are faithless….Philippians 1.6…complete the work he began)

GOD IS AWARE, HE KNOWS ALL: God knows what is happening before anything ever happens. There is nothing that surprises God, nothing that he does not plan for, nothing that he does not know past, present, or future, nothing he does not see, expect, or imagine. When the book of Exodus begins, Israel has been in Egypt for 400 years. In that time they have gone from sons to slaves. Amazingly, the entire Exodus event was proclaimed to Abram directly from God Himself which HAD to include the experience of Joseph to make it even possible. Genesis 15.12-16 12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. 14 But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

GOD IS SOVEREIGN, HE IS IN CONTROL:

Joseph makes it clear multiple times…God sent me here, not you. Genesis 45.5 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. We see it againIn Matthew 1.1-17, the strange interlude of Judah and Tamar is given meaning. God is in the business of making people whole, not for their own glory, but for his. And he is capable of using whatever sin you might have in your life to bring about his glory. That list is a geneology of Jesus Christ and in it you have liars, drunkards, perverts, prostitutes, abusers, adulterers, shepherds, corrupt kings, prophets, cruel soldiers, criminals, idol worshippers, godly and ungodly priests, all of which play a role in the coming of our savior.

Conclusion

The story of Joseph is a story ofGod doing what seems impossible. He saves, but does so through terribly unfair affliction. You can’t help but wonder how anyone could endure what Joseph does? What faith right? Perhaps this is the wrong question. Can we possibly imagine how big Joseph’s God is? How faithful he is? How all knowing he is? How in control of all things he is? HOW BIG is your God?

This true story, this record of one of our forefathers, proves regardless of what circumstances look like, no matter how impossible your impossible is, Godalways has us where we are and you always are where he wants you. It demonstrates that when we trust God is ALWAYS working in our lives, we can see how intrusions, inconveniences, disruptions, alterations, and afflictions that devastate us, even those that appear to be evil, are his way of moving us toward something good—namely himself.

We must never forget that our God did not say, “Hey, suck it up, I’m in control didn’t you know that?! What are you so frustrated with? Stop crying?” We cannot ignore our affliction nor dictate to God how he should fix it. Our God says, I hear you, I love you…I’m here and I never left. Be still. I created the universe, I spoke into existence that which did not exist, I am the source of all life and breath,…Be still. Do not be afraid. Be Still and Know that I am God…and I WILL SAVE YOU…trust me.