1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,000 We are in the second last week of our series on Joseph. 2 00:00:05,100 –> 00:00:07,760 We’re running out of chapters in the book of Genesis. 3 00:00:07,760 –> 00:00:09,860 It’s a story that’s just full of grace. 4 00:00:09,860 –> 00:00:12,480 We’ve looked at God’s grace in Joseph’s life, 5 00:00:12,480 –> 00:00:13,860 goes down to the lowest point, 6 00:00:13,860 –> 00:00:16,840 then he gets lifted up to the highest place. 7 00:00:16,840 –> 00:00:18,940 We’ve seen this amazing transformation 8 00:00:18,940 –> 00:00:20,459 that has happened in the lives of the brothers. 9 00:00:20,459 –> 00:00:24,139 Their sins were many and yet they were brought 10 00:00:24,139 –> 00:00:27,719 by God’s grace and mercy to a radical change 11 00:00:27,740 –> 00:00:29,820 from the inside out in their lives. 12 00:00:29,820 –> 00:00:32,119 And then last week and today we’ve been seeing 13 00:00:32,119 –> 00:00:34,500 the last days of Jacob, 14 00:00:34,500 –> 00:00:38,160 and seeing that this man who arrived in Egypt 15 00:00:38,160 –> 00:00:41,419 very full of regret and disappointment, 16 00:00:41,419 –> 00:00:45,340 really entered the most fruitful season of his life 17 00:00:45,340 –> 00:00:49,340 in the 17 years that God gave to him in Egypt. 18 00:00:49,340 –> 00:00:51,259 And if we ask the question, 19 00:00:51,259 –> 00:00:55,860 why were these the most fruitful years of his life? 20 00:00:55,880 –> 00:00:58,220 There are really four answers to that question, 21 00:00:58,220 –> 00:01:00,939 and I think it’s helpful for us to have it in mind 22 00:01:00,939 –> 00:01:02,939 because we’re all asking the question, 23 00:01:02,939 –> 00:01:07,940 how now can I have the most fruitful season of my life? 24 00:01:08,239 –> 00:01:10,059 Well, here are four ways to do that. 25 00:01:10,059 –> 00:01:13,500 The first is that you look upwards with faith. 26 00:01:13,500 –> 00:01:15,699 Remember, Jacob went to Beer-sheba. 27 00:01:15,699 –> 00:01:16,980 He met with God. 28 00:01:16,980 –> 00:01:20,540 He was reminded of the great foundation of faith, 29 00:01:20,540 –> 00:01:22,059 that God is always the same, 30 00:01:22,059 –> 00:01:24,120 that God always keeps his promises, 31 00:01:24,139 –> 00:01:26,440 and that God is always with you. 32 00:01:26,440 –> 00:01:30,720 So Jacob looked upwards in faith in the season of his life, 33 00:01:30,720 –> 00:01:32,820 and that’s why it was so richly blessed. 34 00:01:32,820 –> 00:01:35,519 And as we look upwards in faith, 35 00:01:35,519 –> 00:01:38,599 our season will be blessed also. 36 00:01:38,599 –> 00:01:39,680 Then we saw last time 37 00:01:39,680 –> 00:01:42,019 that he looked backward in gratitude. 38 00:01:42,019 –> 00:01:43,559 He hadn’t always done that. 39 00:01:43,559 –> 00:01:47,360 He tended to look back and see everything that was wrong. 40 00:01:47,360 –> 00:01:49,080 So when he arrives in Egypt, 41 00:01:49,080 –> 00:01:51,080 he says, well, my years have been few, 42 00:01:51,080 –> 00:01:53,120 and they have been evil. 43 00:01:53,120 –> 00:01:56,180 But we saw how by the end of this season of life, 44 00:01:56,180 –> 00:01:57,879 he was able to say, you know what? 45 00:01:57,879 –> 00:02:01,339 The Lord has been my shepherd all my life long, 46 00:02:01,339 –> 00:02:04,199 and he is the One who has redeemed me from evil. 47 00:02:04,199 –> 00:02:06,160 Yes, I’ve seen hard times, 48 00:02:06,160 –> 00:02:08,160 but I have had a Redeemer with me, 49 00:02:08,160 –> 00:02:12,740 and He has never failed me and He has never forsaken me. 50 00:02:12,740 –> 00:02:16,520 And then this was a fruitful season for Jacob’s life 51 00:02:16,520 –> 00:02:19,399 because he was able to look forward with hope. 52 00:02:19,399 –> 00:02:21,600 And we know this from the Book of Hebrews 53 00:02:21,600 –> 00:02:24,100 and Chapter 11 that tell us 54 00:02:24,100 –> 00:02:26,199 about Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. 55 00:02:26,199 –> 00:02:28,679 They all died in faith. 56 00:02:28,679 –> 00:02:31,639 And like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were looking for a city 57 00:02:31,639 –> 00:02:34,440 whose builder and maker is God. 58 00:02:34,440 –> 00:02:37,160 Jacob knew that he was a stranger on the Earth. 59 00:02:37,160 –> 00:02:39,440 In other words, he was looking for a heavenly city, 60 00:02:39,440 –> 00:02:41,580 even in these Old Testament days. 61 00:02:41,580 –> 00:02:44,800 And he saw it, the Book of Hebrews says, from afar. 62 00:02:44,800 –> 00:02:47,220 So even 2000 years before Christ, 63 00:02:47,220 –> 00:02:50,080 there was some glimpse that this man had 64 00:02:50,139 –> 00:02:53,779 of a future beyond this Earth and beyond this life. 65 00:02:53,779 –> 00:02:56,660 He had some glimpse from afar 66 00:02:56,660 –> 00:02:58,979 of what it is to be away from the body 67 00:02:58,979 –> 00:03:00,740 and to be at home with the Lord. 68 00:03:00,740 –> 00:03:02,940 So what made these years blessed? 69 00:03:02,940 –> 00:03:04,500 What will make the most blessed 70 00:03:04,500 –> 00:03:07,160 and fruitful season in your life? 71 00:03:07,160 –> 00:03:09,779 You gotta be able to look upwards to God in faith. 72 00:03:09,779 –> 00:03:13,979 Look backwards over your life, to this point, in gratitude. 73 00:03:13,979 –> 00:03:15,500 You gotta be able to look forward 74 00:03:15,500 –> 00:03:17,539 with a sense of lively hope 75 00:03:17,539 –> 00:03:20,979 to the future that is in the hands of God. 76 00:03:20,979 –> 00:03:22,919 And all of that we looked at last time. 77 00:03:22,919 –> 00:03:24,720 And today, we’re coming to the fourth thing 78 00:03:24,720 –> 00:03:29,179 that really is a marker of a fruitful life. 79 00:03:29,179 –> 00:03:32,779 And it is to look outwards with love. 80 00:03:32,779 –> 00:03:34,899 To look outwards with love. 81 00:03:34,899 –> 00:03:37,979 And throughout this last season of Jacob’s life, 82 00:03:37,979 –> 00:03:39,380 that’s what you find him doing. 83 00:03:39,380 –> 00:03:41,539 He’s blessing other people. 84 00:03:41,539 –> 00:03:46,539 He’s speaking words of blessing into the lives of others. 85 00:03:47,759 –> 00:03:49,759 Now, we’re going to focus on chapter 49. 86 00:03:49,759 –> 00:03:51,100 But just before we get there, 87 00:03:51,100 –> 00:03:52,940 there is the first place 88 00:03:52,940 –> 00:03:56,880 where this blessing is spoken by Jacob in Egypt 89 00:03:56,880 –> 00:03:59,960 is in chapter 47 and verse 10. 90 00:03:59,960 –> 00:04:04,960 And we read there that Jacob blessed Pharaoh, Pharaoh. 91 00:04:07,960 –> 00:04:10,639 Now, that is a remarkable statement, 92 00:04:10,639 –> 00:04:13,220 because Pharaoh is the guy who has all the power. 93 00:04:14,479 –> 00:04:16,839 And Jacob has just arrived in Egypt 94 00:04:16,839 –> 00:04:19,720 as a kind of refugee fleeing from a famine. 95 00:04:21,079 –> 00:04:25,040 Pharaoh is the one who has all that this world can offer. 96 00:04:25,040 –> 00:04:27,059 He has everything in this world. 97 00:04:27,059 –> 00:04:29,980 Jacob when he arrives is a man full of sorrow and regret 98 00:04:29,980 –> 00:04:32,739 and very aware of his own grief and his own loss. 99 00:04:33,959 –> 00:04:36,700 How then can a man who has so little 100 00:04:36,700 –> 00:04:41,019 bless someone, Pharaoh, who obviously has so much? 101 00:04:41,959 –> 00:04:43,420 And the answer is, of course, 102 00:04:43,420 –> 00:04:46,380 that Jacob is the one who knows God, 103 00:04:46,380 –> 00:04:48,359 that God had said to Abraham, 104 00:04:48,359 –> 00:04:51,720 I will bless you, and through you this blessing 105 00:04:51,720 –> 00:04:54,459 will come to all the nations of the Earth. 106 00:04:54,459 –> 00:04:57,160 And you see a little fulfillment of that right here 107 00:04:57,160 –> 00:05:00,720 in Genesis 47, where Jacob is speaking 108 00:05:00,720 –> 00:05:03,200 the blessing of God to Pharaoh 109 00:05:03,200 –> 00:05:05,679 who here represents the nations. 110 00:05:05,679 –> 00:05:07,899 This is the promise to Abraham 111 00:05:07,899 –> 00:05:10,359 being expressed and worked out 112 00:05:10,359 –> 00:05:14,320 as it will be throughout the Bible story. 113 00:05:14,339 –> 00:05:16,519 And so just to take this on board, 114 00:05:16,519 –> 00:05:19,200 if you know the living God, 115 00:05:19,200 –> 00:05:23,339 if you know God, you are blessed. 116 00:05:24,420 –> 00:05:26,519 And you are able to speak blessing 117 00:05:26,519 –> 00:05:30,239 into the life of someone who does not know him 118 00:05:30,239 –> 00:05:32,720 irrespective of the grief, loss, sorrow, 119 00:05:32,720 –> 00:05:35,739 disappointment, whatever else is going on in your life, 120 00:05:35,739 –> 00:05:38,320 you are blessed in a way that someone 121 00:05:38,320 –> 00:05:41,899 who has everything this world can offer is not blessed. 122 00:05:42,880 –> 00:05:47,779 Think of it, Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 123 00:05:49,980 –> 00:05:52,399 If you know God, you are blessed, 124 00:05:52,399 –> 00:05:55,399 and whatever your circumstances, 125 00:05:55,399 –> 00:05:57,260 you are able to bring blessing, 126 00:05:58,239 –> 00:06:01,239 speak blessing into the life of a person 127 00:06:01,239 –> 00:06:02,559 who does not yet know him. 128 00:06:02,559 –> 00:06:04,600 Now today we’re gonna roll the story forward 129 00:06:04,600 –> 00:06:09,079 and following that theme and picking it up in chapter 49, 130 00:06:09,079 –> 00:06:13,459 which is the last scene in Jacob’s life. 131 00:06:13,459 –> 00:06:18,260 Here he is on his deathbed, and he calls in his sons 132 00:06:18,260 –> 00:06:20,380 and you notice at the head of the chapter it says, 133 00:06:20,380 –> 00:06:24,059 Jacob blesses his sons. 134 00:06:24,059 –> 00:06:27,079 What that means is that God enabled Jacob 135 00:06:27,079 –> 00:06:31,959 to speak prophetically, that is to anticipate the future 136 00:06:31,959 –> 00:06:35,119 in relation to each of these 12 boys, 137 00:06:35,119 –> 00:06:39,679 and also in relation to the families of descent 138 00:06:39,679 –> 00:06:42,220 that would come from each of them. 139 00:06:42,220 –> 00:06:44,380 And so verse one, Jacob called his sons 140 00:06:44,380 –> 00:06:46,380 and he said, gather yourselves together. 141 00:06:46,380 –> 00:06:49,279 Picture them now coming round the bed as it were 142 00:06:49,279 –> 00:06:52,500 where Jacob is getting to his last hours. 143 00:06:53,480 –> 00:06:56,519 Come gather yourselves together that I may tell you 144 00:06:56,519 –> 00:07:01,519 what shall happen to you in the days to come. 145 00:07:01,519 –> 00:07:06,519 Now the striking thing to me, at least, 146 00:07:06,600 –> 00:07:09,359 on a first reading of this chapter 147 00:07:09,359 –> 00:07:12,220 is that when you read it, 148 00:07:12,220 –> 00:07:15,760 much of what Jacob says doesn’t really 149 00:07:15,760 –> 00:07:17,820 sound like blessing at all. 150 00:07:19,079 –> 00:07:21,779 Imagine these sons who are gathering round 151 00:07:21,779 –> 00:07:25,880 the last hours of the old man’s life 152 00:07:25,880 –> 00:07:27,700 and he’s got something to say to them 153 00:07:27,700 –> 00:07:29,519 and you know, put yourself in their shoes, 154 00:07:29,519 –> 00:07:31,480 what’s dad gonna say to me? 155 00:07:32,480 –> 00:07:35,399 If he’s gonna bless you, what would you expect him to say? 156 00:07:35,399 –> 00:07:36,959 I mean, something like this, 157 00:07:36,959 –> 00:07:40,940 the Lord bless you, may peace be your portion, 158 00:07:41,839 –> 00:07:43,720 may joy be yours in abundance 159 00:07:43,720 –> 00:07:45,880 and forevermore and if I’m gonna be blessed 160 00:07:45,880 –> 00:07:47,839 by an old man, that’s kind of what I’m 161 00:07:47,839 –> 00:07:49,239 hoping he’s gonna say. 162 00:07:50,619 –> 00:07:53,079 But now put yourself in the shoes of Reuben 163 00:07:53,079 –> 00:07:55,600 and see what actually happened. 164 00:07:55,600 –> 00:08:00,600 Verse four, the old man says to Reuben, 165 00:08:00,600 –> 00:08:05,600 unstable as water, you shall not have the preeminence. 166 00:08:08,079 –> 00:08:11,839 Really Dad, thanks, that’s your parting blessing to me? 167 00:08:11,839 –> 00:08:12,760 That’s it? 168 00:08:14,119 –> 00:08:17,140 Then Jacob raises an old sin from the past 169 00:08:17,140 –> 00:08:20,040 where Reuben had slept with Jacob’s concubine. 170 00:08:20,040 –> 00:08:23,380 You went up to your father’s bed and defiled it, verse four. 171 00:08:25,079 –> 00:08:27,760 Or stand in the shoes of Simeon and Levi, 172 00:08:27,779 –> 00:08:29,399 verses five to seven. 173 00:08:29,399 –> 00:08:32,859 Jacob brings up the infamous sin 174 00:08:32,859 –> 00:08:35,880 for which these brothers were especially responsible 175 00:08:35,880 –> 00:08:38,080 and that was the awful atrocity 176 00:08:38,080 –> 00:08:39,440 that they had perpetrated. 177 00:08:39,440 –> 00:08:42,419 The attack on the men of Shechem 178 00:08:42,419 –> 00:08:44,859 that had made the name of Jacob stink, 179 00:08:44,859 –> 00:08:48,760 we looked at that before and Jacob refers back 180 00:08:48,760 –> 00:08:51,159 to their weapons of violence in verse seven, 181 00:08:51,159 –> 00:08:55,000 their anger and their fierce wrath and their cruelty. 182 00:08:55,840 –> 00:08:58,059 So what is going on here? 183 00:08:58,059 –> 00:09:01,159 Here’s this old man and he’s on his deathbed 184 00:09:01,159 –> 00:09:05,159 and he’s now speaking to his sons about these old sins, 185 00:09:05,159 –> 00:09:07,080 how is this a blessing? 186 00:09:08,460 –> 00:09:11,260 I mean, this seems to be more like an old man 187 00:09:11,260 –> 00:09:12,900 dredging up the past, 188 00:09:12,900 –> 00:09:15,979 I mean, hasn’t he learned anything about forgiveness? 189 00:09:15,979 –> 00:09:17,179 Doesn’t he know that? 190 00:09:17,179 –> 00:09:20,500 And you read this chapter and you say, 191 00:09:20,500 –> 00:09:22,219 well are these brothers really blessed 192 00:09:22,219 –> 00:09:24,719 from what’s being said to them here? 193 00:09:24,859 –> 00:09:28,520 And the answer to that question, are they really blessed? 194 00:09:28,520 –> 00:09:30,359 The answer to that question is yes, 195 00:09:30,359 –> 00:09:32,219 absolutely they are blessed. 196 00:09:33,179 –> 00:09:36,000 I mean, if you roll forward to the last book of the Bible, 197 00:09:36,000 –> 00:09:39,440 the Book of Revelation where John the Apostle sees 198 00:09:39,440 –> 00:09:42,919 the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven 199 00:09:42,919 –> 00:09:45,880 and there were 12 gates in the walls 200 00:09:45,880 –> 00:09:48,000 and above each of the gates 201 00:09:48,000 –> 00:09:51,000 there are names written and which names are they? 202 00:09:51,039 –> 00:09:55,500 They are the names of the 12 sons 203 00:09:55,500 –> 00:09:58,039 of Jacob who are named here. 204 00:09:58,039 –> 00:10:00,159 So talk about having your name written in heaven, 205 00:10:00,159 –> 00:10:01,559 I mean they’ve got their names written 206 00:10:01,559 –> 00:10:03,200 on the gates of heaven, 207 00:10:03,200 –> 00:10:06,320 you can’t get better than that, they are blessed. 208 00:10:06,320 –> 00:10:08,000 And all the way through this series 209 00:10:08,000 –> 00:10:09,799 we have seen the remarkable transformation 210 00:10:09,799 –> 00:10:11,380 that God has brought in their lives. 211 00:10:11,380 –> 00:10:13,559 There’s been reconciliation with Joseph, 212 00:10:13,559 –> 00:10:16,020 there’s been reconciliation with Jacob 213 00:10:16,020 –> 00:10:17,559 as they’ve told the whole truth 214 00:10:17,559 –> 00:10:19,400 and they’ve ended their deception, 215 00:10:19,400 –> 00:10:21,219 all of that has been dealt with 216 00:10:21,219 –> 00:10:24,479 and it has been very, very wonderful. 217 00:10:24,479 –> 00:10:28,059 And besides, verse 28 if you look at that, 218 00:10:29,440 –> 00:10:32,140 makes it very clear that Jacob’s last words 219 00:10:32,140 –> 00:10:35,000 were indeed words of blessing 220 00:10:35,000 –> 00:10:38,200 and that we are to understand them that way. 221 00:10:38,200 –> 00:10:39,960 This is what verse 28, 222 00:10:39,960 –> 00:10:41,580 their father said to them 223 00:10:41,580 –> 00:10:44,000 as he blessed them, 224 00:10:44,299 –> 00:10:48,380 blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 225 00:10:51,299 –> 00:10:54,780 So as we come to these scriptures today, 226 00:10:54,780 –> 00:10:57,739 we must understand these are not 227 00:10:57,739 –> 00:11:00,979 the vindictive ramblings of an old man 228 00:11:00,979 –> 00:11:04,039 who could not forget the past. 229 00:11:04,039 –> 00:11:06,940 We are quite clearly told both by the flow of scripture 230 00:11:06,940 –> 00:11:09,440 and specifically by verse 28 231 00:11:10,539 –> 00:11:12,659 that this is Jacob bringing blessing 232 00:11:12,739 –> 00:11:14,979 which tells us something very important, 233 00:11:16,299 –> 00:11:18,460 that if you really want to be a blessing 234 00:11:18,460 –> 00:11:19,960 in the life of someone you love, 235 00:11:19,960 –> 00:11:21,539 there’s more to it than just saying 236 00:11:21,539 –> 00:11:23,359 kind, soothing words all the time. 237 00:11:24,840 –> 00:11:26,140 What we’re going to learn here 238 00:11:26,140 –> 00:11:29,979 is what it really means in particular situations 239 00:11:29,979 –> 00:11:33,299 to be a blessing to someone you love 240 00:11:33,299 –> 00:11:36,440 and to speak in a way that really will bless them, 241 00:11:36,440 –> 00:11:37,900 and that has to involve more 242 00:11:37,900 –> 00:11:41,219 than kind and soothing words. 243 00:11:42,179 –> 00:11:45,200 So I want to describe these blessings under four headings. 244 00:11:45,200 –> 00:11:46,960 We’ll group them together. 245 00:11:46,960 –> 00:11:48,580 Blessed and warned. 246 00:11:49,539 –> 00:11:52,359 Blessed and challenged. 247 00:11:52,359 –> 00:11:55,039 Blessed and encouraged. 248 00:11:55,039 –> 00:11:57,219 And blessed and honored. 249 00:11:57,219 –> 00:12:00,640 And as we touch on each of these, 250 00:12:00,640 –> 00:12:02,859 I want you to try and put yourself 251 00:12:02,859 –> 00:12:04,739 in the shoes of each of these sons 252 00:12:04,739 –> 00:12:06,539 so that you may hear the word of God 253 00:12:06,539 –> 00:12:08,760 as it particularly applies to you. 254 00:12:09,200 –> 00:12:12,239 And if you’re like me here’s what you’ll find, 255 00:12:12,239 –> 00:12:14,239 that the word of God actually speaks to you 256 00:12:14,239 –> 00:12:17,479 in multiple ways and in multiple places 257 00:12:17,479 –> 00:12:21,400 as we find week after week it always does. 258 00:12:22,479 –> 00:12:24,440 So let’s begin here then. 259 00:12:24,440 –> 00:12:29,359 You are blessed and you need to be warned. 260 00:12:29,359 –> 00:12:33,840 You are blessed and you need to be warned. 261 00:12:33,840 –> 00:12:36,919 And this relates to Reuben, and Simeon, 262 00:12:37,580 –> 00:12:38,419 and Levi. 263 00:12:39,599 –> 00:12:41,659 Now blessed and warned is familiar in the bible, 264 00:12:41,659 –> 00:12:45,000 I mean the disciples of Jesus, they’re blessed, 265 00:12:45,000 –> 00:12:46,820 but Jesus says to them watch and pray 266 00:12:46,820 –> 00:12:49,520 so that you do not enter into temptation. 267 00:12:49,520 –> 00:12:50,719 What’s that, that’s a warning. 268 00:12:50,719 –> 00:12:52,780 So you’re blessed, you need to be warned. 269 00:12:54,080 –> 00:12:56,000 The book of Ephesians, we are blessed 270 00:12:56,000 –> 00:12:58,200 with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 271 00:12:58,200 –> 00:13:00,520 Ephesians 1.3, turn over two pages, 272 00:13:00,520 –> 00:13:02,520 you get to chapter four, and it says 273 00:13:02,520 –> 00:13:05,260 let the thief no longer steal. 274 00:13:06,260 –> 00:13:08,299 Why would that be said to people 275 00:13:08,299 –> 00:13:11,219 who are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ? 276 00:13:11,219 –> 00:13:16,179 Answer, because we all experience the pull of the flesh. 277 00:13:17,380 –> 00:13:20,039 You are blessed in Christ. 278 00:13:20,039 –> 00:13:25,039 Yes, but the inclination of what is in you by nature 279 00:13:25,679 –> 00:13:29,659 may be a struggle for you as long as you live in this world. 280 00:13:30,880 –> 00:13:34,020 So do not ever forget what is in you by nature 281 00:13:34,020 –> 00:13:36,919 because even though you are blessed in Christ, 282 00:13:36,919 –> 00:13:40,940 be warned about this, that that which is in your flesh 283 00:13:40,940 –> 00:13:45,280 will be a battle for you throughout the days of your life. 284 00:13:45,280 –> 00:13:47,200 You need to know what it is therefore 285 00:13:47,200 –> 00:13:49,840 and to be on your guard against it. 286 00:13:50,960 –> 00:13:55,960 Now for Reuben, verse three, that was the sin of pride. 287 00:13:57,460 –> 00:14:01,159 Reuben, you are my first born, 288 00:14:01,159 –> 00:14:06,000 my might and the firstfruits of my strength, 289 00:14:06,000 –> 00:14:11,000 your preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 290 00:14:13,219 –> 00:14:15,059 Reuben, you were the first. 291 00:14:15,059 –> 00:14:16,520 You were the first of the 12. 292 00:14:17,659 –> 00:14:18,719 You were the first to do everything. 293 00:14:18,719 –> 00:14:20,520 You were the first to crawl, first to walk, 294 00:14:20,520 –> 00:14:23,099 all the rest of them steps and stares after you. 295 00:14:23,099 –> 00:14:25,039 They all looked to you. 296 00:14:25,039 –> 00:14:28,280 You were always the one who was out in front. 297 00:14:28,280 –> 00:14:30,119 People have always deferred to you. 298 00:14:30,280 –> 00:14:32,000 You are used to being front of the line. 299 00:14:32,000 –> 00:14:34,159 You are used to having the preeminence. 300 00:14:34,159 –> 00:14:36,119 That’s just how it has been in your life. 301 00:14:36,119 –> 00:14:38,380 And Reuben, that’s your danger. 302 00:14:39,780 –> 00:14:43,099 Here’s what is in you, Reuben. 303 00:14:44,119 –> 00:14:49,000 You have in your very nature a desire to impress others. 304 00:14:50,140 –> 00:14:52,479 There’s a bravado about you. 305 00:14:53,440 –> 00:14:56,659 And that’s what got you into trouble 306 00:14:56,679 –> 00:15:01,099 with that great sin from those many years ago. 307 00:15:01,099 –> 00:15:06,099 Pride was the sin behind the sin that got you. 308 00:15:07,419 –> 00:15:08,640 It was your bravado. 309 00:15:08,640 –> 00:15:10,640 It was your pretentiousness. 310 00:15:10,640 –> 00:15:12,619 It was your swagger. 311 00:15:12,619 –> 00:15:14,359 That was your downfall. 312 00:15:15,520 –> 00:15:17,080 Never forget that. 313 00:15:18,179 –> 00:15:21,700 Reuben, my son, you are blessed. 314 00:15:21,700 –> 00:15:23,780 And you do need to be warned. 315 00:15:24,739 –> 00:15:27,340 Now, Imagine that you were a descendant 316 00:15:27,340 –> 00:15:29,419 born into the line of Reuben 317 00:15:30,539 –> 00:15:32,219 and you would say to yourself, 318 00:15:32,219 –> 00:15:35,500 I wonder what God said about our family tree? 319 00:15:36,679 –> 00:15:39,539 And you would go to Genesis in chapter 49, 320 00:15:39,539 –> 00:15:42,299 which is a chapter of huge importance 321 00:15:42,299 –> 00:15:44,880 for everyone descended from the 12 tribes. 322 00:15:44,880 –> 00:15:46,299 You would go to this and you would say, 323 00:15:46,299 –> 00:15:48,400 I’m a Reubenite, what’s in me? 324 00:15:48,400 –> 00:15:50,099 And you would read this 325 00:15:50,099 –> 00:15:53,340 and how would you pray as a result of that? 326 00:15:54,659 –> 00:15:57,179 Well, you would surely come to God in this way. 327 00:15:57,179 –> 00:15:59,020 You would say to Him, Oh God, 328 00:15:59,919 –> 00:16:02,599 deliver me from the sin of pride 329 00:16:02,599 –> 00:16:05,419 because I can see that that is in me too. 330 00:16:06,619 –> 00:16:10,599 And please deliver me from the folly 331 00:16:10,599 –> 00:16:15,059 to which this bravado leads 332 00:16:15,059 –> 00:16:18,700 and let me be on my guard, 333 00:16:18,700 –> 00:16:21,080 lest it take hold of me 334 00:16:21,080 –> 00:16:25,000 and Satan gain the advantage as a result. 335 00:16:26,440 –> 00:16:28,080 Now, for Simeon and for Levi, 336 00:16:28,080 –> 00:16:29,359 there was a different sin 337 00:16:29,359 –> 00:16:32,799 that was particularly their point of weakness. 338 00:16:32,799 –> 00:16:36,320 And you’ll notice there that for these men, it was anger. 339 00:16:36,320 –> 00:16:39,760 In their anger, verse six, they killed men. 340 00:16:39,760 –> 00:16:43,080 Anger was what was behind the awful atrocity. 341 00:16:43,080 –> 00:16:46,679 Cursed be their anger, verse seven, and their wrath. 342 00:16:48,000 –> 00:16:50,000 And the sin that had been committed 343 00:16:50,039 –> 00:16:52,479 many, many years before this awful atrocity 344 00:16:52,479 –> 00:16:53,919 clearly had been forgiven. 345 00:16:53,919 –> 00:16:56,520 There had been this great change in the brothers. 346 00:16:56,520 –> 00:16:58,520 Genuine repentance has come to them, 347 00:16:58,520 –> 00:17:00,500 if I put it in New Testament terms. 348 00:17:00,500 –> 00:17:05,140 Here is a sin that is under the blood of Jesus Christ. 349 00:17:06,439 –> 00:17:10,739 But you see the importance of what Jacob is saying here. 350 00:17:11,800 –> 00:17:14,040 He’s saying, look, with regards to this 351 00:17:14,040 –> 00:17:15,680 that has been dealt with, 352 00:17:15,680 –> 00:17:19,420 don’t ever forget where it came from. 353 00:17:21,400 –> 00:17:23,619 You did that because that was in you. 354 00:17:24,599 –> 00:17:27,060 It came out of your own flesh. 355 00:17:28,260 –> 00:17:29,719 That violence was in you, 356 00:17:29,719 –> 00:17:33,420 and what was behind that lashing out 357 00:17:33,420 –> 00:17:37,920 was that there is an anger that is in you. 358 00:17:37,920 –> 00:17:41,959 There’s a frustration in you, Simeon Levi. 359 00:17:41,959 –> 00:17:45,079 It’s there by nature and it kind of churns away. 360 00:17:45,280 –> 00:17:47,859 This is what you’re going to have to deal with. 361 00:17:50,040 –> 00:17:51,859 You know what it’s like, Simeon. 362 00:17:53,660 –> 00:17:56,339 You experience this regularly, Levi. 363 00:17:58,359 –> 00:18:00,599 You go into the school, you come into the church, 364 00:18:00,599 –> 00:18:02,199 you come into the workplace, 365 00:18:02,199 –> 00:18:04,119 in the family circle you see something 366 00:18:04,119 –> 00:18:05,599 that’s not to your liking, 367 00:18:07,439 –> 00:18:10,000 and you get yourself very quickly worked up about it. 368 00:18:10,000 –> 00:18:12,359 That’s just what’s in you. 369 00:18:13,400 –> 00:18:14,680 And the pressure builds up 370 00:18:14,819 –> 00:18:17,000 inside you and then it all bursts out. 371 00:18:17,000 –> 00:18:19,359 People who know you see this in you, 372 00:18:19,359 –> 00:18:22,060 do you realize that this is your major battle? 373 00:18:23,520 –> 00:18:25,239 Do you see that this is what 374 00:18:25,239 –> 00:18:28,300 was behind the great failure in the past? 375 00:18:29,400 –> 00:18:32,800 Simeon, Levi, you are blessed, 376 00:18:33,760 –> 00:18:35,439 but you need to be warned. 377 00:18:35,439 –> 00:18:38,699 You need to know where your battle is 378 00:18:38,699 –> 00:18:41,000 and to be on your guard in that regard. 379 00:18:41,000 –> 00:18:46,000 Now, do you see that the plain speaking 380 00:18:47,619 –> 00:18:52,619 of a loving father who knows his sons 381 00:18:53,300 –> 00:18:56,040 and is well aware of the particular battles 382 00:18:56,040 –> 00:18:58,760 that each of them faces, 383 00:18:58,760 –> 00:19:03,640 that plain speaking is a wonderful blessing 384 00:19:03,640 –> 00:19:05,500 to each of these men. 385 00:19:05,500 –> 00:19:07,579 They would never forget what was said 386 00:19:07,579 –> 00:19:09,319 by the old man in his dying hours. 387 00:19:09,359 –> 00:19:12,040 I know what I have to be on my guard. 388 00:19:12,040 –> 00:19:14,380 I’m blessed and he warned me 389 00:19:14,380 –> 00:19:15,780 and I’m gonna carry that with me 390 00:19:15,780 –> 00:19:16,800 throughout the rest of my life. 391 00:19:16,800 –> 00:19:18,040 What a blessing that is. 392 00:19:18,040 –> 00:19:20,959 Blessing is more than saying kind and soothing words 393 00:19:20,959 –> 00:19:22,219 over a cup of coffee. 394 00:19:23,800 –> 00:19:26,439 It involves a kind of spiritual discernment 395 00:19:26,439 –> 00:19:28,079 in a relationship of love 396 00:19:28,079 –> 00:19:30,280 and of trust, perhaps, over many years 397 00:19:30,280 –> 00:19:32,520 to be able to speak the truth in love 398 00:19:32,520 –> 00:19:34,239 with discernment, with insight, 399 00:19:34,239 –> 00:19:36,400 and that’s exactly what Jacob does here 400 00:19:36,400 –> 00:19:38,199 and it’s a tremendous blessing. 401 00:19:38,219 –> 00:19:41,079 Verse 28, he blessed them with the blessing 402 00:19:41,079 –> 00:19:43,280 that was suitable to each one. 403 00:19:43,280 –> 00:19:45,500 That’s what these lads needed to hear. 404 00:19:48,439 –> 00:19:51,560 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, you are blessed 405 00:19:52,979 –> 00:19:56,219 and you need to be warned. 406 00:19:57,359 –> 00:19:58,780 You need to be on your guard. 407 00:19:59,760 –> 00:20:02,520 You need to be wide awake to where Satan’s seeking 408 00:20:02,520 –> 00:20:05,000 to gain the advantage over you right now. 409 00:20:05,560 –> 00:20:09,520 Second, you are blessed 410 00:20:11,099 –> 00:20:13,459 and you need to be challenged. 411 00:20:13,459 –> 00:20:16,780 You are blessed and you need to be challenged. 412 00:20:16,780 –> 00:20:19,339 Now, this relates to Zebulun and Isachar 413 00:20:19,339 –> 00:20:22,339 and Zebulun is in verse 13, look at that, 414 00:20:22,339 –> 00:20:27,160 Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea. 415 00:20:27,160 –> 00:20:30,619 He shall become a haven for ships 416 00:20:30,619 –> 00:20:34,459 and his border shall be at Sidon. 417 00:20:35,520 –> 00:20:38,060 Now, always remember as you read the Old Testament story 418 00:20:38,060 –> 00:20:39,880 what God’s great purpose is. 419 00:20:39,880 –> 00:20:41,660 He says to Abraham, 420 00:20:41,660 –> 00:20:44,500 I’ll bless you, why, so that through you 421 00:20:44,500 –> 00:20:47,719 all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 422 00:20:47,719 –> 00:20:50,599 So what is God’s great purpose for the Jacob family 423 00:20:50,599 –> 00:20:53,219 and the Zebulun family and all of these tribes 424 00:20:53,219 –> 00:20:56,780 that are going to come from this one family here? 425 00:20:56,780 –> 00:20:59,579 Well, God’s great purpose is that as they are blessed 426 00:20:59,579 –> 00:21:02,439 with the promises of God, that they will be the means 427 00:21:02,619 –> 00:21:05,760 of bringing this blessing to people from all other nations. 428 00:21:05,760 –> 00:21:07,500 I will bless you and through you 429 00:21:07,500 –> 00:21:09,579 all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 430 00:21:09,579 –> 00:21:12,880 Now look at the fantastic opportunity 431 00:21:12,880 –> 00:21:15,000 that is held out to Zebulun. 432 00:21:15,939 –> 00:21:18,400 It’s the only prophecy 433 00:21:18,400 –> 00:21:22,420 where a location is specifically mentioned. 434 00:21:22,420 –> 00:21:24,040 And what’s referred to here is 435 00:21:24,040 –> 00:21:27,300 when the descendants of Zebulun get into the Promised Land 436 00:21:27,300 –> 00:21:30,140 after the exodus and then they go into Canaan, 437 00:21:30,140 –> 00:21:31,819 they are going to have the opportunity 438 00:21:31,839 –> 00:21:33,900 to live by the sea. 439 00:21:33,900 –> 00:21:37,280 Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea. 440 00:21:37,280 –> 00:21:39,680 And here’s what that means. 441 00:21:39,680 –> 00:21:44,140 He shall become a haven for ships. 442 00:21:44,140 –> 00:21:45,979 Where do the ships come from? 443 00:21:45,979 –> 00:21:48,579 From nations all over the world. 444 00:21:48,579 –> 00:21:49,939 And you see what is being said here, 445 00:21:49,939 –> 00:21:54,160 Zebulun you are going to have the most marvelous opportunity 446 00:21:54,160 –> 00:21:57,619 you are going to be able to be in a place 447 00:21:57,619 –> 00:22:01,180 where God will bring people from all the nations 448 00:22:01,180 –> 00:22:05,900 in ships right to the harbor at your own doorstep as it were 449 00:22:05,900 –> 00:22:07,780 and you are going to have the opportunity 450 00:22:07,780 –> 00:22:10,680 to advance significantly the great purpose 451 00:22:10,680 –> 00:22:13,180 of the living God that has been trusted to you 452 00:22:13,180 –> 00:22:14,959 since the days of your father, Abraham. 453 00:22:14,959 –> 00:22:15,959 Marvelous. 454 00:22:17,099 –> 00:22:19,599 Zebulun, you will be positioned 455 00:22:20,579 –> 00:22:23,680 so that you can bring blessing 456 00:22:23,680 –> 00:22:26,060 to people from all over the world 457 00:22:26,060 –> 00:22:29,040 who I will bring to you. 458 00:22:31,199 –> 00:22:33,560 Now, I don’t have time to tell you the details 459 00:22:33,560 –> 00:22:35,640 of the story that followed, 460 00:22:35,640 –> 00:22:36,859 but here’s the headline. 461 00:22:38,219 –> 00:22:41,599 Zebulun, when the tribe got 462 00:22:41,599 –> 00:22:45,199 into the promised land generations later, 463 00:22:45,199 –> 00:22:48,119 did not press all the way 464 00:22:48,119 –> 00:22:50,959 to the coastal lands. 465 00:22:50,959 –> 00:22:53,280 They did not drive out the inhabitants 466 00:22:53,280 –> 00:22:54,479 of the costal lands. 467 00:22:54,479 –> 00:22:56,479 You have this in Judges in chapter one. 468 00:22:57,400 –> 00:22:59,459 What they did was they stopped short 469 00:22:59,459 –> 00:23:01,040 off the coast 470 00:23:01,180 –> 00:23:03,339 and they lived inland, 471 00:23:03,339 –> 00:23:05,640 and most Bibles have maps in the back 472 00:23:05,640 –> 00:23:06,959 and if you have that, 473 00:23:06,959 –> 00:23:08,819 one of the maps is typically 474 00:23:08,819 –> 00:23:10,959 where each of the 12 tribes settled, 475 00:23:10,959 –> 00:23:12,239 and when you look at it, 476 00:23:12,239 –> 00:23:14,280 you’ll see Zebulun’s not on the coast. 477 00:23:14,280 –> 00:23:16,119 Completely landlocked, 478 00:23:16,119 –> 00:23:17,239 and why was that? 479 00:23:17,239 –> 00:23:19,199 Because Judges tells us 480 00:23:19,199 –> 00:23:21,979 that they did not press all the way 481 00:23:21,979 –> 00:23:24,280 into the opportunity 482 00:23:24,280 –> 00:23:26,640 that God had held 483 00:23:26,640 –> 00:23:27,800 before them. 484 00:23:28,719 –> 00:23:32,800 And their privilege was given to others instead. 485 00:23:32,800 –> 00:23:36,199 Now that is why I say of this prophecy 486 00:23:36,199 –> 00:23:39,319 that these folks were blessed 487 00:23:39,319 –> 00:23:42,900 but boy did they need to be challenged. 488 00:23:42,900 –> 00:23:45,839 You see, if you were a descendant 489 00:23:45,839 –> 00:23:47,540 in the line of Zebulun, 490 00:23:47,540 –> 00:23:48,959 if you were in that tribe 491 00:23:48,959 –> 00:23:52,239 and you came and you read Genesis 49, 492 00:23:52,239 –> 00:23:53,739 your eyes would be wide open. 493 00:23:53,739 –> 00:23:57,079 You’d say we were meant to be living 494 00:23:57,180 –> 00:23:57,979 by the sea. 495 00:23:59,459 –> 00:24:01,619 We were meant to have an international ministry 496 00:24:01,619 –> 00:24:03,380 to folks on ships that were coming 497 00:24:03,380 –> 00:24:06,979 and why in the world are we all living in land? 498 00:24:08,579 –> 00:24:10,180 And the answer to that question 499 00:24:10,180 –> 00:24:12,180 is because previous generations 500 00:24:12,180 –> 00:24:14,660 in our family were too half-hearted. 501 00:24:16,060 –> 00:24:18,319 It was too tough for them to drive out the enemies 502 00:24:18,319 –> 00:24:20,439 when God said that they were to do that. 503 00:24:21,459 –> 00:24:23,420 And because they were so half-hearted, 504 00:24:23,420 –> 00:24:25,939 that’s where we are today. 505 00:24:26,780 –> 00:24:29,599 And if you were born into the line of Zebulun 506 00:24:29,599 –> 00:24:32,160 and you saw that from Genesis and chapter 49, 507 00:24:32,160 –> 00:24:33,839 how would you pray as a result? 508 00:24:33,839 –> 00:24:35,199 You would surely pray like this, 509 00:24:35,199 –> 00:24:38,180 you would say, oh God I see that we are here 510 00:24:38,180 –> 00:24:42,119 where we are today because of the half-heartedness 511 00:24:42,119 –> 00:24:43,739 that has gone ahead of us. 512 00:24:43,739 –> 00:24:47,060 Lord, make us a generation that is whole-hearted 513 00:24:47,060 –> 00:24:49,160 in pursuing every opportunity 514 00:24:49,160 –> 00:24:52,599 that you will open up for us in our time. 515 00:24:52,599 –> 00:24:54,660 Don’t let us be like a generation 516 00:24:54,660 –> 00:24:58,339 that settles short of pressing in 517 00:24:58,339 –> 00:25:01,060 to all that you would hold before us. 518 00:25:01,060 –> 00:25:04,020 Don’t let us be like that. 519 00:25:04,020 –> 00:25:05,920 Because what we see from the scripture 520 00:25:05,920 –> 00:25:07,839 is that you have more for us, 521 00:25:07,839 –> 00:25:11,640 more opportunity than that which we have yet apprehended. 522 00:25:13,079 –> 00:25:17,199 So they’re blessed, but boy they need to be challenged. 523 00:25:18,880 –> 00:25:20,479 And the same is true for Isaac. 524 00:25:20,479 –> 00:25:22,800 Look at that in verse 14 and 15. 525 00:25:24,000 –> 00:25:28,439 Isaac is a strong donkey. 526 00:25:29,400 –> 00:25:32,339 Now look at what the strong donkey’s doing, 527 00:25:32,339 –> 00:25:35,280 crouching between the sheepfolds. 528 00:25:36,680 –> 00:25:39,280 What’s a man of strength doing sort of crouching 529 00:25:39,280 –> 00:25:42,040 and hiding between the sheepfolds? 530 00:25:42,040 –> 00:25:44,959 He’s not standing up, he’s not deploying his strength, 531 00:25:44,959 –> 00:25:47,119 he’s hiding himself, you see. 532 00:25:47,119 –> 00:25:48,180 And why? 533 00:25:48,180 –> 00:25:49,959 Well here’s what that’s all about. 534 00:25:50,020 –> 00:25:54,859 Verse 15, he saw that a resting place 535 00:25:54,859 –> 00:25:59,859 was good and that the land was pleasant. 536 00:26:00,479 –> 00:26:01,979 Now you see the point of this. 537 00:26:03,180 –> 00:26:06,020 Isaac, you are strong. 538 00:26:07,599 –> 00:26:11,680 Your strength could be deployed to bring blessing to others, 539 00:26:11,680 –> 00:26:14,339 your strength could be used in the advance 540 00:26:14,339 –> 00:26:16,359 of God’s great purpose in the world. 541 00:26:17,739 –> 00:26:19,020 But here’s the problem. 542 00:26:19,880 –> 00:26:22,300 You like your own comfort way too much. 543 00:26:23,640 –> 00:26:27,020 You are enjoying your own blessings. 544 00:26:27,020 –> 00:26:29,579 You saw that a resting place was good 545 00:26:29,579 –> 00:26:31,699 and then you forgot all about the purpose 546 00:26:31,699 –> 00:26:33,540 and the calling of God for your life. 547 00:26:36,140 –> 00:26:41,140 Zebulun, Isaac’s, ou are blessed. 548 00:26:42,380 –> 00:26:44,939 But oh, you need to be challenged. 549 00:26:45,900 –> 00:26:47,560 Because in both of these tribes 550 00:26:47,560 –> 00:26:50,079 what actually happened was so much less 551 00:26:50,079 –> 00:26:52,199 than what might have been if they had 552 00:26:52,199 –> 00:26:56,060 pressed into all the purpose of God. 553 00:26:58,040 –> 00:26:59,239 And some of us here today, 554 00:26:59,239 –> 00:27:01,760 that’s exactly what we need to hear. 555 00:27:01,760 –> 00:27:03,400 We’ve set ourselves on the dream 556 00:27:03,400 –> 00:27:07,199 of finding a pleasant place and being comfortable 557 00:27:07,199 –> 00:27:11,520 and somehow lost in the middle of all of that 558 00:27:12,699 –> 00:27:15,079 any driving sense of the great purpose 559 00:27:15,079 –> 00:27:19,459 and mission to which God has called us all. 560 00:27:20,319 –> 00:27:23,900 So some blessed and needing to be warned, 561 00:27:24,800 –> 00:27:29,800 some blessed in Christ really needing to be challenged 562 00:27:29,959 –> 00:27:31,479 deploy your strength, 563 00:27:31,479 –> 00:27:33,660 press into all that God has for you. 564 00:27:35,479 –> 00:27:40,400 Third, some are blessed and need to be encouraged 565 00:27:40,400 –> 00:27:42,680 and perhaps this is for you, especially today, 566 00:27:42,680 –> 00:27:46,239 I’m grouping here Dan and Gad and Ashur and Naphtali 567 00:27:46,239 –> 00:27:48,319 and what they have in common 568 00:27:48,319 –> 00:27:51,819 is that these short prophecies to these four sons 569 00:27:51,819 –> 00:27:54,839 all relate to a particular area of gifting 570 00:27:54,839 –> 00:27:56,719 that was given by God. 571 00:27:56,719 –> 00:27:58,319 And again, it would have been very helpful 572 00:27:58,319 –> 00:28:01,099 for people in future generations in these tribes 573 00:28:01,099 –> 00:28:04,920 to look back and to see what God had given by nature 574 00:28:04,920 –> 00:28:06,839 that might then be deployed 575 00:28:06,839 –> 00:28:10,619 for the great purpose of his grace. 576 00:28:10,660 –> 00:28:12,819 In regards to Dan, which I’ve described this 577 00:28:12,819 –> 00:28:14,660 as gifts of wisdom, 578 00:28:14,660 –> 00:28:18,839 Dan shall be a serpent, verse 17, in the way 579 00:28:18,839 –> 00:28:21,699 and a viper by the path. 580 00:28:21,699 –> 00:28:23,839 This is one of the places where in the Bible 581 00:28:23,839 –> 00:28:27,300 the image of the serpent is used in a good way. 582 00:28:27,300 –> 00:28:32,079 Remember Jesus said you are to be as wise as serpents. 583 00:28:32,079 –> 00:28:35,500 The cunning, the wisdom, the shrewdness, 584 00:28:35,500 –> 00:28:39,119 the thinking of the serpent being commended 585 00:28:39,119 –> 00:28:40,540 by the Lord Jesus and I think 586 00:28:41,420 –> 00:28:42,939 that’s the point of the image here 587 00:28:42,939 –> 00:28:46,099 and its significance is that Dan 588 00:28:46,099 –> 00:28:49,359 was one of the smaller tribes, little Dan. 589 00:28:50,680 –> 00:28:53,339 And here’s what is being said can I put it this way, 590 00:28:53,339 –> 00:28:56,060 Dan you are one of the smaller tribes 591 00:28:56,939 –> 00:28:59,239 but do not like anyone look down on you. 592 00:29:00,239 –> 00:29:03,739 Remember that a little snake can bite the heel 593 00:29:03,739 –> 00:29:08,420 of a huge horse with such venom and with such power 594 00:29:08,420 –> 00:29:11,839 that someone proudly sitting on the horse 595 00:29:11,839 –> 00:29:14,500 as its rider may be tumbled backwards 596 00:29:14,500 –> 00:29:16,219 and brought to the ground. 597 00:29:16,219 –> 00:29:20,699 Dan let no one look down on you because of your smallness. 598 00:29:20,699 –> 00:29:23,640 You can accomplish by the grace of God 599 00:29:23,640 –> 00:29:26,319 much more than you think. 600 00:29:26,319 –> 00:29:27,719 That’s the encouragement here. 601 00:29:28,900 –> 00:29:31,140 Then to Gad gifts of strength, 602 00:29:31,140 –> 00:29:36,140 raiders shall raid Gad but he shall raid at their heels. 603 00:29:36,959 –> 00:29:39,319 That’s verse 19. 604 00:29:39,319 –> 00:29:41,140 And the significance here is 605 00:29:41,140 –> 00:29:43,560 that when God’s people came into the Promised Land, 606 00:29:43,560 –> 00:29:45,739 Gad was one of the tribes 607 00:29:45,739 –> 00:29:49,459 that settled on the east side of the Jordan 608 00:29:49,459 –> 00:29:52,699 which meant that if enemies or raiders came from the east 609 00:29:52,699 –> 00:29:54,880 as they often did, 610 00:29:54,880 –> 00:29:58,099 Gad and the others on the east side of the Jordan 611 00:29:58,099 –> 00:30:00,199 were kind of first line of defense 612 00:30:00,199 –> 00:30:03,920 protecting the other more westwards tribes 613 00:30:03,920 –> 00:30:04,959 from these raiders. 614 00:30:04,959 –> 00:30:08,099 They took the brunt of the fight every time 615 00:30:08,099 –> 00:30:11,660 and they had the strength and the resilience to do it 616 00:30:11,660 –> 00:30:13,959 and it was a remarkable gift from God 617 00:30:13,959 –> 00:30:15,239 that wonderfully served 618 00:30:15,239 –> 00:30:19,540 the rest of their brothers and their sisters. 619 00:30:19,540 –> 00:30:20,920 Gad, here’s your ministry. 620 00:30:20,920 –> 00:30:23,180 You’re gonna be a protector of others 621 00:30:23,180 –> 00:30:24,819 and some of you will immediately say yeah yeah, 622 00:30:24,819 –> 00:30:26,660 that’s what God’s called me to do. 623 00:30:26,660 –> 00:30:28,099 That’s who I am. 624 00:30:29,040 –> 00:30:32,260 And God has positioned them, the Tribe of Gad, 625 00:30:32,260 –> 00:30:34,199 for this particular ministry. 626 00:30:34,199 –> 00:30:35,660 The raiders come and you know what? 627 00:30:35,660 –> 00:30:37,160 Gad chases the raiders off. 628 00:30:37,160 –> 00:30:38,859 That’s what’s said in this verse. 629 00:30:39,880 –> 00:30:42,900 Asher, gifts of service, verse 20. 630 00:30:43,839 –> 00:30:46,859 Asher’s food shall be rich 631 00:30:46,859 –> 00:30:51,140 and he shall yield royal delicacies. 632 00:30:51,140 –> 00:30:54,280 If you were to choose where to live 633 00:30:54,280 –> 00:30:57,760 in terms of the tribes go for Asher. 634 00:30:57,760 –> 00:31:02,760 They lived in the most fertile part of the Land of Canaan 635 00:31:02,800 –> 00:31:07,239 north of Mount Carmel and they lived by the sea 636 00:31:07,239 –> 00:31:08,959 so they had the harvest of the land 637 00:31:08,959 –> 00:31:10,459 and they had the harvest of the sea. 638 00:31:10,459 –> 00:31:13,000 They had an absolute abundance. 639 00:31:13,000 –> 00:31:16,520 Boy, you could stock your kitchen really well 640 00:31:16,520 –> 00:31:19,599 if you lived in the Tribe of Asher 641 00:31:19,599 –> 00:31:23,680 where they settled after the conquest of Canaan. 642 00:31:23,680 –> 00:31:26,859 So, here are people then who just have an abundance, 643 00:31:26,859 –> 00:31:29,239 all the best of the land and all the best of the sea. 644 00:31:29,239 –> 00:31:30,599 I mean, you can’t get more than that. 645 00:31:30,640 –> 00:31:33,880 That’s just showered one blessing after another 646 00:31:33,880 –> 00:31:35,459 into their lives. 647 00:31:35,459 –> 00:31:38,160 And to them, notice that they do not 648 00:31:38,160 –> 00:31:40,119 only enjoy these good gifts, 649 00:31:40,119 –> 00:31:42,760 they share them with others. 650 00:31:42,760 –> 00:31:47,760 Asher yields royal delicacies, yields. 651 00:31:48,859 –> 00:31:51,800 Gives up from what has been given. 652 00:31:51,800 –> 00:31:53,280 That’s what’s being said here. 653 00:31:53,280 –> 00:31:55,959 Gives that which is fit for a king. 654 00:31:55,959 –> 00:31:57,300 That’s what’s being said. 655 00:31:58,300 –> 00:32:01,260 So here’s the special word for Asher, 656 00:32:01,260 –> 00:32:03,140 and it will be a word for some here today, 657 00:32:03,140 –> 00:32:04,219 abundantly blessed. 658 00:32:04,219 –> 00:32:08,500 Asher, I have given you an abundance. 659 00:32:09,819 –> 00:32:14,819 And your special calling is that out of that abundace, 660 00:32:16,900 –> 00:32:21,900 you should give back generously to others 661 00:32:22,260 –> 00:32:23,459 for the glory of God. 662 00:32:23,459 –> 00:32:27,760 You should be offering that which is fit for a king. 663 00:32:29,020 –> 00:32:30,900 And then Naftali. 664 00:32:30,900 –> 00:32:33,599 And I’ve used the phrase here, gifts of compassion. 665 00:32:33,599 –> 00:32:34,939 These are all different gifts 666 00:32:34,939 –> 00:32:36,839 that God is giving to different people. 667 00:32:36,839 –> 00:32:40,699 Naftali is a doe, verse 21, or a deer, 668 00:32:40,699 –> 00:32:44,040 let loose that bears beautiful fawns. 669 00:32:45,060 –> 00:32:46,500 Hard verse to translate. 670 00:32:46,500 –> 00:32:49,560 It might be, there’s a footnote in the ESV says, 671 00:32:49,560 –> 00:32:51,680 might be speaks beautiful words 672 00:32:51,680 –> 00:32:53,380 rather than bears beautiful fawns. 673 00:32:54,199 –> 00:32:55,839 And I don’t know, it’s very complex 674 00:32:55,839 –> 00:32:57,579 and would be well beyond me. 675 00:32:57,579 –> 00:32:59,400 The scholars can’t agree on this. 676 00:32:59,400 –> 00:33:02,040 But either way, whether it’s bearing beautiful fawns 677 00:33:02,040 –> 00:33:04,939 or speaking beautiful words, 678 00:33:04,939 –> 00:33:08,520 the deer conveys an image of grace, 679 00:33:08,520 –> 00:33:10,900 tenderness, gentleness. 680 00:33:10,900 –> 00:33:13,260 That’s why I’m using the word compassion. 681 00:33:14,439 –> 00:33:18,359 Naftali, I have given you a special gift of compassion, 682 00:33:18,359 –> 00:33:20,280 as people hear who have this. 683 00:33:20,280 –> 00:33:21,800 You have the ability, 684 00:33:21,800 –> 00:33:23,560 because of your own tenderness, 685 00:33:23,560 –> 00:33:26,660 to come alongside a person who is hurting and wounded 686 00:33:26,660 –> 00:33:28,699 and they will open up to you, 687 00:33:28,699 –> 00:33:30,800 and you have the kind of sympathy 688 00:33:30,800 –> 00:33:33,260 that enables you to speak into their lives. 689 00:33:33,260 –> 00:33:35,900 You may underestimate the importance 690 00:33:35,900 –> 00:33:37,540 and the value of this gift. 691 00:33:37,540 –> 00:33:39,040 But it is a gift from above. 692 00:33:39,040 –> 00:33:44,040 Use it for the good of your brothers and sisters. 693 00:33:44,920 –> 00:33:48,520 So Dan, Gad, Asher, Naftali, you’re all blessed! 694 00:33:49,359 –> 00:33:54,040 You have all been gifted in very different ways. 695 00:33:54,040 –> 00:33:56,319 You’ve all been given particular ministry, 696 00:33:56,319 –> 00:33:58,020 if we put it in New Testament terms, 697 00:33:58,020 –> 00:33:59,160 within the body of Christ. 698 00:33:59,160 –> 00:34:01,520 Use your gifts, don’t underestimate them! 699 00:34:02,359 –> 00:34:05,199 See that God has equipped you for his own purpose 700 00:34:05,199 –> 00:34:06,540 and that you have a part to play in it. 701 00:34:06,540 –> 00:34:08,139 Be encouraged! 702 00:34:09,239 –> 00:34:10,620 You’re blessed. 703 00:34:11,580 –> 00:34:15,639 And God has gifted you that you may contribute 704 00:34:15,659 –> 00:34:19,340 to the advance of his great purpose and his great work. 705 00:34:20,679 –> 00:34:23,719 Now, do you see how these blessings are speaking 706 00:34:23,719 –> 00:34:26,600 very particularly into the circumstances 707 00:34:26,600 –> 00:34:28,040 of each of these sons? 708 00:34:29,120 –> 00:34:30,419 They’re all blessed. 709 00:34:31,320 –> 00:34:33,199 Some of them are blessed and need to be warned. 710 00:34:33,199 –> 00:34:35,159 Some of them are blessed and need to be challenged. 711 00:34:35,159 –> 00:34:38,040 Some of them are blessed, they just need to be encouraged. 712 00:34:39,479 –> 00:34:41,879 And the word of God coming through the mouth of Jacob 713 00:34:41,879 –> 00:34:45,080 does all of these, as is suited. 714 00:34:45,800 –> 00:34:46,679 To each one. 715 00:34:48,459 –> 00:34:51,219 And here’s the last thing, you’re blessed 716 00:34:51,219 –> 00:34:52,800 and you will be honored. 717 00:34:52,800 –> 00:34:57,199 You are blessed and you will be honored. 718 00:34:57,199 –> 00:35:01,800 And there are three brothers who are singled out 719 00:35:01,800 –> 00:35:03,520 for special honor. 720 00:35:04,439 –> 00:35:08,479 Two of them will be no surprise to us, 721 00:35:08,479 –> 00:35:12,419 Benjamin and Joseph, who come last in the list, 722 00:35:13,300 –> 00:35:16,379 were very special to Jacob because 723 00:35:16,379 –> 00:35:17,860 they were born through Rachael, 724 00:35:17,860 –> 00:35:19,540 who was the great love of his life, 725 00:35:19,540 –> 00:35:22,020 and we’ve seen that again and again in the story. 726 00:35:23,120 –> 00:35:26,379 The last to be mentioned is Benjamin, verse 47. 727 00:35:26,379 –> 00:35:30,020 He’s a ravenous wolf in the morning and devouring the prey 728 00:35:30,020 –> 00:35:33,439 and at evening, dividing the spoil. 729 00:35:34,699 –> 00:35:37,219 What a gift Benjamin was to the family. 730 00:35:38,219 –> 00:35:40,459 He was the youngest, the last to be born, 731 00:35:40,600 –> 00:35:44,360 but oh, how thankful they must all have been for Benjamin. 732 00:35:44,360 –> 00:35:48,080 If you trace the contribution of the tribe of Benjamin 733 00:35:48,080 –> 00:35:49,959 through the Old Testament you will find 734 00:35:49,959 –> 00:35:54,000 that again and again when the people of Israel 735 00:35:54,000 –> 00:35:57,639 had their backs against the wall and trouble was coming 736 00:35:57,639 –> 00:36:01,159 in the thick of the fight and in the heat of the battle, 737 00:36:01,159 –> 00:36:03,320 who stepped up? 738 00:36:03,320 –> 00:36:04,560 The tribe of Benjamin. 739 00:36:04,560 –> 00:36:06,639 The last shall be first. 740 00:36:06,639 –> 00:36:09,679 They were out there in God’s amazing grace 741 00:36:09,679 –> 00:36:13,500 with tremendous courage, and they’re commended for this 742 00:36:13,500 –> 00:36:14,919 in this prophetic word. 743 00:36:14,919 –> 00:36:17,760 It’s also interesting that the tribe of Benjamin 744 00:36:17,760 –> 00:36:21,639 produced some amazing leaders 745 00:36:21,639 –> 00:36:23,280 in the subsequent generations. 746 00:36:23,280 –> 00:36:26,320 Queen Esther, related to Mordecai, 747 00:36:26,320 –> 00:36:27,800 we’re specifically told that he was 748 00:36:27,800 –> 00:36:29,760 from the tribe of Benjamin. 749 00:36:30,760 –> 00:36:32,560 And then there was someone in the New Testament 750 00:36:32,560 –> 00:36:35,939 came from the tribe of Benjamin, who was that? 751 00:36:36,040 –> 00:36:40,120 The Apostle Paul, of the tribe of Benjamin, 752 00:36:40,120 –> 00:36:43,219 and Luther has this marvelous comment about Paul 753 00:36:43,219 –> 00:36:46,100 in relation to this verse where Benjamin’s described 754 00:36:46,100 –> 00:36:49,760 as the wolf who then divides the prey. 755 00:36:49,760 –> 00:36:54,300 And Luther says this, that Paul 756 00:36:54,300 –> 00:36:58,600 was like the wolf when he watched over 757 00:36:58,600 –> 00:37:00,719 the stoning of Stephen. 758 00:37:01,639 –> 00:37:06,239 But afterwards, he divided the spoil of the gospel 759 00:37:06,239 –> 00:37:09,600 for which Stephen had died by spreading it 760 00:37:09,600 –> 00:37:10,879 all over the known world. 761 00:37:10,879 –> 00:37:13,280 Isn’t that beautiful fulfillment of the prophecy 762 00:37:13,280 –> 00:37:15,040 that’s made in regards to Benjamin? 763 00:37:16,179 –> 00:37:18,879 And then Joseph is wonderfully commended here 764 00:37:18,879 –> 00:37:19,840 for his fruitfulness. 765 00:37:19,840 –> 00:37:24,379 Verse 22, Joseph is a fruitful bow. 766 00:37:24,379 –> 00:37:27,199 The blessings of your father are mighty, verse 26, 767 00:37:27,219 –> 00:37:29,320 may they be on the head of Joseph 768 00:37:29,320 –> 00:37:34,300 and on the bow of him who was set apart from his brothers. 769 00:37:35,860 –> 00:37:38,919 And Joseph is pictured here as being crowned, 770 00:37:38,919 –> 00:37:42,419 on the brow, blessing, glory, honor 771 00:37:42,419 –> 00:37:47,419 that is coming to him in the presence of the Almighty. 772 00:37:48,959 –> 00:37:52,419 All that he suffered and yet God is no one’s debtor. 773 00:37:53,820 –> 00:37:55,020 Now, I was just thinking about this. 774 00:37:55,020 –> 00:37:56,580 You know, if Joseph could be here today 775 00:37:56,820 –> 00:38:00,479 and if we could put him out in the foyer there 776 00:38:00,479 –> 00:38:02,899 and if we all had a chance to ask him our questions, 777 00:38:02,899 –> 00:38:05,500 I think there’d be a long line of us, 778 00:38:05,500 –> 00:38:07,159 we’d wait a long time to speak to him 779 00:38:07,159 –> 00:38:09,199 and we’d ask him, I think, questions like this. 780 00:38:09,199 –> 00:38:12,520 Can you give me some help with how to forgive my brothers? 781 00:38:12,520 –> 00:38:15,860 Can you tell me how you got over the healing 782 00:38:15,860 –> 00:38:17,820 of these wounds and the terrible things 783 00:38:17,820 –> 00:38:18,699 that were done to you? 784 00:38:18,699 –> 00:38:20,699 Because I do struggle with that 785 00:38:20,699 –> 00:38:23,040 and some of them might say, 786 00:38:23,060 –> 00:38:25,199 how did you cope with your old dad 787 00:38:25,199 –> 00:38:27,600 when he was so grumpy and miserable 788 00:38:27,600 –> 00:38:29,419 and my years are few and evil 789 00:38:29,419 –> 00:38:32,739 and I’ve got a relative who isn’t very easy 790 00:38:32,739 –> 00:38:33,719 and very happy, 791 00:38:33,719 –> 00:38:36,139 we’d ask all these questions. 792 00:38:37,399 –> 00:38:40,879 You know what I think Joseph would say? 793 00:38:40,879 –> 00:38:45,639 You know, it all seems rather a long time ago to me now 794 00:38:45,639 –> 00:38:48,780 because since then I’ve been 4,000 years 795 00:38:48,780 –> 00:38:50,600 nearly in the presence of the Lord 796 00:38:50,600 –> 00:38:53,879 and the sheer joy and the glory of His presence, 797 00:38:53,879 –> 00:38:58,040 it just seems to have made all of that somehow slip away. 798 00:38:59,939 –> 00:39:03,020 The passing troubles of this life 799 00:39:03,020 –> 00:39:04,879 that we experience Paul says, 800 00:39:04,879 –> 00:39:08,439 are working for us an eternal weight of glory, 801 00:39:08,439 –> 00:39:11,100 an eternal weight of glory 802 00:39:11,100 –> 00:39:13,679 that will far surpass them all. 803 00:39:17,199 –> 00:39:18,040 And then the very last, 804 00:39:18,159 –> 00:39:20,219 you knew that I would keep this for the last 805 00:39:20,219 –> 00:39:21,840 if you’re following here is of course, 806 00:39:21,840 –> 00:39:24,159 Judah and you know why it’s last. 807 00:39:24,159 –> 00:39:26,639 What was special about Judah? 808 00:39:26,639 –> 00:39:27,800 Only one thing. 809 00:39:29,000 –> 00:39:33,540 That it was into this line that Jesus Christ was born. 810 00:39:34,719 –> 00:39:36,800 And that’s the reference in verse 10 811 00:39:36,800 –> 00:39:40,360 that the scepter shall not depart from Judah 812 00:39:40,360 –> 00:39:42,739 nor the ruler staff from between his feet 813 00:39:42,739 –> 00:39:44,800 until tribute comes to Him 814 00:39:44,919 –> 00:39:49,919 to Him and to him shall be the obedience of the people. 815 00:39:50,479 –> 00:39:51,540 That’s why in verse nine, 816 00:39:51,540 –> 00:39:54,979 there’s reference to the lion, the lion’s cub 817 00:39:54,979 –> 00:39:57,520 pointing forward to the book of Revelation 818 00:39:57,520 –> 00:40:00,439 where Jesus Christ is unveiled 819 00:40:00,439 –> 00:40:03,860 as the lion of the tribe of Judah, 820 00:40:03,860 –> 00:40:06,879 the one who holds the scepter in his hand 821 00:40:06,879 –> 00:40:11,040 and he is the one to whom the obedience of all the people, 822 00:40:11,040 –> 00:40:12,600 people from all nations 823 00:40:12,639 –> 00:40:16,620 will come and offer to Him obedience and worship. 824 00:40:18,780 –> 00:40:20,919 So to gather this together in this last minute, 825 00:40:20,919 –> 00:40:22,639 for what purpose does God have you 826 00:40:22,639 –> 00:40:24,179 in this service here today? 827 00:40:26,020 –> 00:40:29,560 Some of us are blessed, we’re in Christ, 828 00:40:29,560 –> 00:40:31,320 but you need to be warned, 829 00:40:33,080 –> 00:40:34,840 sin is crouching at the door. 830 00:40:36,600 –> 00:40:38,360 And God’s purpose for you today 831 00:40:38,360 –> 00:40:41,340 was that you would be reminded of what is in your flesh 832 00:40:42,159 –> 00:40:45,820 so that you will be ready to be on your guard this week 833 00:40:46,800 –> 00:40:49,840 so that Satan does not gain the advantage over you. 834 00:40:51,540 –> 00:40:55,080 Some of us, we are blessed, we’re in Christ, 835 00:40:55,080 –> 00:40:57,780 oh yeah, but boy, do we need to be challenged. 836 00:40:58,780 –> 00:41:01,360 We’ve settled down for what’s comfortable for us. 837 00:41:01,360 –> 00:41:04,360 We have not pressed into all the opportunities 838 00:41:04,360 –> 00:41:07,360 that God holds before us. 839 00:41:07,360 –> 00:41:09,560 We have not yet deployed our strength 840 00:41:09,600 –> 00:41:12,239 in a way that would enable us to look back on life 841 00:41:12,239 –> 00:41:15,219 and to say that we had offered our best to Christ. 842 00:41:15,219 –> 00:41:18,300 Years are passing, when are you going to do this? 843 00:41:19,879 –> 00:41:21,800 You’re in Christ, you’re blessed, 844 00:41:22,679 –> 00:41:24,840 but you really need to be challenged. 845 00:41:26,719 –> 00:41:28,800 And then some of us are blessed, we’re in Christ, 846 00:41:28,800 –> 00:41:30,479 we need to be encouraged. 847 00:41:30,479 –> 00:41:32,600 You tend to undervalue your gifts. 848 00:41:32,600 –> 00:41:37,600 You tend to feel that your ministry can’t possibly matter. 849 00:41:37,879 –> 00:41:39,840 Enough of that, be done with that, 850 00:41:41,040 –> 00:41:43,280 and deploy what God has given to you 851 00:41:44,280 –> 00:41:46,760 for the blessing of others and for his praise 852 00:41:46,760 –> 00:41:48,739 and for his glory, and some, 853 00:41:50,179 –> 00:41:52,919 you’re here because you are not yet blessed. 854 00:41:54,379 –> 00:41:56,080 And the reason that you’re not yet blessed 855 00:41:56,080 –> 00:41:59,080 is that you’re not yet in Jesus Christ, the blessed one. 856 00:41:59,080 –> 00:42:00,919 You’ve not submitted yourself 857 00:42:00,919 –> 00:42:04,739 to this one who holds the scepter in his hand, 858 00:42:04,739 –> 00:42:07,080 who lays claim to the obedience of your life 859 00:42:07,080 –> 00:42:10,080 and the word of God to you today is 860 00:42:10,080 –> 00:42:13,179 the God has exalted this Lion of the tribe of Judah 861 00:42:13,179 –> 00:42:15,300 to the highest place and given him the name 862 00:42:15,300 –> 00:42:17,739 that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, 863 00:42:17,739 –> 00:42:20,540 every knee should bow, including your knee. 864 00:42:22,879 –> 00:42:26,520 The word of God to you today is therefore an invitation, 865 00:42:26,520 –> 00:42:28,040 a call, even a command, 866 00:42:29,659 –> 00:42:32,459 that you should come to the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 867 00:42:32,459 –> 00:42:35,040 Jesus Christ who was crucified and is risen, 868 00:42:35,040 –> 00:42:36,520 that you should kneel before the one 869 00:42:36,540 –> 00:42:39,639 who holds the scepter in faith and in repentance, 870 00:42:39,639 –> 00:42:42,760 that you should pledge unconditional obedience to him 871 00:42:42,760 –> 00:42:47,760 for the rest of your life knowing that in him 872 00:42:49,580 –> 00:42:51,060 you will be blessed. 873 00:42:52,340 –> 00:42:56,780 The blessing of God in Christ will be yours. 874 00:42:56,780 –> 00:42:57,780 Let’s pray together. 875 00:42:59,459 –> 00:43:00,320 Father, 876 00:43:00,320 –> 00:43:05,320 where there is need of warning, may we be warned. 877 00:43:10,780 –> 00:43:14,719 Where there is need of challenge, may we be challenged. 878 00:43:14,719 –> 00:43:19,719 Where there is need of encouragement, may we be encouraged. 879 00:43:22,080 –> 00:43:26,340 And by submission to Christ who holds the scepter 880 00:43:26,340 –> 00:43:30,979 in his hand, as sovereign Lord and as glorious savior, 881 00:43:30,979 –> 00:43:35,979 may all be truly blessed for these things we ask 882 00:43:37,580 –> 00:43:41,659 in the savior’s name and everyone together said, amen.