Jacob Declares The Blessing Of God With Joseph

I invite you to turn with me to John chapter 15. John chapter 15, the word of our Lord Jesus Christ concerning the vine and the branches. And we read that in connection with Jacob's blessing of Joseph. Genesis 49, verses 22-26. which we will read after we've read John 15, 1-17. John 15, beginning at verse 1, as we hear now the Word of God. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this, love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. This is My command, love each other. Genesis chapter 49. Remember, as I had mentioned last week, I'm only going to consider, as I did last week, Jacob's blessing upon Judah, and tonight, Jacob's blessing upon Joseph, as he handed out his words to his sons at the end of his life. Genesis chapter 49, beginning at verse 22 through verse 26. Joseph is a fruitful vine. A fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness, archers attacked him. They shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the mighty one of Jacob, because of the shepherd, the rock of Israel, because of your Father's God who helps you, because of the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your Father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph. on the brow of the prince among his brothers. A beloved in Christ the Lord, what is the best thing about a fireworks show? Boys and girls, no doubt you know. It's the grand finale, isn't it? A fireworks show is great. We enjoy every minute of a good fireworks show, but throughout that show, we know that the best is yet to come because it is spectacular as these fireworks explode one right after the other with no pause in between. It's spectacular as we see the colors and we see the light designs in the night sky and we hear the cracking sounds and before one ends, the next one is already there. It is so grand, you know, that it is hard to take it all in. You simply can't take it all in. And beloved, that's how it is with the blessings of our God. We simply can't seem to take them all in. Joseph received what we might call a fireworks grand finale of blessings spoken by Jacob. The blessings were heaped on each other. One upon the next, they were piled high. And the only reason for this is because these blessings included the greatest blessing of all as Jacob declares the blessing of God with Joseph. As in the past, So, in the future. First of all, we consider as in the past. Now, God with Joseph obviously isn't new to us as we have considered the episodes of Joseph throughout this year. Already in chapter 39, it was stated clearly as Joseph was taken off to Egypt, as he was sold as a slave into Potiphar's employment, and later on as he became a prisoner in the king's prison there, It's stated clearly that God was with him and that fact was also recognized by others as Joseph prospered. But you see, Joseph did not only enjoy God with him in prosperity. In fact, we would say, what prosperity? He was treated terribly. He was sold as a slave and all those other things. What prosperity? Yet God was with him. And as Jacob, his father, knew from experience, in all of life, God holds His children by the hand, leading them and guiding them. And therefore, here in this blessing, Jacob recalls God with Joseph in the past as Joseph was attacked. In verse 23, Jacob says, With bitterness, archers attacked him. They shot at him with hostility. He was attacked because of his prosperity. You see, Joseph always prospered. Everything seemed to be going for him. And again, you might say, well, what are you talking about? Remember all the bad things that happened to Joseph. But yes, in the midst of all of those bad things, Joseph prospered. It always seemed that he had everything going for him as the favored son in his father's house. As he became lead servant in Potiphar's house and Potiphar didn't worry about anything in his house and he put everything under Joseph's charge except for his wife. And even as Joseph became the head in the prison, he was in charge of everything there. He prospered. And he also prospered as God gave him the blessing of being able to interpret those dreams. But we all know that prosperity brings envy, doesn't it? In fact, we sometimes begrudge those who have more than we have. We sometimes begrudge those. We become bitter at those who are better at doing something than we are doing. We have a hard time dealing with those who are given opportunities and when we're passed by for those opportunities. Prosperity often brings envy and that envy then can result in evil actions. Jacob speaks of archers that shot at him in hostility. hostility because of his prosperity. He is a fruitful vine, Jacob says. Now when we think about these archers, there's no evidence in the pages of Scripture there's no evidence whatsoever of Joseph's enemies literally shooting bows and arrows at him. We're not told that it might have happened. But we're not told that it happened. But in Scripture, arrows are used often when talking about malicious words. Evil language that is spoken from one to another. For example, in Jeremiah 9, verse 3, we read, They make ready their tongue like a bow to shoot lies. And in verse 8, it says, Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. Or in Proverbs 25, verse 18, we read, Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor. It was in this way we know that Joseph had arrows shot at him. by those who were closest to him. And the very first archers were his brothers. Well, again, we know the story well. They hated him. They envied him. They wanted him dead. They conspired against him. They attacked him. They sold him. They lied about him. And the next archer, we might say, in his life was Potiphar's wife when she couldn't have his handsome features and his well-built stature to do with as she pleased and to draw him into sin, what did she do? She lied about him. She accused him of coming in to her to make sport to her to try to have his way with her. And there was yet another archer, we might say, and that was the cupbearer who forgot about Joseph. You say, wait a minute. Now, we can understand that. Things were going well for the cupbearer. He had just been restored to his position. We can understand how he might have forgotten. Can we? How many times have you had someone tell you what your dream meant and it came true? It's very possible and I think probable that the cupbearer recognized that Joseph very well had the potential to rise higher in Pharaoh's court than the cupbearer himself. And therefore, it was convenient for him to forget. But we too, beloved, in our envy at times, we must confess that we try to belittle those whom we are envious against. Boys and girls, we sometimes call them names. We try to hurt their reputation. We try to do anything we can in our power to make them feel bad and to lower them a notch or two if it's possible. Joseph, through all these things, was being pruned. He was being molded and shaped after God's will. And through all of these things, God was with Joseph, contrary to popular opinion. Again, there are many who would question that. Even today, well-meaning Christians, when they find themselves in times of crisis, they say, where is God when I'm suffering? Where is God when I'm hurting? Where is He when? But God was always with Joseph. Even in the midst of these attacks by these archers. And Joseph was always fruitful for God. But through these attacks and the results of these attacks, he was being pruned each time and he became more fruitful. And each time, Joseph was also preserved. He was preserved from falling to the attacks. He was preserved from giving in under the weight of the attacks. Verse 24 begins, But his bow, Joseph's bow, remained steady. His strong arms stayed limber. Now, we also have no record in Holy Scripture of Joseph shooting a bow or an arrow. We're not told that he picked up a bow and arrow in retaliation and shot at those who were shooting at him, as it were. But you see, this verse points to Joseph's character. His bow remained steady. His strong arms stayed limber. Limber arms are the opposite of tense arms, of being stiff like a board, being scared stiff. You cannot properly handle a weapon if you're scared stiff. But Joseph remained strong. And Joseph, by the grace of God, never returned evil for evil. He never sank to the level of his attackers. He never retaliated in anger. But instead, he patiently endured the attacks as a part of God's plan. And he knew that vengeance belongs to the Lord and the Lord alone and that God would repay those who needed to be repaid. And Joseph also knew that he was undeserving of all of the blessings of God that he enjoyed, especially that greatest blessing. He did not deserve that God should be with him. He remained firm and steadfast in his faith and trust in the Lord. He overcame the assault and the lousy hand that this life had dealt him, as many would say. And he remained in the God who was with him. In the face of danger, Joseph was preserved. He remained calm. He trusted in the one whom he knew fought for him. Just like Elisha, as we were reminded last week, he remained calm as he knew that those hills were filled with heavenly horses and chariots of fire. Joseph was preserved from falling to the attacks and he was preserved by the hand of God. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, and then Jacob tells us why. Because of the hand of the mighty one of Jacob, because of the shepherd, the rock of Israel, because of your Father's God who helps you, because of the Almighty who blesses you. What a wonderful fireworks display of who God is. What an amazing description of who God is and of God's power and of what He does. What an awesome picture of the protecting hand of God. His hand keeps Joseph's hand steady on the bow. God's hand, beloved. And being in God's hand drives away all fear. See, Joseph did not depend on his own strength. If he had, he would have only been defeated. If he had, he would have proven the truth of the words of Jesus to his disciples when he said, apart from me, you can do nothing. But instead, he proved the words of Paul. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Joseph depended upon the one who was all-powerful, who had all power and strength, and who was changeless, and who was compassionate and gentle, whose promises never fail. And all of these things are seen in the character of Joseph's preserver. That's what Jacob gives us here. At the same time, this is also a wonderful testimony, a personal testimony of Jacob with regard to God. Now, we can't begin to even touch on everything that could be said about these descriptions of God, but just to have a hint. Jacob begins calling Him the Mighty One of Jacob. He's the Mighty One. He is the God of power, the God of might, who was mighty to Jacob, who had kept Him in every circumstance and every situation of life, who had saved Him. What a testimony. The Mighty God of Jacob. And through Isaiah, God describes Himself as well on occasion as the Mighty One of Jacob, the Mighty One of Israel. He describes Himself in that way when He is speaking about what He will either do against the enemies of Jacob or what He would do on behalf of Jacob. He is powerful to do His will. He is the champion of His own cause. And by calling him the Mighty One of Jacob, Jacob also gives a powerful testimony to Joseph's brothers. Just like the psalmist in Psalms 20, verse 7, some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. What a beautiful testimony of Jacob to his sons that God alone is strong and sufficient to save, to protect, and to prosper. But this Mighty One is also the Shepherd. That's not the first time Jacob has called him the shepherd. In chapter 48, verse 15, Jacob speaks of the God who has been my shepherd. And we said back then already that Jacob knew very well that he was a stubborn, he was a wayward sheep. Yet he also knew by experience that God had gently and compassionately led and guided and protected and defended Jacob like the shepherd of Psalm 23 because he is the shepherd of Psalm 23. And he did so even when Jacob didn't want to be led. And then Jacob calls him the rock of Israel. Now we all know that a rock is a picture of something that is stable and firm and changeless and indestructible. I've come to appreciate certain rocks, big rocks I trust. I've never stood by them on some of the hills around Escondido here. My eyes are drawn to certain rocks. You might know of some of them that seem to stick out like a sore thumb. And as I see them, I can't help but think about the fact that these rocks have been seen by generation after generation after generation. And no doubt these rock formations on the top of these hills look the very same as they did to the first pair of eyes that ever laid sight on them. Now, Scripture clearly speaks of God as our rock. We sang of it. He is our fortress. He is indestructible. He is impenetrable. And therefore, For those who look to this rock, this fortress, who find refuge in him, we have a 100% guarantee of security. But then Jacob calls him your father's God. This mighty one of Jacob, this shepherd, this rock of Israel, is your father's God. That too, what a great testimony of a father to his children. May that be Andy's testimony to Joseph one day, that this One who is the mighty God of Jacob, this One who is the shepherd, this One who is the rock, He is my God. Children, He is the God of your fathers. But at the same time, it's a reminder that this God is the covenant God, the One who had covenanted with Abraham, Isaac, and with Jacob. He was the God of promise. But even more than that, as they already began to experience, He was the God of kept promises. Then the last designation that Jacob gives is Almighty. And what a powerful designation to close with, Almighty El Shaddai. He is all-powerful. He alone is Almighty. He is all-sufficient for every need of His covenant children. Beloved, this is the character of God who had protected and preserved Joseph from the attacks of his enemies in the past. But because of this character, this God is also the only one who is able to prosper. who was able to prosper one. Joseph was also prospered. He was not only preserved, but he was prospered in the second part of verse 25. Or again, because of the Almighty One who blesses you with what? With blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and the womb, blessing upon blessing upon blessing. This God described by Jacob whose hand kept Joseph's arm steady also blessed Joseph and it is His blessing to give. All is in His hand. In the heavens above, in the deeps, in the womb. He controls it all. And He is able to use it as He pleases. He's able to use it to bless. The word blessing, as it's often used in Genesis, really comes with the idea of that blessing being in the form of giving success. Especially fertility. And that's what is pointed to here, I believe. The heavens point to the rain and the dew and the sunshine. And the deeps point to the springs that formed the lakes and the streams that were vital for the desert land. And it points to agricultural prosperity, both with regard to livestock and crops. And we know that Joseph had already been blessed with that. The years of plenty. But also the breast and the womb that's talking about the blessing of children, the blessing of descendants as well an increase in livestock all of this is why Jacob can begin this blessing of Joseph with the declaration of verse 22 Joseph is a fruitful vine a fruitful vine near a spring whose branches climb over a wall and then he goes on to explain again why he is a fruitful vine. Joseph there is a picture of Psalm 1, verse 3. He, that is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord, is like a tree planted by the streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever he does prospers. And that tree is a picture of life. It's a picture of vitality. It's a picture of strength and prosperity. And we know that a tree, if it can get any source of water, it'll grow. Just think about the volunteer trees in your yard. Those that are in your flower beds. Or if you've ever driven through the mountains and you've taken notice of those trees that seem to grow out of the mountain rocks or out the side of the mountain cliffs. It's amazing. How do they grow? Well, obviously they found a source of water, a source of life, and they are a picture, again, of life and indestructibility. This is a picture of God with Joseph. In the face of the attacks, Joseph did not literally fight back, but he was held steady. He did not weaken. Instead, he was made stronger. He was made more effective as a servant of God. He was a man of integrity. He lived his faith. He also knew that he was responsible before God for his actions. Jacob speaks of him as whose branches climb over a wall. And again, that's pointing to growth. It's pointing to prosperity. It's pointing to influence stretching out over others. Joseph had branched out. He not only was a blessing to his family, but he was also a blessing as he branched out over Egypt and over the other countries at that time. Brothers and sisters, we have a clear example here. It's not difficult to see in Joseph the hand of God. In fact, it's very, very hard to miss unless you're not looking. And we have proof in Joseph that God's people will suffer. Yet, when God is with them, though we might not be raised to a level, to a status, and to a position like Joseph, Yet, even in suffering, we prosper because of the One to whom Joseph points. He points forward to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ was hated from the beginning. At His birth, we know that Herod wanted to destroy Him. He wanted to eliminate this One who was born, the King of the Jews, because he saw Him as a threat to the throne. But this very same One is still hated today. we see this, really, in this season of the year. While believers celebrate God's greatest gift to man, the world celebrates itself. The world celebrates, just into this particular season, its own goodness and its own generosity and its own peace and its own goodwill. Did you ever wonder why they don't collect toys for tots the rest of the year? I started wondering that just the other day. There's such a big push at this time of year. But why not the rest of the year? You see, the world has such a twisted focus this time of year, focusing on itself and its own peace and goodwill, which is all temporary. It's founded on selfishness. It's foolishness. Because it rejects the true peacemaker and finds hope in itself. Our Lord Jesus Christ was hated at His birth. He was also hated in His ministry. The religious leaders of His day hated Him because the crowds left them and followed Him and because He spoke against them. They were bright. They figured out that Jesus was often speaking about them and it often wasn't in a very nice way. They hated Him for His virtue. They could find no fault in Him. Instead, His holiness illuminated their unholiness. He was the light that shone in the darkness, that shines in the darkness, and that uncovers the sinful hearts. And therefore, they attacked Him with a purpose to kill Him. At His trial, He was spit on. He was beaten. He was mocked. He was lied about. At His crucifixion, they put to death the Lord of glory and they thought they were successful and they were happy about it. Yet, beloved, this one was preserved. This one prospered, we might say. He did not fight back like we often do. He did not stop and say, you know, this simply isn't worth it. But he was silent as he fulfilled God's plan. He prospered as he rose again victorious over the greatest enemy of God and men. He was exalted, we know, to the highest position, the throne and the glory of heaven. He rules and reigns over all. And even though he's not acknowledged by all, that doesn't change the truth of his reign. And He has branched out. The church. Oh, we know that Israel grew to millions. But those who make up the Bride of Christ are countless. And our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our salvation in the past because He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. He has accomplished our salvation in the past so that even today, As God's people, our confidence is that we are those whom God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing, as Paul says in Ephesians chapter 1. With every spiritual blessing. That fireworks of blessing. We can indeed sing, count your blessings, name them one by one. But we'll never get finished. We even read about them in the forum tonight when we are baptized in the name of God the Father. God the Father witnesses and seals over us that He makes an eternal covenant grace with us, adopts us, will provide us with every good thing and avert all evil or turn it to our good. The Son washes us in His blood and the Holy Spirit assures us. Blessing upon blessing upon blessing. Even today for those who are in Christ Jesus, ours is the comfort, beloved, that we are not poor, but we are rich with heavenly blessings. And even if we have a little as far as this world counts wealth and blessing, beloved, we are prosperous because of our God through Jesus Christ who is our fount of every blessing and who gives us all that we need and who preserves us from the evil one and who uses all things for our good, for our salvation. There's no greater blessing of prosperity than that. You see, all of this Joseph enjoyed in the past and in the present And as Jacob spoke it, but God was with him as God was with him. But Jacob says more as if to say, the best is yet to come. As God would be with Joseph also in the future. Jacob refers to him as the prince of his brothers. Joseph was the prince. He was the exalted one above his brothers. We know that he was chosen. He was chosen not to have the honor of being the tribe to bring forth a Messiah. Judah received that honor. But Joseph was chosen to be the one used by God to preserve the family. And therefore also then to preserve the line leading forth to the Messiah. He became the prince over his brother. Through a very difficult life as we have seen, he was exalted. He was blessed as a prince. But that was the past. That was the present. But the blessings listed in verses 24 and 25 would continue. In fact, there's a present tense there because of the Almighty who blesses you, who blesses you in the present with continuous results. The God who was with Joseph in the past would be the same God who would be with him in the future, who was changeless, who was the same yesterday, today and forever. And He would provide the same blessings, the blessings of livestock, the blessings of crops, the blessings of children. We know that was fulfilled in time through the growth of the nation, including Joseph's family. It was fulfilled through the land flowing with milk and honey, again, as Joseph received a double portion. But again, this is Jacob's wish, his prayer for Joseph in the future. It's part of Jacob's confession of faith in verse 26. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph. On the brow of the prince among his brothers. Now it's hard to understand exactly what Jacob is referring to, but I believe that when he says your father's blessings are greater than, most likely he means Jacob is talking about the fact that Jacob was blessed beyond Abraham and Isaac. They were indeed blessed by God. Yet God's promises seemed, in a sense, far off to them. They seemed like just words. Because the fulfillment was slow in coming. And Jacob confesses that he enjoyed greater fulfillment than his father's. It's beautiful. Jacob looks back over his life in which we know that he often complained, yet he doesn't feel cheated. And he looks forward and says, Joseph will enjoy even more than Jacob. And also his words, the ancient mountains and the age-old hills, again, are hard to understand, but most likely. What he means is that he is pointing to the mountains where fertility is always seen. We always see growth on the mountaintops. As someone has said, the green mountaintops of Carmel, Hermon, or Lebanon in a land where other vegetation dries up in summer were an image of God-given life and prosperity. And that along with produce stretching from hill to hill. In other words, a countryside literally covered. All of that points to abundance. But to the abundance that only God can give and does give to His people. And beloved, there is a reminder here to Joseph from his father and a reminder to you and me that all the treasures of Egypt that were at his disposal and all the blessings of this earth that He would enjoy and that we enjoy will fade. They will be consumed. And there's only one lasting treasure and that is God and union with Him by faith which is realized only in Christ Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ, beloved, was raised victorious so that those who are in Him are more than conquerors today and always. And as those who are more than conquerors, we are those whom nothing shall separate from His love. And we are those for whom the best is yet to come. It's as if Jacob says to Joseph, you ain't seen nothing yet. Paul, in Romans 8, verse 18, says, I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. He talks about suffering there. But even the blessings we enjoy in this life, beloved, will not compare with the blessings that await us in the glory of heaven. And how can we be sure? Because God has already given to us a taste, a wonderful taste of His goodness. And as He says in Isaiah 43, You are Mine. And therefore, when you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not set you ablaze. You will endure these things, but you will prosper. And this is the promise of the one and only God who is always and truly with and for His people. Brothers and sisters, true prosperity is not seen in having much money and worldly possessions or even health. Or having a family full of children. Those are all blessings, only as they are seen as blessings from our God. Indeed, they are blessings. But true prosperity is seen in walking closely with the Lord. It's seen in being content in all things and all situations. True prosperity is seen in rejoicing at all times. It's seen in love that is demonstrated to God above all and our neighbor as ourself. To the poor, to the helpless, to the hopeless, to the homeless. True prosperity. And this might hit closer to home, boys and girls. True prosperity is seen in enduring hardship and suffering and persecution without turning angry at God or without returning evil for evil. But instead, returning good for evil. And true prosperity is seen in recognizing and understanding that this life is temporary. It is a time of preparation for the next. And that all that we enjoy in this life belongs to God. It comes from Him. It is to be used for Him. True prosperity is seen in being able to sincerely confess in doubt and temptation, I rest, Lord, in Thee. My hand is in Thy hand. Thou carest for me. True prosperity is found only in our Lord Jesus Christ. And then it's a fireworks grand finale of blessings. You cannot begin to count them. You cannot begin to exhaust one before the other one is there. And this is true comfort for all who reject themselves instead of rejecting the only Savior. It's for those who place their trust only in Him. The Bible is clear that those who are far from God will perish. But those who have God with them by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, theirs is blessing today with a promise that the best is yet to come. Amen. Let's pray together. Father, we must confess that at times we are those who tend to feel sorry for ourselves. We look at our circumstances in this life. Sometimes even if we have much, all of our needs are met, we're still not satisfied. But when we have little, we're not content and think we deserve more. And whatever the case may be, Father, we must confess that in some ways we sin against You so grievously and we don't see your hand of blessing upon us and that you uphold us. You keep us steady. You give to us all that we stand in need of, O Lord, because you are the mighty God of Jacob. You are our shepherd. You are our rock, our fortress. You are the God of our fathers. You are almighty. We praise you, Heavenly Father, for your showers of blessing. And we look forward to that day indeed when blessings will abound even beyond our expectations here. And until that day, Father, may we rejoice in the hand of blessing that You bestow upon us and may we indeed praise You as You ought to be praised. In Jesus' name we pray all of these things. Amen.