Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.gracespringfield.com/sermons/84069/20251228_iwillnotleavethee/.

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions.
Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.


[0:00] Joseph has exposed himself to his brothers. He said, I'm your brother Joseph.! He said, God planned this.

[0:33] That's a, now, God's plan or not, I'd still, I might have some things to say. But, but anyway, so Joseph said, look, God sent me out ahead in order to preserve your lives.

[0:56] This is why I'm here. And then he said, go back and tell dad, rough paraphrase, go back and tell dad what?

[1:10] Everything you've seen. Tell him that I'm running the show now. I'm, I'm in charge of all of the land of Egypt.

[1:22] So, what, what is Israel's family supposed to do now? Pack up and come to Egypt.

[1:33] All right. So, we'll take up then about verse 12. After he tells them this, the household, the servants are hearing what's going on.

[1:56] Well, as gossip will have it, Pharaoh's house is going to, going to hear of it too.

[2:07] So, we'll, we'll get to that in a moment. Joseph says something, beginning with verse 12 here. Joseph says something to them to convince them or to give them confidence that what he says is true.

[2:27] What's he say to them? Right. Right.

[2:38] Look, I'm the one talking to you. Yeah. You see me talking to you now. What, so what difference would that have to make? He, I think that's exactly what it is.

[2:54] He says, I'm talking directly, he's speaking in Hebrew. He said, I'm speaking directly to you. What had he been doing up to this point? He'd been using a translator.

[3:06] He'd been concealing himself from them, you know. Not acting like he could understand what they were saying and not speaking directly to them. He would speak Egyptian.

[3:18] The translator would translate. They'd speak Hebrew. The translator would translate, although he knew all the time. Now he's saying, look, watch my, watch me.

[3:30] I'm speaking directly to you. All right. Now, they're, they're pretty terrified. Remember that? They're pretty terrified. And he has told them, look, don't be worried about it.

[3:44] God sent me. God's the one that did this. Now, what does he tell them to do? Go tell, go tell our father about all my, about my position in Egypt.

[4:06] And bring him back. And don't waste time. Get up, get down here quickly. All right.

[4:17] Now, Pharaoh's house, here's the gossip. What's, what's Pharaoh and his household? That would be all of his servants.

[4:29] The, uh, both, both household servants. And when it says the servants of, of Pharaoh, it would also include the nobles that are in court.

[4:42] So, what's their reaction to this? They hear the, they hear the scuttlebutt. Hey, Joseph, this, uh, this Hebrew who's now in charge of Egypt has a family and they're alive and he wants to bring them to Egypt.

[5:00] What's Pharaoh say? It says that they were, they were greatly pleased that this, about this news. So, it's going over well with everyone.

[5:15] Now, what does Pharaoh then say to Joseph? Joseph. I'm sorry.

[5:33] Okay. All right. And do what? Bring everybody back.

[5:47] And, uh, he says, I will do what? I'll give you the best land in Egypt. Now, where is the best land in Egypt?

[6:03] It's going to be close to the Nile River. And especially the Delta. Where the Nile doesn't come out into the ocean in just one channel.

[6:17] It comes out. It spreads out. So, there's a wide land in there that is watered by the, uh, by the Nile River.

[6:29] He says, they can, uh, I'll give you the good land of Egypt and you'll, you'll eat off the fat of the land. So, by now we're at verse 19.

[6:45] They go to, uh, they're going to go. They're going to fetch. So, Pharaoh gives a command to Joseph's brothers.

[6:57] What is it? Not to worry about the stuff.

[7:10] Because. You're going to. You're going to be okay here. But he's also going to offer, not only that they bring him back, but he's going to send conveyance.

[7:28] Wagons and. Yeah. And we'll give you food and clothing for your journey. All of that stuff. So, um.

[7:44] They leave Egypt. With what do they leave? Wagons. Grain and provisions for the way.

[7:57] What else? The donkeys. Clothing. And, uh, Joseph.

[8:12] Gives Benjamin an extra dose. Again. So. So. Joseph then has.

[8:31] A. Caution for his brothers. When he sends them on their way. Don't have another fall.

[8:42] Well, he didn't say another. But he said, don't have a falling out on the way. Yeah. Well. There's something of a track record, isn't there?

[8:56] There's something of a track record. So. Um. Joseph gives the caution.

[9:08] And. They come then. To Israel. And, um. What do they tell him?

[9:19] And what's his reaction? Well, what did they tell him? Joseph's yet alive.

[9:32] And he's governor over the whole land. He's running Egypt. And it says. It's.

[9:44] Yeah. Now. Now. This is where Joseph. Says. With caution. That's incredible. Because he doesn't really believe the story at first.

[9:58] All right. It says. In fact. It says his heart fainted. Or. What did I say? Joseph. Uh. There I go again. Jacob. So. Did he.

[10:11] Since he. Found them incredible. Did he not go? What did he do? And what convinced him?

[10:26] He says. Okay. It says. That they told him all the years. Joseph had spoken. And he saw the wagons. Joseph had spoken.

[10:37] And here. And now. I imagine they. He said. Yeah. And the wagons. Okay. So. They told him.

[10:49] Everything that Joseph had said to them. And then it says. He saw the wagons. And then what did he do? Or what was his decision?

[11:02] Okay. Joseph. My son. Is still alive. I'll go see him. I'm going to go. Before I die.

[11:14] Yeah. Well. He's an old man. We'll find that out in a moment. But. So. We're.

[11:24] We're proceeding to chapter 46. Is that correct? Okay. That finishes 45. We're going to 46. Now. On the way.

[11:36] They come to Beersheba. We've heard that name before. Do you remember.

[11:46] What has happened. At Beersheba. No. I'm just.

[12:05] I'm just. Curious about. Whether we remember. Okay. It was. It was in. The wilderness. Surrounding Beersheba.

[12:16] That. Hagar. The second time. She left. This time. Abraham. Had sent her away. It was in Beersheba.

[12:30] That. She sat down. She couldn't see the well. And. She sat down. Put her son. Put Ishmael. Under a bush.

[12:41] Came a good way off. Because she didn't want to see him die. And. She sat down. And the angel came to her. And.

[12:52] Talked to her. And then. It said. Her eyes were opened. And she saw the well of water. And. They were revived. And then. Go on. That happened at Beersheba.

[13:03] What's going to happen there. This time. What does Israel do at Beersheba. He offers sacrifices.

[13:16] And. What else then. Or after the sacrifices. While he's sleeping.

[13:27] What. God spoke to him. In the visions of the night. It says. Yes. So. What did God say.

[13:41] Okay. Don't be afraid to go to Egypt. Yeah.

[13:53] I'm going to make you a great nation. The. Abrahamic promise. I'm going to make you a great nation. And. Yep.

[14:06] He said. Basically. He tells him. Look. Well. One more thing. I'm going with you. I'm going with you.

[14:17] To Egypt. Now. Let's get in our time machine. And go forward. 300 years or so.

[14:30] In the midst of. When they start to really oppress. Israel. The Egyptians are oppressing them. Wonder if they were thinking about.

[14:43] This. That God's with them there. Sometimes. You know someone who has said. Where's God when I need him. Well he's right there.

[14:57] When do I not need God. There. See there's a. There's an implication. In that. Statement. That is dangerous for me.

[15:09] Isn't it. Oh. He's always there. When I need him. Just when I. Will sing. Just when I need him most. When do I not need him.

[15:23] I need him all the time. Whether I think I do or not. There are many persons. Who think they're just fine. Without the Lord. But they're not.

[15:35] Anyway. He says. I'm going to go to Egypt with you. I'm going to make of you a great nation. Don't worry about going. And I will.

[15:48] He says there. Joseph's going to close your eyes. Or put his hand on your eyes. That's. A euphemism.

[15:59] If you will. Joseph's going to see you die. In Egypt. But it'll be okay. It'll be okay. Okay. Because.

[16:12] Jacob. Wants to see Joseph. Before. Jacob dies. Right. That. That's kind of his. Plan. Okay.

[16:24] Now. In verses. Five. Through. Twenty. Five. We get the names. Of all the. Of the individuals. Or the families.

[16:36] Who go into Egypt. And. Well. Yeah.

[16:47] That's right. It actually begins. In verse. Eight. I am not going to pursue that. Unless you insist upon it. Okay.

[16:59] Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

[17:17] Yeah. Well. He said. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about your goods.

[17:31] Now. They may. Well. I. I. Read that. That they left. Some stuff. In Egypt. Under care. That's the way.

[17:45] I. Have seen that. That. When he says. Don't worry about your goods. He's not necessarily. Saying. Don't take anything with you.

[17:55] He may be saying. Don't. Don't fret about this. When. When we read in Philippians.

[18:06] Be careful for nothing. But in. Everything. By. With thanksgiving. By prayer and supplication. Make your request. Be made known unto God. Is God saying to me.

[18:17] Don't do anything. When it says. Be careful for nothing. Is God telling me. Not to work. Are you sure.

[18:32] God. Are you sure. Well. Okay. So. Sherry. And.

[18:42] Sherry. Is wonderful. She's a wonderful gift. But. She's not God. I'm asking. What does God say. Well.

[18:54] Well. What does he. What does he. Tell the church. About. Me being a freeloader. On the church. What's he say.

[19:05] Don't eat. Don't feed that guy. Don't even. Bring them to your house. For a meal. Well. If they won't work.

[19:16] Don't. Don't let them eat. That had to happen. But. By the way. When Israel.

[19:28] Well. Well. The Israelites. Who believed. That Jesus. Was Messiah. We'll go back to Acts. Early Acts. Right.

[19:38] They held all things in common. They sold their property. Because they. Thought the kingdom was coming now. Now. Were they wrong.

[19:50] In doing so. And the answer would be. Not necessarily. Not really. They didn't know. And God didn't reveal to them. That the kingdom. Wouldn't come in.

[20:03] So. They were acting like it was. Well. Pretty soon. They're destitute. And. Gentile.

[20:13] Now. We're going a long. Time. But. Gentile churches. Are taking up collections. To send back to. Jerusalem. Why? Because they're poor now.

[20:25] Later on. The apostle Paul. God. Through the apostle Paul. Is going to tell the church. Don't feed people. Who won't help. Work.

[20:39] Tell every man. To work with his hands. Mind your own business. Do that. Which is good. So that you may have something. For your family. And. For others.

[20:50] For those in need. He doesn't say. Don't be generous. He just says. Don't help them. Not work. So here. That's why I say.

[21:01] When he says. Don't worry about your goods. Pharaoh isn't necessarily. Saying. Don't take anything. He could well be saying. Don't worry about the stuff.

[21:12] You're leaving behind. It'll be fine. Okay. Let's go on. So. Here we are. Did that help at all? Okay. Here we are.

[21:24] With those who go in. I'll just hit the highlight. Of the. Of the mothers. That is. If you get down to verse 15.

[21:36] He has gone through all these. Persons. And these be the sons of Leah. Okay. And his daughter Dinah.

[21:48] All the souls of the sons and his daughters. So. As far as Leah. His family through Leah. How many? 33.

[22:00] Okay. Then go down to 18. Zilpha. Who was Leah's handmaid. Right. Okay. Okay. How many.

[22:12] Of them. 16. And then go on to verse 19. The sons of Rachel. Were. Those were easy to count.

[22:23] Weren't they? So. Joseph and Benjamin. And then to Joseph. Were born Manasseh and Ephraim. Okay. So as far as.

[22:35] Rachel. And. And. What's her name? Rachel's handmaid. I lost. That.

[22:47] Anyway. Bilhaut. So all of those. 14.

[23:01] Okay. And. Okay. And then Bilhaut. Right. But. All told. How many went in? Verse.

[23:13] 25. Seventy persons. Okay. So. Seventy go in. It won't be seventy coming out. Seventy persons go in.

[23:27] It's quite a. Now that's a fair entourage. That's a pretty good family reunion. Amen. So. That's how many go into Egypt.

[23:40] Verse. We're at verse 26 now. Or. Actually. We'll say verse 28.

[23:53] We've already done that. On the way. Who led the way. To Goshen. Judah.

[24:05] Judah went ahead. Went ahead. Ahead of the. Large group. Showing them the way to Goshen. They came to Goshen.

[24:18] And. What happens. Okay. Joseph.

[24:29] Goes up. To Goshen. To see them. Specifically. To see Israel. Now. What does.

[24:41] What does. What does. What does Israel say. Yep.

[24:52] I can die now. You're alive. I've seen you. You're alive. Now I can die. He's not going to die. Right that moment.

[25:04] So. Joseph then says. That he's going down. To see Pharaoh. To tell him what. Okay.

[25:18] My family's here. And then he's going to tell Pharaoh. About their business. What's he going to tell them. Yeah.

[25:29] Well. Yeah. He. Well we'll see. Okay. Hold that. Hold that thought. My family are keepers of livestock.

[25:41] And have been. Far back as we know. All right. Now he anticipates.

[25:52] That Pharaoh's going to interview them. Right. So he tells them something. What's he say. Right.

[26:21] Well look at verse 32. This is what Joseph says to Pharaoh. Pharaoh. What does verse 32 say. Right.

[26:36] They are keepers of livestock. And he does call them shepherds. Now there's a reason. They're going to do this. Because.

[26:47] Goshen's going to be pasture land. It's also the most fertile land. That there is an Egypt. So. And.

[27:00] And Pharaoh has already said. You can have the choicest of the land. He's already said that. So it's going to go all right. But. Now it doesn't say this specifically.

[27:12] But I have. Kind of thought. That part of the reason. And. We know that the Egyptians. We've read a couple of times. That the Egyptians. Loathe may not be the right word.

[27:29] But they. Look down upon shepherds. That. They are. Unclean to them. They don't want to associate with shepherds.

[27:39] It may simply be. That this is going to help isolate their family. From. From the Egyptians.

[27:51] That by the way. Is going to be kind of important. 400 years later. That they are different. But. Nevertheless.

[28:02] For whatever the reason. That's what they tell them. So. He tells them.

[28:13] In verse 34. By the way. Why. They are to tell Pharaoh. That they're keepers of livestock. That they're shepherds. That. Is an interchange.

[28:25] That's two different words. But. It's interchangeable. Why is it? That you may what? Verse 34.

[28:41] Dwell in the land. In the land of. Goshen. Because every shepherd. Is an abomination. To the Egyptians. Right.

[28:52] So. There is something. Along there. Goshen. Is on the northeast corner. Of the Nile Delta.

[29:04] And it's watered. By the Nile. And I'm going to. We'll stop there. So. We'll begin.

[29:15] God willing. We'll begin. Next week. At about. Verse 35. Okay. Well. Actually.

[29:26] There is no verse 35. We'll. Chapter 47. Verse 1. Have a wonderful week. Thank you.