Characteristics of God’s People
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: The Joseph Stories
Genesis 46:26-47:12 (ESV)
26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.
28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
47:1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”
7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?”9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.”10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.
Sermon Outline
As we sojourn (47:9) through this world, God’s people will always be:
1. Peculiar
46:34 “you shall say ‘… keepers of livestock… every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians”
2. Growing
47:9 “few and evil have been the days of the years of my life”
46:30 “now let me die”
3. Giving
47:7, 10 “Jacob blessed Pharaoh”
Prayer of Confession
Merciful Father, you watch over us, you lead us, you protect us, you forgive us. We recognize we need your grace. We have not lived faithfully as we ought to have. We have not remained distinct in our world. We have failed to be consistent agents of your good. We have failed to resist the urges to adopt the problematic ways of our world. We have taken what we can and have not given what we should. Along the way, we have wandered and grumbled. Lord, we are grateful for your gracious provision. Forgive us. Protect us. Guide us. Use us. Be at work in all things so that you receive glory and that your ways are made known in our world. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What aspects of Christianity are most likely to turn people off? How much of what people don’t like about Christianity is inherent to it (who Jesus is and what he teaches), and how much of it is due to ways Christianity is misrepresented (in the teachings and actions of Christians)?
What does it look like to be distinctly Christian in circles you travel? What do you bring as a Christian that is good and should be appreciated? What about your beliefs or ways of life are likely to bother people?
As you are growing as a person, what role does hardship and difficulty play in shaping you? What difficulties make you better and stronger? What weakens you? What expectations or attitudes are helpful to have when going through a difficult period?
If we “reap what we sow”, how can you learn from the negative consequences of your actions and not repeat the same misbehaviors? What are ways of discerning if you are not taking responsibility for your actions? What are ways of discerning you are taking responsibility for the actions of others (they do wrong but you feel guilty)? How can you grow in various kinds of situations?
How do you live out the calling to “be a blessing” to others? What things are part of your way of life that express faith through seeking the welfare of others?
How does the grace of God enable you to continue on as an imperfect person in an imperfect world where you are distinct in doing good within it? What is unique about Jesus, and how does his life affect and influence yours?