Pastor Scott Jonas
7/29/18
Genesis 46-50
The End of the Beginning
This is our last
week in Genesis. I call it “The End of
the Beginning.” Last week, we told the
story of Joseph and his brothers. God
used Joseph to bring forgiveness and restoration to his family. I urged you to be God’s ambassador for your
relatives. I saw a lot of wet eyes at
the communion rail, which is a good thing.
God wants to turn your sorrow into joy.
Joseph’s story is
very meaningful but it’s easy to say as Lutherans, “Where is Jesus?” Jesus is the author and perfector of our
faith. His life, death and resurrection
are our central identity as the church.
AS Lutherans you’ve been trained to find Jesus on every page of the
Bible. I can confirm, he is there. The New is the Old Concealed. The New is the Old Revealed. When we read the Old Testament and
specifically Genesis, God is preparing us to meet our Lord and Savior. If you know Jesus then Genesis should be
familiar like a favorite tune from years gone by. If you know Genesis then Jesus is the remix
that improves on the original.
If Genesis was the
only book of the Bible that someone read they would be ready to recognize
Jesus. The whole salvation story is
there if you dig down deep. Like digging
a well down deep. Let’s review. God was the maker of heaven and earth. Everything was good and in the right place
but Adam and Eve whacked it all off kilter.
They left the Garden, One son murdered his brother, civilization
eventually tried to build a tower to the sky.
It was almost as if people were trying to escape a broken creation. Out of that mess, God chose one family. From that family he will save the world. The Father of this family miraculously had a
son. That son had another son. Eventually, a son was born who would save the
world. He brought forgiveness, prosperity,
health and well being. People from all
over bowed down to him starting with the 12.
Who am I talking about. On the
count of three say of whom you are thinking? 1,2,3.
That’s right. It could be Joseph. It could be Jesus. Their lives match. They are dopplegangers. Our Heavenly Father orchestrated human
history to give us a preview of the New Testament. Joseph’s life was a foreshadowing. Those who paid attention recognized him. If you are paying attention you will
recognize him too. Look at all of the
similarities.
Joseph and Jesus
were the favorites of their Father and because of that they were hated. Joseph’s brothers thought he was a worthless
dreamer. Jesus’ brothers thought he was
out of his mind. Both were foretold to
rule one day. Joseph was taken by force
to Egypt. Jesus was taken by his father
Joseph to Egypt to escape the villainous Herod.
They were both supernaturally blessed by God, everything they touched
prospered. They were the ultimate
servants. They provided for all who were
hungry and weary. One stored more grain
than could be counted. The other was the
Bread of life. Because of Joseph and
Jesus’ connection to the Father they could tell the future. They both
resisted temptation. Jesus in the
desert and Joseph in Potiphar’s bedroom.
Ultimately the hate directed at them led to a murderous conspiracy. They were both betrayed for a bag full of
silver. Their peers rejected them and
condemned them to die at the hands of gentiles. They were stripped of their
clothing and left to die.
But Joseph and
Jesus both overcame death. Joseph was
raised from a well and Jesus was raised from a grave. Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him in
Egypt when they stood in line for food.
Jesus’
Disciples talked with him on the
road to Emmaus but his identity remained hidden for a while. Joseph’s brothers bowed to him as Pharaoh’s
Viceroy. After the resurrection, Jesus
met the disciples and said, “Greetings” and they came up and took hold of his
feet and worshipped him. Likewise,
Joseph revealed himself to his brothers saying, “I am Joseph.” I told them to come near and make sure just
as Thomas would do thousands of years later.
They kissed and wept.
Isn’t
that amazing, the organization Jews for
Jesus publishes 27 parallels between Joseph and Jesus. That is no coincidence. God the Father orchestrates history. With a wave of his wand, he makes sure events
happen. A wave of the wand and Joseph
has dreams. Another wave and Joseph
knows their meaning. A wave and 7 years
of plenty. A wave and Potiphar’s wife
loses her inhibitions. A wave, a wave
and more waves. The complex music of
millennia goes on just as the Lord planned it.
The
climax of this piece was Jesus’ life.
All before it was done with the climax in mind. The Denouement after resonates from it. That includes your life. If God can orchestrate Joseph and Jesus as
the opening and climax of Salvation history, don’t you think he can orchestrate
your life. You are born into your family
of origen. You are baptized into the
church of God. You are confirmed. You suffer and are buried in Junior high and
Highschool, but you rise again to a career and a family and a place in a
congregation. When you go to reunion
people don’t recognize you but when they do it’s hugs and tears. Meanwhile the conductor smiles.
Don’t
believe the lie that God is too big and busy to bother with the details of your
life. That kind of God is too
small. Our God, knows everything about
you. There is no note or detail that
escapes his ear. When your life is off
key he knows it. He is turning that off
note into beautiful music. How many
people here enjoy singing? How many
don’t enjoy it? I am in the second
category, I’m not a good singer. Which becomes more obvious on Saturdays. But I also realize that the Bible says to
make a joyful noise to the Lord. God
takes my awful singing and transforms it
into a joyful noise. The more of us
faithful who sing together the more beautiful it sounds to him. In the same way, your mistakes in life are
being transformed into a divine symphony.
At
the end of Genesis, Joseph brings his
family down to Egypt. He reunites with
his dad. Jacob, or Israel, is so moved
that he says he can die now. His family
moves to Egypt, which many believe is the birthplace of creation. There they have food, land and a place at
Pharaoh’s Table. There Jacob meets his
grandsons Ephraim and Mansseh. There by
the Nile river of life, the patriarch puts his hands on the heads of all of his
sons and daughters and speaks words of the covenant.
“The
God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me
from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac;
and let them grow into a multitude[c] in the midst of the earth.”
Because
of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection you and I have to look forward to as
well. We will be reuinted with our true
family. There will be hugs and tears of
joy. We will be in the garden again with
food, land and a place at the King’s table.
And the Lord’s song will go on forever.”