Because He Lives
Text: Genesis 45:16 - 46:27
Core Idea: Because Jesus Christ is alive, our weary hearts can hope again, our fearful souls can move forward in obedience, and our separate lives can be joined together as one family. So, let’s treasure the risen Christ, trust His presence wherever He leads, and carry out His mission together until the day we see Him face to face.
INTRODUCTION
We’re continuing our journey through the Book of Genesis – discovering how God faithfully accomplished His purposes. And last week, we reached the moment we had been waiting for: Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers. Now, the brothers were terrified because the brother they had sold into slavery was now standing before them as the ruler of Egypt with the power to make them pay for everything they had done. But instead of pushing them away, Joseph invited them to come near – embraced them, forgave them, and helped them see that despite their wicked actions, God had been sovereignly working through it all to save many lives. They sold him – but God sent him. Then, Joseph gave them a message to carry home: “Tell father that I’m still alive. Tell him about everything you’ve seen – and bring him down to Egypt.” So, the brothers began their journey back to Canaan carrying news that would turn their father’s world upside down. Then, with that in mind, please turn with me to Genesis 45:16-46:27. But because of its length, I’ll read only up to Chapter 46 verse 7. Let me read this for us.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ 19 You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’” 21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!” 25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” 46:1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. 3 “I am God, the God of your father,” He said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters – all his offspring. 8 These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob. 9 The sons of Reuben: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel. 15 These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all. 16 The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel. 18 These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah – sixteen in all. 19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. 22 These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob – fourteen in all. 23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. 25 These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel – seven in all. 26 All those who went to Egypt with Jacob – those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives – numbered sixty-six persons. 27 With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
Let me share three things from this passage:
THE NEWS THAT REVIVES US
THE PRESENCE THAT MOVES US FORWARD
THE FAMILY GOD FORMS AND SENDS
1. THE NEWS THAT REVIVES US
After Joseph revealed himself, the news quickly reached Pharaoh. And he told the brothers to gather their families and return to Egypt, where he would give them the best of the land – and he even provided carts to carry their family. And if that wasn’t enough, Joseph sent them home with everything they needed for the journey. Now, when the brothers arrived home, they said to Jacob in verse 26, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Then, how did Jacob respond? Verse 26: “Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.” The original language literally says that his heart became numb – he couldn’t take it in. And can we blame him? For more than twenty years, Jacob had lived with the belief that Joseph was dead. He had seen Joseph’s bloodstained robe and said, “I’m going to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” The loss had shaped his life for so long that he just couldn’t imagine any other ending – but then his sons returned, saying that Joseph was alive and ruling over Egypt. That just sounded too good to be true. His heart had been shaped by sorrow for so long that hope initially felt impossible. And yet when they told him everything Joseph had said and when he saw the carts Pharaoh had sent, Jacob recognized they were visible evidence that the unbelievable message was really true. Verse 27: “The spirit of their father Jacob revived.” In other words, his numb heart began to come alive again. Then, he said in verse 28, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” I love Jacob’s response because he didn’t talk about receiving the best land in Egypt or never worrying about food again. Those things, of course, mattered, especially with five years of famine remaining – but they weren’t what mattered most. Jacob said, “My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him.” In other words, the carts were evidence, but Joseph was the treasure. What revived Jacob’s heart was the news that the son he believed was dead was alive – and that he would see him again.
What can we take away from this? That the good news that Christ is alive is also the remedy to our numb and weary hearts. The truth is that there are seasons when our hearts can become numb like Jacob’s. We may experience disappointment after disappointment until we stop expecting anything different. We may pray for years without seeing an answer, carry grief that doesn’t disappear, or fight the same sin until we wonder whether we’ll ever make progress. We still come to church, sing the songs, and say that we trust God. But somewhere along the way, we’ve quietly stopped hoping. And when our hearts become numb, we think, “I’ll come alive again when this conflict is resolved, when my health improves, when my family situation gets better, when I feel less lonely, or when God answers this prayer. Only then will I have the reason to hope again.” Now, don’t get me wrong – these are good things, and it’s completely okay for us to pray for them. But if our hope depends entirely on our circumstances changing, our hearts will remain at the mercy of what’s happening around us. In contrast, Christian hope begins with news far greater than the promise that our circumstances will improve – it begins with the news that Jesus Christ is alive. I wonder if we’ve forgotten how astonishing that news is. We speak about God’s love, grace, providence, provision, and power – and we should. We look to the cross, where Jesus demonstrated His love by dying for our sins. But sometimes we fail to think deeply about what happened three days later. The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. The crucified Jesus rose from the grave. Death couldn’t hold Him, sin couldn’t defeat Him, and Satan couldn’t stop Him. Jesus Christ is alive. And because He lives, death has been defeated; everyone who belongs to Him will also rise; and nothing we do for Him is wasted. In other words, the resurrection gives us a reason to get out of bed and continue fighting the good fight of faith – to pray again after growing discouraged, to repent again after falling, to love again after being hurt, and to serve again when we wonder whether anything we’re doing matters. After writing about the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul says in verse 58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Do you see the connection? Jesus rose from the dead. So, keep going. Stand firm. Give yourself fully to the Lord because none of it is wasted. I wonder if some of you came today with a numb heart. You’re tired of waiting, fighting, and being disappointed. And perhaps what you want most is for God to send you a cart – some visible evidence that your circumstances are about to improve. You think only then will your heart be revived. But the greatest evidence of His love has already been given. The cross is empty, and so is the tomb. The One who loves you and gave Himself for you is alive. Then, like Jacob, I invite you to look beyond the gifts to the person. Forgiveness is precious because it removes everything that separates us from Him. Eternal life is precious because it’s life with Him. Heaven is precious because He is there. Jesus Himself is our treasure. Then, this is the hope of every Christian: Our Savior is alive, and one day we will see Him. This doesn’t mean remembering the resurrection will instantly remove every feeling of sadness. But it does mean that we can hope again because the resurrection remains true. So, let me ask you: What has been shaping your hope? Have you been waiting for your circumstances to change before you allow yourself to hope again? Have the disappointments of life made your heart numb to the good news that you already possess? And do you treasure the gifts Jesus gives more than Jesus Himself? Your circumstances may not change today. Your questions may not be answered. And your burden may not immediately disappear. But because Christ lives, despair will not get the final word. Because Christ lives, your future is secure. And because Christ lives, you can rise again and continue walking by faith. The news that revived Jacob was, “Joseph is alive.” But the news we have is even better: “Jesus Christ is alive.” Do you believe it?
2. THE PRESENCE THAT MOVES US FORWARD
Verse 1: “Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.” Beersheba was located near the edge of Canaan – which means that if Jacob went beyond it, he would be leaving the land God had promised to give to Abraham and his descendants. So, this was more than a rest stop. Jacob was standing at a significant boundary – and before crossing it, he stopped to worship. Now, Jacob had good reasons to go to Egypt: Joseph was alive, five years of famine remained, and Egypt offered food and safety. But Jacob also had a good reason to hesitate – in that he knew the history of his family. When a famine came during Abraham’s lifetime, Abraham went down to Egypt – but that decision brought great danger to Sarah. Years later, another famine came during Isaac’s lifetime – but God told him in Genesis 26:2, “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live.” So, considering this, Jacob couldn’t assume that just because Egypt seemed like the most practical option, it was where God wanted him to go. So, despite the urgency, he stopped to seek God. And during the night, God spoke to him in a vision – verse 3: “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” Notice that God began by addressing Jacob’s fear. Although Jacob wanted to see Joseph, he was an old man taking his entire household into a foreign nation – unsure whether he would see the promised land again. So, God gave him several promises to carry with him. First, “I will make you into a great nation there.” Egypt would become the place where God multiplied this family into a nation – which means what looked like a departure from the promise was actually part of the way God fulfilled it. Second, “I will go down to Egypt with you.” Jacob was leaving the promised land, but he wasn’t leaving the presence of God. Third, “I will surely bring you back again.” Jacob would die in Egypt, but God promised that he would be buried in Canaan. And finally, “Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.” Jacob wouldn’t die abandoned in a foreign land. His beloved son would be beside him. Now, God didn’t explain everything that would happen in Egypt. He didn’t tell Jacob how long his descendants would remain there or how much they would suffer before returning to Canaan. He didn’t give Jacob a detailed map of the future – He gave him His promise and His presence. Verse 5: “Then Jacob left Beersheba.” God spoke, and Jacob moved.
What can we take away from this? That the presence of God moves us forward in obedience, even when we’re afraid. Now, most of us already know Christians are supposed to obey God. We know we should forgive, serve, give, confess our sins, pursue holiness, love difficult people, speak about Jesus, and so on. Then, the problem is not that we have no idea what God wants us to do. The deeper question is: What’s keeping us from doing what we already know? There could be many reasons, but like Jacob, fear may be holding us at the boundary. We know what the next step ought to be, but we hesitate because we can’t control what will happen after we take that step forward. For example, maybe you need to have an honest conversation, but you’re afraid of the response. Maybe you need to confess a hidden sin, but you’re afraid people will think differently of you. Maybe God has been convicting you to serve, but you keep waiting for life to become less busy. Maybe you have an opportunity to speak about Jesus, but you’re afraid of rejection. So, we wait. Now, sometimes waiting is wise. There are situations in which we need to pray, seek counsel, and make sure our desires agree with God’s Word. Jacob himself stopped at Beersheba rather than moving carelessly. But there are also times when what we call “waiting on God” is actually our reluctance to obey. We say, “Not yet. Let me first know how this will turn out. Let me be sure that I won’t fail, lose anything, or get hurt.” Then, let me ask you: What are you waiting for God to guarantee before you obey Him? What are you trying to protect by delaying your obedience – your reputation, comfort, control, approval, or security? Jacob didn’t need to know everything that awaited him. He just needed to know that God would be with him and remain faithful. And that is often what God gives us as well. We want an explanation, but He gives us a promise. We want a detailed map, but He gives us His presence. We want to know that obedience will be painless, but He assures us that we won’t face it alone. Sometimes obedience means taking the next step while we’re still afraid because we know God will be with us. And notice how God dealt with Jacob. He didn’t shame him for being afraid. God met him in his fear and gave him what he needed to move forward. And this is how God deals with us in Christ. Today, you may be standing at your own Beersheba – in that you know the step you ought to take, but you’re still standing at the boundary. It may be a simple thing like making a phone call, telling the truth, asking for forgiveness, ending a compromise, opening your home, joining a ministry, or asking someone for help. But you haven’t made that step forward because you’re scared. Friends, it’s okay to be scared. But don’t let your fear keep you from doing what God has called you to do. Remembering His love in the cross, His power in the resurrection, and His presence through the Holy Spirit, take that step forward knowing that He promises to be with you and strengthen you.
3. THE FAMILY GOD FORMS AND SENDS
After God assured Jacob of His presence, Jacob continued toward Egypt with all his offspring. Then, beginning in verse 8, we’re given a long list of names. Now, if we’re honest, genealogies are passages we’re tempted to read quickly or skip altogether. But this list shows us that God was doing something greater than relocating one family. He was gathering and preserving the people through whom He was going to continue His saving plan. Let me explain. Verse 27 tells us that the entire family that settled in Egypt numbered seventy. Now, compared to Egypt, Jacob’s family was small, vulnerable, and seemingly insignificant. But remember how this story began. Years earlier, God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:2, “I will make you into a great nation.” At the time, Abraham didn’t even have a child. But God gave him Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob, Jacob became the father of twelve sons, and now, those sons had become a family of seventy. All that to say, God’s promise was unfolding one generation at a time. But God wasn’t just making Abraham’s family larger. He was forming a people who would belong to Him and live for His purposes. These seventy would multiply in Egypt, be rescued from slavery, and enter into a covenant with God at Sinai. And there, He would say in Exodus 19:5-6, “You will be My treasured possession… a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” In other words, they were to live under God’s Word, display His character, and make Him known to the world. So, this genealogy isn’t just a record of who moved to Egypt. It shows us the beginning of a nation God was forming for Himself. Now, Israel would fail to fulfill that calling faithfully, but through this family God would bring Jesus Christ, the promised Offspring of Abraham, through whom His blessing would finally reach the nations. One more thing: Look at the people God chose. This wasn’t an impressive or morally spotless family. Their story included favoritism, jealousy, deception, sexual sin, violence, betrayal, and hidden guilt. And yet their names appear among the people God preserved – implying that they belonged to this family not because they had proven themselves worthy but because of God’s covenant grace. In fact, even though we know little about some people in this genealogy, God knew each one by name. This is important to point out because it means that they weren’t just an anonymous crowd traveling behind Jacob. Each individual mattered to God, and each one had a place among the people He was forming. And amazingly, God not only knew them individually, but He was also joining them together. They weren’t seventy separate stories headed in seventy separate directions. They shared one identity, one promise, one destination, and one future. God was going to bless them together, preserve them together, shape them together, and eventually bring them out of Egypt together.
What can we take away from this? That God’s grace doesn’t only save individuals – it brings us into a family. Every one of us must personally repent and place our faith in Jesus. No one can believe on our behalf. No one is saved simply because their parents were Christians or they grew up in church. Our relationship with Christ is personal. But it was never meant to be private. 1 Peter 2:10 says, “Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.” Those seventy became the nation of Israel. And through Israel came Jesus. And through faith in Jesus, people from every nation are now welcomed into Abraham’s family. Galatians 3:29 says, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” In other words, the family that once numbered seventy has become a family spreading among all nations through Christ. Right now, believers across the world are worshiping the same Savior in different languages and circumstances. Some gather in beautiful buildings, while others meet quietly in homes because following Jesus could cost them their lives. And yet everyone who belongs to Christ belongs to the same family. Lighthouse is just a small glimpse of the people Jesus purchased with His blood. But even here, we can see something of what His grace has accomplished. We come from different cultures, stages of life, personalities, and struggles. And as a result, some of us may never have become friends under ordinary circumstances. And yet Jesus brought us together. We don’t belong together because we’re naturally alike or because we always find it easy to understand one another. We belong together because the same Christ died for us, rose for us, and welcomed us into His family by grace. And He gave us this family so that we could share the journey. God often cares for us through the brothers and sisters He places around us – people who pray for us when we’re discouraged, remind us of truth when our hearts become numb, carry us when our burdens feel too heavy, and lovingly confront us when we wander. But the truth is that we can attend every Sunday, sit a few rows apart, and still remain strangers. We can sing together without allowing anyone to know where we’re struggling. We can exchange greetings while keeping our fears, doubts, and sins carefully hidden. Doing life together requires more than proximity. It requires the courage to become known – allowing someone to see where we’re weak, asking for prayer in a crisis, making time when it’s inconvenient, and receiving help when our pride would rather manage everything alone. Then, let me ask you: Have you allowed the people of this church to become people with whom you truly share your life? Does anyone know where you’re struggling? Whose burden are you helping to carry? Are you making room for people who may not naturally be like you?
Of course, the church is not only a family in which we receive blessings. We’re also a family called to become a blessing. God promised Abraham that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him. And that promise was fulfilled through Jesus, who came from Abraham’s family and gave His life for the sins of the world. Now, the risen Jesus sends His church to make that good news known to all nations. Again, this mission is not given just to some individuals but to the whole church. One person may begin a conversation about Jesus, while others pray. One may invite a friend to church, while others welcome that person. One may explain the gospel, while the whole church shows what forgiveness, hospitality, love, and following Jesus look like. In other words, we carry out the mission together. You don’t need to do everything, but you are called to do something. Then, let me ask you: Who has God placed in your life who doesn’t yet know Jesus? How can your home, time, gifts, or experiences become part of our shared witness? Are you participating in mission or simply observing what others are doing? And the amazing thing is that as we do this, we not only have one another, but we also have Jesus. In Matthew 28, the risen Jesus sent a small group of ordinary disciples to make disciples of all nations. Now, the success of this mission wouldn’t depend upon their strength, wisdom, or courage, which is why He said this at the end – Matthew 28:20: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Do you see how everything comes together? The Jesus who rose from the dead revives our hope. The Jesus who is present moves us forward in obedience. And the Jesus who brought us into His family sends us together into the world. Brothers and sisters, God has given us one another so that we can receive His blessings together, endure hardship together, grow in holiness together, and carry out His mission together. Then, let’s do just that – with the love we’ve received, let’s go and share that love with others for His glory.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, because Jesus Christ is alive, our weary hearts can hope again, our fearful souls can move forward in obedience, and our separate lives can be joined together as one family. So, let’s treasure the risen Christ, trust His presence wherever He leads, and carry out His mission together until the day we see Him face to face.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How did Jacob initially respond when his sons told him that Joseph was alive? What caused his spirit to revive? What disappointments, losses, or unanswered prayers have left your heart feeling weary or numb today? How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope even if that circumstance does not immediately change?
Why did Jacob stop at Beersheba, and what assurances did God give him before he continued to Egypt? Is there something God has made clear in His Word that you’ve continued to delay? What fear may be keeping you at the boundary? What is one specific step of obedience you can take this week, even if you still feel afraid?
What does the list of Jacob’s seventy family members reveal about what God was doing through this small and imperfect family? How does knowing that we carry out Christ’s mission together, and that the risen Jesus is with us, change the way you approach evangelism?
What is the difference between attending church and truly sharing life with God’s people? Which one best describes you today? How can we pray for you?
