Tag: Joseph

Genesis: Our Father’s Blessing | 3-15-26

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Photo Cred: (1) | Updated: 5/18/2026

Sermon Prep

I shared this message after our annual family vacation, but had prepped the vast majority of it weeks ahead of time. I did add and tweak a lot Saturday night after returning from vacation that enhanced the message, but about 80% was already done if not more before vacation. Given the subject matter, I think this was a well-oiled machine of a message by the time I got up there to teach. On that note, here are my notes down below and the YouTube recording here.

Sermon Notes

Opening Prayer

  • Father God, lead us this morning as we search the scriptures. Thank you for your Son whose sacrifice is our salvation. Dwell with us, Holy Spirit, as you teach us today. Amen.

Intro

  • Conversation with Grandad in 2021 and how he reacted to what Papa said about him.

Main Point

  • The words of our fathers can define our futures whether we want them to or not.
    • We’ve all been defined by our dads, but in Christ we have a new destiny.

Our Father’s Blessing | Genesis 48-49:28 (NRSVue)

  • Joseph hears Jacob is ill and takes his sons to him to be blessed (Genesis 48:1-2).
  • God blessed Jacob at Luz and said he would be fruitful in Canaan (Genesis 48:3-4).

“[5] Therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are now mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are. [6] As for the offspring born to you after them, they shall be yours. They shall be recorded under the names of their brothers with regard to their inheritance.”

  • Jacob adopts Joseph’s sons as direct heirs, so they become 2 of the 12 tribes of Israel.

“[8] When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” [9] Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” [10] Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, and he could not see well. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. [11] Israel said to Joseph, “I did not expect to see your face, and here God has let me see your children also.” [12] Then Joseph removed them from his father’s knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. [13] Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them near him. [14] But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn. [15] He blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, [16] the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys, and in them let my name be perpetuated and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and let them grow into a multitude on the earth.” [17] When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, so he took his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. [18] Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” [19] But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” [20a] So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will invoke blessings, saying, ‘God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.’”“

  • Jacob’s dim eyes links to Isaac having dim eyes blessing Esau and Jacob. He behaved deceptively as the youngest, but now Jacob publicly blesses Ephraim the youngest.
  • The right hand in the ANE represented a greater blessing. The firstborn son always got double the inheritance and led the extended family performing priest duties for them.
  • מַשְׁכִּיל / שִׂכֵּל (sikel/maskil) — “He guided his hands knowingly/wisely.” Jacob purposely crosses his arms to bless the younger Ephraim as an action of divine decree.
  • Manasseh (making to forget) and Ephraim’s (fruitful) names foreshadows their futures.
  • Jacob says God will return them home giving Joseph an extra portion (Genesis 48:21-22).
    • Shechem = shoulder/mountain ridge; City of Shechem. Also foreshadows Exodus.

“[3] Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my vigor, excelling in rank and excelling in power. [4] Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel because you went up onto your father’s bed; then you defiled it—you went up onto my couch!”

  • Reuben loses birthright since he slept with Bilhah after Rachel’s death (Genesis 35:22).

“[8] Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. [9] Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion, like a lioness—who dares rouse him up? [10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him, and the obedience of the peoples is his. [11] Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine and his robe in the blood of grapes; [12] his eyes are darker than wine and his teeth whiter than milk.”

  • Jacob splits the birthright between Joseph, Judah; Levi (resources vs royalty vs religion).
  • Messianic prophecy that foreshadows the Son of God and Son of Man (Genesis 49:8-12).
    • Jesus is the blessing for the whole world (Genesis 12:3 → Galatians 3:16, 21-29).

“[22] Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. [23] The archers fiercely attacked him; they shot at him and pressed him hard. [24] Yet his bow remained taut, and his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, [25] by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.[26] The blessings of your father are stronger than the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills; may they be on the head of Joseph, on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. [27] Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.”

  • Benjamin’s blessing refers to King Saul, Mordecai; Paul for their all-in, wolf-like ferocity.
    • King Saul’s military might, Mordecai’s political prowess, and Paul’s pastoral reach. 

Why It Matters

  • The blessing Jacob gives to each of his sons as heirs is a tribal blessing oracle that not only describes their character, but foreshadows their own future and their tribe’s future.
    • As heirs of Christ, we now live in the reality of God’s grace and love for us.

Power Text

“[4] But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. [6] This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

Outro

  • Christians have been grafted into God’s family and enjoy the whole world’s blessing.
    • In spite of our own failures and our fathers, in Christ our fate has changed.
  • How have your father’s words defined you? How are you defined by God the Father?

Final Thoughts

The reception was good and delivery was as well. I also ad-libbed some things I cut out from prior research I did on this text, which I think just made it better. Overall, some pretty good preaching and a solid sermon in my opinion. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.

Footnotes

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/20/campers-in-israel-warned-after-series-of-wolf-attacks

Genesis: Now You See Me | 3-1-26

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Updated: 5/18/2026

Sermon Prep

I wrote this and the next Joseph sermon the Sunday through Tuesday after my last message. Wanted to feel prepared and not rushed this time around given that last couple sermons I was just under the gun trying to get them done. This sermon blitz I did I think made this message and the next one very polished since I got such a leg up on the writing.

What was also on my mind was my health, which led to me leaving work early in the afternoon on Wednesday due to hemisensory symptoms I had for over 24 hours prior. I looked up my symptoms on Claude before calling a nurse in-network who said I might be having a stroke, so she helped me look up the closest walk-in clinic. That night eventually brought me to the ER where those symptoms were identified as nerve inflammation. From there I met with my PCP who ordered MRIs later in the month as well.

That health episode, along with my wife and I considering a move to Texas was on my mind heavily leading up to this message. The Texas move was on our mind because we were planning our yearly visit and we know one day we will move, so to move somewhere that family lives just adds up. It’s not happening, but at the time it felt very real. Lastly, I finally decided to share my story of bitterness publicly for the first time outside of this blog and that weighed on me the most. I’ve always avoided it because I never really knew how to go about it and was afraid to open those forgiven wounds again. For this message I finally did and the notes for the message are below:

Sermon Notes

Opening Prayer

  • Father God, lead us this morning as we search the scriptures. Thank you for your Son whose sacrifice is our salvation. Dwell with us, Holy Spirit, as you teach us today. Amen.

Intro

  • Story of bitterness towards brother, then finding forgiveness years later.

Main Point

  • Reconciling broken relationships is a step in the spiritual journey we all must do.
    • God’s providence is more powerful than your past, which can be reconciled.

Now You See Me | Genesis 45:1-24 (NRSVue)

“[1] Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. [2] And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. [3] Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. [4] Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. [5] And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. [6] For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. [7] God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. [8] So it was not you who sent me here but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. [9] Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me; do not delay. [10] You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. [11] I will provide for you there, since there are five more years of famine to come, so that you and your household and all that you have will not come to poverty.’ [12] And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. [13] You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” [14] Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. [15] And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them, and after that his brothers talked with him. [16] When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. [17] Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. [18] Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.’ [19] You are further charged to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. [20] Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ” [21] The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. [22] To each one of them he gave a set of garments, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. [23] To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. [24] Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way.””

  • וְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֨ל יוֹסֵ֜ף לְהִתְאַפֵּ֗ק (Velo yakhol Yosef lehit’apek) – “Joseph could no longer control himself” in Hebrew reflects an emotional/physical empathetic response (Genesis 45:1).
  • The Ten react similarly to how people act when they see angels or God (Genesis 45:3).
    • See Daniel 10:15, Matthew 28:5, and Luke 1:12
  • גְּשׁוּ־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י” (Geshu naelai) – “Come closer to me.” is used in covenant contexts like Deuteronomy 5:27 and parallels what Judah does in Genesis 44:18. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus uses a similar term in Koine Greek inviting all to “Come to me” (Genesis 45:4).
    • Egyptians considered Hebrews unclean and kept a physical distance from them.
    • Just as Judah crossed the distance for Benjamin, so Joseph does the same when he invites his brothers to come close. Given cultural norms, this was significant.
  • לְאָ֖ב לְפַרְעֹ֗ה (le’āv lephar’ōh)  – “a father to Pharaoh” refers to a vizier, which was someone that advised Pharoah with their wisdom and Pharaoh listened (Genesis 45:8).
    • Joseph has three roles, which again reiterates God’s divine completion in his life.
  • He gives Benjamin 5 sets of garments, which parallels 5 portions of food (Genesis 45:22).
    • In Judaism, the number 5 means divine protection and/or divine provision.
      • Also echoes to the tribe of Benjamin seen in Mordecai (Esther 2:5, 8:15).
      • Mordecai is a Benjamite given 5 sets of garments by the king.
      • Benjamin (son of my right hand) → Mordecai (i.e. man of the right hand).
    • Joseph giving Benjamin 300 pieces of silver contrasts with the Ten selling Joseph for only 20 pieces of silver in Genesis 37:28 and again tests if they’re still jealous.
  • “Do not quarrel along the way” is ironic given the events of Genesis 37 (Genesis 45:24).

Why It Matters

  • Just as God reconciles us to himself, so too we need to reconcile our broken past.
    • In Christ, we have the strength to overcome the brokenness of the past.

Power Text

“[21] “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ [22] But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. [23] So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:21-24)

  • True reconciliation doesn’t just include repentance, but repairing what’s been broken.

“[2] All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the Lord weighs the heart. [3] To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” (Proverbs 21:2-3)

  • God would rather have us make wrongs right, then pretend everything is peaceful.

Outro

  • What relationship is on the backburner? Who are you pretending isn’t there?
    • Cross the distance and go the extra mile in order to right past wrongs.
  • If Jesus was willing to cross the distance at one moment by dying on the cross for you when you deserved death, then you can do the same and right the wrongs of your past.

Final Thoughts

My best friend Andrew said it was a powerful message on forgiveness after the fact, but I didn’t like how I went about sharing the story of my brother and I. It didn’t come out right and in retrospect I just don’t think that story should’ve been made public. I even feel the same way about blogging about it today where a younger me used it as a way to forgive myself and work through that in written word, but that should’ve been done in a private journal not online. That post is still on my blog, but the damage has already been done at that point. By damage I mean, everyone knowing that story now from my community at least.

Because of how much I felt so nervous to share that story of my brother and I, the reception and delivery was okay. It ended up being so serious and the tone was quite dark. Again, I’m grateful it’s not recorded because I have regrets in telling that story openly. Not all of your testimony needs to be public knowledge. God knows who you were, who you are, and who you will be one day. Leave all of your heart and it’s heartache with him, then be wise with how and who you share your heart with on Earth. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.

Genesis: Dual Fates | 2-8-2026

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Updated: 5/16/2026

Sermon Prep

I was like usual stressed by work, but this time it was due to changes that were effecting my peers and I. Those changes led to two of my close peers leaving the company altogether, along with some other peers as well. One of them quietly took a severance package, while the other crashed out during a 1:1 with our boss before quitting that day.

Regardless of how they left, we all hung out the Friday before this sermon with some friends from work. It was nice to have a pint with all of them and just hang out, which as a young Dad I just don’t do much of anymore. I’ve always been bad at socializing at work in general since I’m so focused on the work. Definitely need to make more time for building on work friendships.

I finished this sermon the day of preaching it. It was a little down to the wire, but it all worked out. Also my first time preaching with the blue light glasses I got from my Glory for Christmas, which was fun too. Down below are my notes and at this link is the YouTube recording.

Sermon Notes

Opening Prayer

  • Father God, lead us this morning as we search the scriptures. Thank you for your Son whose sacrifice is our salvation. Dwell with us, Holy Spirit, as you teach us today. Amen.

Intro

  • Landing the Staples job, losing it due to Covid layoff, and then having a greater career.

Main Point

  • You don’t achieve or earn God’s grace, but rather you accept and experience his grace.

Dual Fates | Genesis 40-41 (NRSVue)

“[1] Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. [2] Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, [3] and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. [4] The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them, and they continued for some time in custody. [5] One night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt who were confined in the prison—each his own dream and each dream with its own meaning. [6] When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. [7] So he asked Pharaoh’s officers, who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” [8] They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” [9] So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, [10] and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out, and the clusters ripened into grapes. [11] Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” [12] Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; [13] within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. [14] But remember me when it is well with you; please do me the kindness to make mention of me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this place. [15] For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.” [16] When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, [17] and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” [18] And Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; [19] within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a pole, and the birds will eat the flesh from you.” [20] On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. [21] He restored the chief cupbearer to his cupbearing, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand, [22] but the chief baker he hanged, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. [23] Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph but forgot him.”

  • In the OT, 2 means divine confirmation or divisive duality (cultures, dreams; prisoners).
  • Likewise, 3 means divine completion or a permanent pattern (time; the Rule of Three).

“[1] After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, [2] and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass. [3] Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. [4] The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke. [5] Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. [6] Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them. [7] The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream. [8] In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.”

  • Chief cupbearer remembers faults and tells Pharaoh about Joseph (Genesis 41:9-13).
  • Pharaoh retells dreams to Joseph (Genesis 41:14-24) → Won’t be able to see prosperity.

“[25] Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [26] The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. [27] The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine. [28] It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. [29] There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. [30] After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land. [31] The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous. [32] And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. [33] Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise and set him over the land of Egypt. [34] Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years. [35] Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. [36] That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish… ””

  • There are 3 different dual dreams in this story (Genesis 37:5-11, 40:6-23, and 41:1-36).
  • Now 30, Joseph is restored and starts organizing the grain storage (Genesis 41:37-49).
    • He receives 3 things that reestablish his status in Egypt: a ring, robe, and chain.
    • Royal robes parallel his father’s favor and Pharaoh’s favor (Genesis 37:3, 41:42).
    • Also Joseph’s third ascension ends his suffering cycle (Pit → Prison → Palace).
  • Joseph’s sons: Manasseh = making to forget and Ephraim = fruitful (Genesis 41:50-52).
    • Joseph is able to forget his suffering and be fruitful, but he still needs to forgive.
  • Egyptians vs Hebrews, but this story starts with division and ends with a marriage union.

Why It Matters

  • The powerful will rise and fall, but God’s grace guides the ascent and descent of all of us.
    • Sometimes we’re brought low to learn and in humility we find the highs of life.

Power Text

“the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.””  ( Job 1:21b)

Outro

  • Ultimately God is in control and he providentially chooses who is in charge.
    • We need to trust God’s prosperous plans and let go of our prideful plans.

Final Thoughts

Afterwards, the reception was very positive and led to great table talks. Pastor Andrew said that “the message really hit home” for a lot of people there. Given the past several months, it’s easy to see why for our community. I’m just glad that the message resonated and to be fair it was a great message in my opinion. With that said, Godspeed and Jesus bless.

Genesis: Covenant Confirmed | 11-9-25

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Photo Cred: (1) | Updated: 5/14/2026

Sermon Prep

Unlike other sermons we did as a church, this was the first time I had a direct hand in shaping the series itself outside of working with the teaching team to outline said series. Typically Andrew, our lead pastor, outlines and shapes each series himself before running it by the teaching team to tweak. Given the Fall is incredibly busy, especially for him he assigned me to figure out the Joseph section while he mapped out the rest. Since Joseph is one of my favorite figures of the faith, I took on the arduous challenge gladly.

When it came to this teaching though, I didn’t have a lot a lot of prep time. I too was overwhelmed by Halloween Street planning and work, along with Joseph research so I feel like I dropped the ball a bit here getting this one ready. It all worked out, but preferably I like to dedicate the week leading up to a teaching to prep it and I just didn’t do that here. Anyways, here’s the YouTube recording and the notes below:

Sermon Notes

Opening Prayer

  • Father God, lead us this morning as we search the scriptures. Thank you for your Son whose sacrifice is our salvation. Would you speak through me, in spite of me, and beyond me. May you, Holy Spirit, dwell within us as you teach us today. Amen.

Intro

  • Dad promised we’d love Colorado and my family moved there becoming middle class.

Main Point

  • Faith is counted as righteousness because faith rests on God’s fidelity, not human ability.
    • Like Abram trusted God, we too are right with God when we trust his promises.

Covenant Confirmed | Genesis 14:21-15:21 (NRSVue)

“[21] Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” [22] But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, [23] that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ [24] I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten and the share of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.” [1] After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” [2] But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” [3] And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” [4] But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” [5] He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” [6] And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. [7] Then he said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.” [8] But he said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?” [9] He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” [10] He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other, but he did not cut the birds in two. [11] And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. [12] As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. [13] Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years, [14] but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. [15] As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. [16] And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” [17] When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. [18] On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates, [19] the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, [20] the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, [21] the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.””

  • Abram rejects spoils of the sword knowing that God is his shield (Genesis 14:21-15:6).
  • Abram’s deep sleep links to Adam when God acts, while humanity rests (Genesis 15:12).
  • Exodus prophecy ties Abram’s story to Israel’s bigger picture (Genesis 15:13–16).
  • God binds himself by way of a royal grant covenant cutting honor (Genesis 15:17-21).
    • Someone powerful gives an unconditional promise to someone powerless.

“Genesis 15 provides an example of a covenant sealed by divine oath. The theophany-ritual described there symbolized the conditional selfmalediction that inheres in the swearing of oaths. To his promise to Abraham God added a second immutable thing. Passing between the slain and divided beasts beneath the threatening birds of prey, God invoked the curse of the oath upon himself should he prove false to it. That curse, so effectively portrayed by the combined ritual and natural features of the scene, was a common one among ancient treaty-curses… By undergoing this ritual God declared in effect that if he failed to fulfill the promises of the covenant, he was like these creatures to be slain and devoured as a feast for the fowls.” –  Meredith G. Kline, By Oath Consigned: A Reinterpretation of the Covenant Signs of Circumcision and Baptism (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968), 8. Available on meredithkline.com  

Why It Matters

  • Trust grows where promises hold. Therefore we lean on God’s fidelity, not our ability.

Power Text

“[5] But to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness… [13] For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith… [16] For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace… not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham… [20] No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, [21] being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. [22] Therefore “it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” [23] Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone [24] but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, [25] who was handed over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.” –  Romans 4:5, 16, 20-25 (NRSVue)

  • Faith produces loyal obedience and justification is grounded in God’s promise, not merit.

“[13] When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, [14] saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply you.” [15] And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. [16] Humans, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute among them. [17] In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath, [18] so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. [19] We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, [20] where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” –  Hebrews 6:13-20 (NRSVue)

  • Assurance in God’s promises fuels our endurance in the faith. God’s oath anchors hope.

Outro

  • As a daily holy rhythm, rehearse one promise God has sworn and live from that place.
    • Treat God’s promises as the most concrete and real things about your future.

Final Thoughts

This ended up being a solid sermon and overall my sermons from this series I believe were on another level when compared to previous series because I had such a strong hand in shaping it. Especially the Joseph sermons I did I think worked particularly well. Combining my in-depth series research with typical weeklong sermon prep brought about some unique preaching work on my part I think.

As for this teaching it had some fun improv and off-the-cuff pivots I made mid-preaching. The most notable being the whole section on Luke 8 being ad-libbed. Also except for Eddie, everyone else didn’t get the Shaun of the Dead reference. As a Cornetto Trilogy fanatic, that made me so sad but it’s fine most people don’t appreciate the genius of those films. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.

Footnotes

  1. https://opc.org/today.html?history_id=431

Luke: Exceeding Expectations | 1-29-2023

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Photo Cred: (1) | Updated: 10/12/2024

Sermon Prep

Now that it’s almost 2025, looking back at the beginning of 2023 is really interesting. It was the first full calendar year of marriage for my wife and I. We had our own place and finally had a flow to our daily routine as a couple, yet that wasn’t without its hiccups. Below is how this month was for us when I journaled the day of this sermon:

“I’m not good at change. Whether bad or good, change is always incredibly difficult for me. The last two weeks have been hard for Glory and I. With the new job… I’ve had to make drastic adjustments to my schedule. Now I wake up at 4:50am and drive 30min to Nik’s gym and then to work, along with the hour to commute home. It’s a long day that ends at 6pm where I’m finally home to relax for a few hours. It’s brutal some days, but in the long run the discipline is good for me.”

What I failed to mention was that I kept working once I got home combing through medical textbooks I bought to learn my new job. Glory was doing her own job hunt trying to find something new to do too. She was emotionally ready to move-on from her family’s nonprofit, but in retrospect not really since she still works there as of this writing. I think she felt more-so guilty that all of our finances were on me now and wanted to contribute more too.

Between the events of my last sermon and this one, we had lots of other changes happen in life as well. My younger brother, Corban, moved back to Colorado from Tennessee. Glory’s sister ended a years-long relationship with her then boyfriend. Our church’s truck was totaled, which made set-up and tear-down that much more difficult in the middle of winter. Lastly, a young man who was homeless and attended our church died of hypothermia sleeping outside on a cold night in December. The changing of seasons it seems had an effect on not just us, but the community we lived with at large.

It’s in light of these changes and the expectations for what 2023 would be, that I shared this message. I must say, the contrast between my confidence in teaching through Ecclesiastes versus Luke was night-and-day. This series was much more up my alley given it was a character study on Jesus and there’s always something to be found when studying our Lord’s life. With that backdrop, here’s my notes:

Sermon Notes

Opening Line

  • Becoming an uncle.
    • How it changed me and my family.

Intro

  • Luke begins his gospel account with 2 key moments: announcement and arrival.
  • These 2 themes run throughout Luke.
    • Luke 1 = Announcing the king
    • Luke 2 = Arrival of the king

Transition To Main Point

  • The king’s arrival both exceeded expectations and extinguished them.

Main Point

  • 1) Announcement
    • Modern messiahs (i.e. Herod the Great, Judah the Hammer, etc.) have had a lot of expectations put on them, but they can never meet them as just men.
      • The same was true of Jesus’ time.
      • There were many previous messiahs, but none of them saved the world.
    • John the Baptist’s role was to announce King Jesus to the world.
      • He’s like the hype man of Jesus.
      • He set the stage for the savior.
      • Final old covenant and Old Testament prophet.
        • Story-wise, his death is a turning point.
  • 2) Arrival
    • Bethlehem was brutal.
      • Roman rule set up crosses of resistance.
        • Horse thieves, murders; revolutionaries.
      • As Jesus’ family arrived to get registered, they would’ve seen these crosses.
    • As a boy, Jesus acted in command and with an awareness of who he was.
      • This put tension between his family.
      • Joseph’s absence in Luke theories:
        • 1) Died when Jesus was young.
        • 2) Emotionally absent.
        • 3) Omitted by Joseph’s request.

Why It Matters

  • Jesus exceeded and extinguished expectations.
    • Exceeded = Grace, wisdom, love, and healing.
    • Extinguished = Not rich or warrior king.
  • Not the king they wanted, but needed.
    • Back then, the Hebrews wanted a lord.
    • Today we want a savior, but not a lord.
      • Jesus will always be lord and savior.

Final Thoughts

As one of the first messages within the study on Luke, I’m quite proud of the delivery here. The same can be said of the messages I shared in this timeframe for this series. I just had an assurance in knowing this material and learning as I taught that was different then Ecclesiastes where I was speaking on things I didn’t truly know yet. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.

Footnotes

  1. Reunion Church

Trump Is King Saul

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Photo Cred: (1) | Updated: 1-20-2021

There are a lot of parallels made about Trump. Even more so within the American Christian community. From Cyrus the Great (2) to Nebuchadnezzar (3), some Christians associated with the current conservative political movement or the Republican party have made such comparisons. I’ve even read of a few people making the bold statement that Trump is just like King David because they’re both flawed leaders that God is using for divine means to an end (4).

I’m not here to talk about those obviously wrong parallels. I think of all the comparisons that could be made, Trump is most like King Saul. Let’s see why that’s more likely the case from a character perspective.

But before I do that, let’s clarify something. Comparing anyone to any figure in the Bible is just an exercise in identifying who someone is like, not who they are in reality. For instance, I could make the case that I’m a parallel to Joseph in Genesis. We are known for our analytical intellect, God speaks to us in dreams, and we both have autism (5).

With that said, it’s just a comparison to aid in our understanding and not a pinpoint accurate psychological look into who someone truly is in real life. This is a common and normal exercise, so now I’m simply applying it to President Trump. With all of that said, who was King Saul?

Who Was King Saul?

Saul under the Influence of the Evil Spirit by William Wetmore Story | 1865

For the sake of time, I’ll paraphrase Saul’s story. In other words, this is the highlight reel and doesn’t cover everything we know about the guy. Here’s the gist of what happened.

At this point in history, Israel was ruled by way of a kritarchy which is a nation run by judges. After years of mixed results and finally with the failure of the prophet Samuel’s own two sons, the people of Israel demanded a new form of leadership like the neighboring nations. They wanted to be ruled by a king.

So Samuel went to God in prayer and asked what to do for the Israelites. Here in 1 Samuel 8:7, we have God’s response: “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”

Like God had instructed, Samuel informs the people of Israel on how things are going to change under this new leadership style. He will take their children and use them for his own means to fulfill economic, political, and even war purposes. He will take the best of everything in the land for those most loyal to him and enslave the people under his rule. Lastly, when the people realize they have made a mistake God will not save them from the collateral consequences of their collective choice.

As time went on, Saul quickly went from a promising first king to a tyrant that threw out all of the traditions of his own people for personal gain. He made promises before God and others, but broke them with little remorse. He cast out anyone that questioned or threatened his power. He even hunted the man God chose to replace him which was David and his own son Jonathan who chose to obey God, rather than his unruly father.

History now knows that Saul was the king of compromise. Saul was a people-pleaser, but God was never pleased with him. David did become king of Israel and gave God the glory, yet Saul was always wondering who would give glory to him.

In the end, Saul had no faith in God and his lies only led to loss. Our response to conflict reveals our character and Saul will forever be known as a coward. The promising king was now just a man whose promises meant nothing.

Who Is President Trump?

President Donald Trump via axios.com

Now look at the Trump presidency and how it ended. The parallels speak for themselves. It began with a lot of promise for some people. He claimed to end abortion, build a wall, and fix the economy so that everyone would benefit. Whatever you think of those issues for yourself or any other issues for that matter, there are people who saw this outcome as extremely positive in 2016.

Actually, even a few as life-changing on par with the reactions that the Black American community had for Obama during the election of 2008. Like usual, both figures failed to deliver and live up to the hype. Although, for Trump his term ended with the shameful storming of the US capitol by his most ardent fans in a sad attempt to overturn the election. They took the bait of a lie that led to the death of 5 imagers of God, which is horrific for all involved.

Like an incel on OnlyFans, some Christians have crawled in lust to worship Trump and it’s shameful. Your ignorance doesn’t prove his innocence. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s the blind eye of the Church that has built up the ego of a man who craves the adoration of all. Several of those who voted for him were so focused on winning for once that they never considered what would honestly happen if he had won the presidency. Well, now we know.

Now can I criticize a public figure like Trump and be consistent as a Christian? Absolutely. Do I need to remove the plank in my eye before telling someone else to remove the speck in their eye? Of course. As I like to tell people, I’m a shit-show of a human being and need God to save me on-the-daily because I’m the worst. In humility, I admit I’m a failure and sin more often than anyone will ever know.

God gives grace to the humble and I’m glad he does because that’s all we can give him. We must approach God in humility and faith, if we want to be in his good graces. The problem is that Trump lacks the spine to be humble before God and his faith is a farce.

His actions have spoken for him in that regard. He doesn’t fear God because he’s too afraid of the god that is his own graven image. That’s disgusting and it’s even more so when we consider that some of us supported such crass behavior in our leadership that claimed to follow Jesus.

We as Christians should be the first to publicly oppose a political leader in sin and the last to publicly support anyone in politics. Our gaze should be fixed on the Kingdom of God, not our own kingdom that was never a nation under God. Participate in the present and that includes politics, but remember to remain focused on the future for that is where we will find rest under the sovereignty of Jesus as king. With that, Godspeed and Jesus bless.

Footnotes

  1. www.pbs.org
  2. https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/3/5/16796892/trump-cyrus-christian-right-bible-cbn-evangelical-propaganda
  3. https://communalnews.com/king-nebuchadnezzar-and-president-donald-trump/
  4. http://www.sfltimes.com/opinion/looking-to-the-bible-to-justify-allegiance-to-a-flawed-leader
  5. For more on this theory see Samuel J. Levine’s book, Was Yosef on the Spectrum?