NOVEMBER 17, 2024

Bible verse “GENESIS 47:7~10”

Sermon title "The Jacob’s life 14’

The life of Jacob, as we have examined so far, was one filled with regret, tears, suffering, and utter misery. Despite his steadfast faith in God, misfortunes continued to unfold one after another. Even if Jacob had not believed in God, his life still would have seemed incomprehensibly tragic. During his time in Haran, Jacob lived a far more prosperous and successful life; everything he did flourished. However, after encountering God at the Jabbok River and living a life of faith, bad events began to occur in succession.

If even one or two of the trials Jacob endured were to happen to a believer’s family today, many would likely abandon their faith and stop attending church. Countless people have done just that. Among Korean-Americans living in the U.S., it is rare to find someone who never attended church at least once in their life. Yet today, most of them no longer attend church. Many refuse to even hear the word “God” or allow the mention of “church,” dismissing it with a wave of the hand. For them, faith disappeared long ago.

When you listen to the stories of people who used to attend church but stopped, most cite reasons that are trivial compared to what Jacob experienced—barely one-hundredth of his trials. They claim these reasons as their justification for quitting church and turning away from faith. In reality, they simply grew weary of believing in Jesus and disliked giving offerings, so they found excuses and made rationalizations. People often think that leaving church harms God, pastors, or the church itself, but that is not the case. The only one who loses out is the person who leaves.

The arduous life Jacob endured serves to demonstrate the reality of living faithfully in this sinful world. Being someone who wrestled with and prevailed over God does not mean that one can avoid the difficulties of life or that God will take care of everything on their behalf. Jacob’s life was a testament to the extreme challenges that a sinful person may face while striving to live by faith.

Even if Jacob had ended his life in wealth and comfort, it might have provided some consolation. However, in his later years, a severe famine struck not only Canaan but also the entire Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. Genesis 41:57 states: “And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.” The famine lasted seven years, during which no rain fell. There wasn’t even grass or bark left to eat. To face hunger in one’s old age is a truly miserable fate.

Today, even a single year of drought causes significant distress—people lament that their lawns turn brown. Imagine a drought lasting seven years. Every tree would wither, lush forests would transform into deserts, and regions like Canaan, which were already arid, would become even harsher. Jacob lived through those seven years inCanaan. Surviving such conditions without starving was nothing short of a miracle.

Facing the threat of starvation, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. There, they encountered Joseph, who had become the prime minister of Egypt. In his old age, Jacob was forced to leave his ancestral land, where his family had lived since Abraham’s time, and relocate to Egypt as an immigrant. Today’s Scripture depicts the moment when Jacob, having moved to Egypt, met Pharaoh.

In Genesis 47:7, it is written: “Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh...” At the time, Pharaoh was not someone just anyone could meet. Even in today’s world, an ordinary person would find it nearly impossible to meet the president of any country, no matter how small. Among us, how many have ever met a sitting president? Likely none, except on TV.

In those days, the Pharaoh of Egypt was regarded as the son of the sun god, essentially worshipped as a deity. The nation of Egypt at that time was more powerful than the combined influence of today’s United States, Russia, China, and the European Union. It was unimaginable that such a ruler would meet Jacob, who came not even from a recognized country but from the land of Canaan, regarded merely as a wilderness. Yet here, Jacob stood before Pharaoh—a truly extraordinary encounter.

Joseph’s position as the second most powerful figure in Egypt, the prime minister, made this extraordinary encounter possible. For the first time in Jacob’s life, he benefited from his son’s influence and was granted an audience with Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt and a man regarded as the son of the sun god. Imagine if this were an ordinary person in Jacob’s place—what would they have done? What would you have done? Most would have been so overwhelmed with fear that they would be unable to utter a word, trembling before such a figure.

However, Jacob, upon meeting Pharaoh, did something astonishing. Pharaoh did not speak first, nor did he extend his scepter to allow Jacob to speak, as was customary in ancient times. Yet Jacob spoke first—not with flattering words of praise for Pharaoh, but by blessing him. In ancient times, speaking before a king extended his scepter was considered a challenge to the king’s authority, often resulting in immediate execution. Yet Jacob, without hesitation, blessed Pharaoh the moment they met. You might imagine that Joseph had cautioned his father beforehand, warning him about the protocol and potential dangers of their meeting. Any misstep could have cost not only Jacob’s life but also Joseph’s position as prime minister. Yet Jacob boldly blessed Pharaoh. This wasn’t a casual or thoughtless remark, like the way believers sometimes say, “God will bless you.” Jacob’s blessing was sincere and delivered in the name of the living God. It was as if Jacob was saying, “Enough with pretending to be the son of the sun god or playing the role of king. I hope you come to know the living God, the God I have encountered and who is with me.”

The word blessing means to invoke good upon someone. But think about it—why would Jacob, a wanderer from a small land like Canaan, offer a blessing to Pharaoh, the ruler of a mighty empire? Shouldn’t it have been the other way around, with Pharaoh blessing Jacob? After all, Pharaoh lacked nothing. He had wealth, power, and influence—everything one could desire. Yet Jacob, who seemed to have nothing, blessed Pharaoh. What could Jacob possibly offer Pharaoh?

Jacob understood that there was one thing Pharaoh lacked: God. Pharaoh had no knowledge of the true and living God. What does it matter if one rules a nation, is revered as the son of a god, or possesses all the wealth in the world? Without God, the body will perish, and the soul will stand before God’s judgment. A mummified body in a pyramid does not equate to eternal life.

Thus, Jacob did not bow down in fear before Pharaoh but instead blessed him in God’s name. Hebrews 7:7 says, “And without doubt, the lesser is blessed by the greater.” By worldly standards, Pharaoh was undoubtedly the greater man—king of Egypt, the son of the sun god, and ruler of a superpower. By comparison, Jacob was a penniless old man seeking food in Egypt. Yet Jacob, recognizing that Pharaoh lacked eternal life, blessed him as the greater man.

2 Corinthians 6:10 says, “Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” Jacob understood this truth. He knew he possessed eternal life, which made him greater than Pharaoh. No matter how powerful Pharaoh seemed, without life in God, he was spiritually dead.

Pharaoh immediately noticed Jacob’s advanced age, asking him in Genesis 47:8, “How old are you?” This was not a casual question. Pharaoh, who rarely spoke to commoners, addressed Jacob with respect. Jacob’s appearance was striking—frail, emaciated, and stooped with age. He looked so ancient, perhaps 200 years old, that Pharaoh’s curiosity got the better of him.

Jacob replied in Genesis 47:9, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” Jacob described his life as a “pilgrimage,” emphasizing its transient and wandering nature. He acknowledged that his 130 years were fewer than those of his forefathers—Abraham lived 175 years, and Isaac lived 180. Yet Jacob’s life had been marked by hardship, which had aged him prematurely.

Indeed, Jacob lived a life of “few and difficult” years. Despite his trials, his encounter with Pharaoh reminds us that true greatness is found not in wealth or power but in the life that comes from knowing God.

When Jacob left Pharaoh's presence, verse 10 tells us he once again blessed Pharaoh. Imagine Pharaoh’s reaction: “Why don’t you bless yourself? I’ve already received more blessings than I can hold.” But Jacob’s blessing wasn’t the kind of blessing Pharaoh imagined.

When we share the gospel and tell others about Jesus, many people respond like Pharaoh. They say, “You believe that and live your life well. Go get your blessings and be happy. What can someone like you offer me?!” This misunderstanding isn’t limited to non-believers; even believers often misinterpret blessings as material wealth or earthly success. This is why so many missionaries and evangelists focus on impoverished nations or those who seem less fortunate. Many believe that faith in Jesus is about improving one’s earthly circumstances. If Jacob had thought this way,

 he would never have dared to bless Pharaoh. Instead, he would have bowed deeply, flattered Pharaoh, and begged for more wealth and favor for his son Joseph. The idea of blessing Pharaoh would have been unthinkable.

But Jacob knew something deeper. Though he had lived a life of hardship, he recognized that the greatest blessing of his life was walking with God through those difficult times. He understood that no one else knew God as intimately as he did. This conviction led Jacob to declare in Genesis 49:26: "Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers."

This blessing to Joseph is the highlight and climax of Jacob’s story. Among the 1,189 chapters of the Bible, apart from the direct words of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, this verse stands as one of the most profound statements of faith ever spoken. Jacob declares that his blessing surpasses that of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac. He boldly claims that his blessing is greater than Abraham’s covenant blessing and Isaac’s prophetic blessings.

Yet, in Christian circles, Abraham and Isaac are often held in higher regard than Jacob. People are more familiar with Abraham as the father of faith and Isaac’s role in God’s covenant. If asked whether they’d prefer to receive a blessing from Abraham or Jacob, most would choose Abraham without hesitation. Why? Because Jacob’s life was marked by suffering. No one wants to follow in the footsteps of a life of hardship.

This mindset has influenced the church today. We elevate those who are successful—celebrities, wealthy individuals, and prominent figures—to share their testimonies, drawing applause and admiration. But this approach has often led to a shallow and materialistic interpretation of faith.

God, however, declares that Jacob’s blessing surpasses those of Abraham and Isaac. How much greater is it? It is as enduring as the everlasting hills. While mountains like the Himalayas might take millennia to erode, Jacob’s blessings are described as eternal, lasting until the end of time. This means that Jacob’s blessings are relevant not only in his era but also today and until Jesus Christ’s return. When the elements are dissolved in fire, when the heavens and earth pass away, Jacob’s blessing will remain superior to that of his ancestors.

Believers should therefore aspire to Jacob’s blessing above all. Though Jacob endured a life of suffering, he knew God better than Abraham, Isaac, David, Moses, Peter, or Paul. Jacob could confidently declare that his blessing surpassed all others and would endure as long as the eternal hills.

As we live through the hardships of our own lives, may we, like Jacob, declare at the end of our journey that our blessing surpasses those of Abraham and Isaac, that it is as enduring as the everlasting hills. May we strive to live as people who carry such a blessing, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.