PASTOR’S NOTES
And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.”
For the last three weeks we have read every verse, hand in hand with the story of Jesus. Through the lens of the Gospel, we saw everything that was taking place in Egypt with our attention on Christ. We witnessed the call to repentance and the forgiveness of sins through the moment the guilty brothers stood before Joseph. We saw the love of Jesus as Joseph wept and threw his arms around all of his forgiven family. Then we saw the gift of heaven as Joseph invited the unworthy family to the land of provisions. The story of Joseph and his family shines the light on the gift of Jesus and the gospel that saves us from our sins!
This week we see the same trend in the gospel shining through the very first book of the Bible in chapter 47. Joseph has forgiven, revealed who he is, and invited his family out of the famine, but let’s not forget that it’s not fully his land. There is still Pharaoh that has full authority in the land of Egypt. This is where we see the love of Christ in the truth that He is the one that brings us to the Father.
In John it says, “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” We see that same truth in this week’s text. As much as the brothers wanted out of the famine and into the land of provisions, they were going to have to have a way to Pharaoh’s approval.
This week’s text is the good and also the bad news we all experience in this fallen world. If man is sinful and unworthy, then how can man go to a perfect heaven? If man cannot work or earn his way into God’s favor, then how can man go to a perfect Heaven? If man killed the son of God through sin on this Earth, then how can man go to a perfect Heaven?
The answer is simple, man must be invited and approved by the one who is perfect. When you read chapter 47 you can’t help but see Jesus and how He loves and cares for all of us. It’s written through every verse! Jesus is the one who loves, forgives, invites, and stands with us so that we can enter the land of provisions.
Praise Jesus!
EXTRA READING FOR THIS WEEK
Hebrews 9 for more text on Jesus being our invitation to God.
