Scripture: Genesis 47:28-31
Video Link: https://youtu.be/lJR8sOJrNtM
Audio Link: https://soundcloud.com/tawabaptist/sermon-9-june-2024-jacobs-will
Structure:
- Introduction
- Long Life
- Strong Hope
- Conclusion
Introduction:
Good morning everyone.
Over the past four months we have been working our way through a series on the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis.
The book of Genesis is a book of beginnings. The beginning of the world at creation. A new beginning for the world after the great flood and the beginning of the people of God, with the narratives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Given that Genesis is book of beginnings, it is somewhat curious that most of the last three chapters of Genesis deal with an ending, the death of Jacob. Three chapters might seem like a lot to devote to Jacob’s death, when it could be covered with one short verse. So why give it so much attention?
Well, death is a part of life which we must accept. Perhaps the authors of Genesis wanted to give their readers a few clues about how to prepare for death. How to face death well and without fear.
Perhaps too we are to understand death, not just as an ending, but also as a beginning. Every new beginning starts with some other beginning’s end.
This morning we pick up Joseph’s story from Genesis 47, verse 28…
28 Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favour in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.” “I will do as you say,” he [Joseph] said. 31 “Swear to me,” he [Jacob] said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
May the Spirit of Jesus illuminate God’s word for us.
In these four short verses we catch a glimpse of Jacob’s long life and strong hope. First let’s consider Jacob’s long life.
Long Life:
Matt Haig wrote a novel called How to Stop Time. In this book we meet some characters who, for some inexplicable reason, have a life span of around 1000 years. These characters are immune from illness and they age very slowly. So after 500 years they are only in mid-life, the equivalent of being in their 40’s.
Now to some of you the idea of living for 1000 years might sound wonderful. But to others, who may not experience much quality in life, it will sound more like torture.
Like all good novels Matt Haig’s book is saying something deeper. It’s really about good mental health and how to live well. How to cope with loneliness and change. Maybe, with enough time, we could learn to live better lives.
Verse 28 of Genesis 47 tells us Jacob lived to the ripe old age of 147 years.
Earlier in Genesis we read how Jacob’s father, Isaac, lived to 180 and his grandfather Abraham lived to 175. Taking those ages at face value, the patriarchs had roughly double the lifespan of people today.
Although Genesis is not a work of fiction, we may still have difficulty believing the patriarchs lived that long. We might try to rationalize this by saying the numbers are an exaggeration or a scribal error. But in doing that we make God smaller and we diminish our sense of wonder. We clip the wings of imagination and leave no room for mystery.
Just because something is outside our experience, we should not discount it.
It serves us better to imagine how cool it would be to age more slowly. Imagine the good you could do with your life. Imagine the fun you could have.
Derek Kidner, a highly respected Old Testament scholar, says this about the extraordinary ages of the patriarchs. Their life span seems to have been a special providence. (We might think of it as a gift from God.) Their continued vigour (throughout life) shows that this was no mere postponement of death but a spreading-out of the whole life process. [1]
For example, Abraham at say 110 has the vitality of a man in his late 60’s.
Sara, giving birth to Isaac at 90, would correspond perhaps with our late 50’s. So, at 90 Sara is beyond childbearing age, but still able to enjoy making love with her husband.
By mentioning Jacob’s age of 147, we are reminded that with God nothing is impossible. We are also invited to imagine eternal life. Abundant life. Life without the limitations of illness or infirmity.
For those of you who like mathematics and enjoy finding patterns in numbers, check this out. According to one commentator, Abraham’s age of 175 is equal to 5x5x7. Isaac’s age of 180 is equal to 6x6x5. And Jacob’s age of 147 is equal to 7x7x3.
In this series the squared number (in brackets) increases by one each generation and the coefficient (the number on the end) decreases by two each time. Whoa. Isn’t that cool.
But wait, there’s more. In each case the sum of the factors is 17. That is, 5+5+7 = 17, just as 6+6+5=17 and 7+7+3=17. Joseph was sold into Egypt at the tender age of 17 and Jacob spent the last 17 years of his life in Egypt. [2] There is a beautiful symmetry here.
Now, we need to be careful not to go overboard and read too much into the numbers. But, at the same time, we need to consider what the numbers might be telling us? The numbers could be saying the lives of the patriarchs and their family are not random or haphazard. God has numbered their days precisely according to his purpose and design.
If you remember the accounts of creation in Genesis 1 & 2, you will know that bringing order to the chaos is how God makes life both beautiful and functional. It appears the numerical patterns in Genesis are saying that God is the master of life and death. God is bringing order to the chaos.
We don’t live anywhere near as long as the patriarchs. Some people’s lives are cut short. While other people’s lives seem to go on longer than they would like. It is difficult to discern any pattern. It often seems random and chaotic.
Part of faith is believing that, despite appearances to the contrary, our lives are not random or pointless. Jesus only lived on earth for 33 years. Yet it is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that God is making all things new and bringing order to his creation.
Strong Hope:
Jacob’s life was long and his hope was strong.
It was probably Mark Twain who coined the phrase, ‘There are only two certainties in this life. Death and taxes.’
With this in view, let me ask you a very practical question. Do you have a Will? That is, a legally binding document detailing your wishes when you die? You don’t need to answer that now, but you do need to think about it.
Despite the fact that death comes to us all, research commissioned by Safewill indicates that around 47% of adults in New Zealand don’t have a Will. All adults really should have a Will. And if you get married, or have children or haven’t thought about it for a while, you should probably update your Will.
In the closing verses of Genesis 47 Jacob asked for his son Joseph, so he could do the ancient equivalent of updating his Will.
The fact that Jacob asks Joseph to do this confirms that Jacob has appointed Joseph as head of the household. Normally, in the culture of the ancient near east, the eldest son would be given responsibility, as head of the family, for carrying out the father’s Will. Reuben was the eldest, but Jacob has chosen Joseph. Jacob trusts Joseph more.
We note that Jacob is not afraid of dying. In verse 30 he describes death as ‘resting’ with his fathers. That sounds quite pleasant, peaceful even. Jacob sees death as a kind of homecoming. Whether he lives or dies, Jacob is confident that his soul is safe with God.
Jacob faces death with a strong sense of hope. Jacob is reconciled to the fact that after he has gone, life will carry on. Things will not end with him.
In accordance with God’s promise, Jacob believes that his descendants will inherit the land of Canaan. And with that hope in mind, Jacob makes Joseph swear to bury his remains in the Promised Land.
Jacob isn’t just doing this for himself. Jacob is doing this to pass on a hope filled vision of the future to his children and grandchildren. It’s like Jacob is saying to his family, ‘This is your legacy. This is what you have to look forward to. A place to belong, to put down roots and call your own.’
In verse 29, Jacob says to Joseph, ‘…put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness…’ What’s this about?
Old Testament expert, Bruce Waltke, says that the ‘thigh’ in this context is a euphemism for genitalia. Jacob is asking Joseph to take an oath by placing his hand near his private parts.
It might seem strange in our culture to make an oath in this way but there is a certain logic to it. This is not a perverse act. It is a sacred thing, done gently, with permission and great respect.
When Abraham wanted to find a bride for Isaac, he also asked his steward to take an oath by putting his hand under Abraham’s thigh.
There is a twin symbolism here, vulnerability and life. To have someone place their hand under your thigh is the very picture of vulnerability. It’s like saying, “You’ve got me by the short and curlies”.
At the same time, a person’s genitalia represent the source of life and offspring. So, by asking Joseph to place his hand under his thigh, Jacob is basically saying, “the purpose of my life, my future and all I hold dear, is in your hands”. Jacob is trusting Joseph with a lot here.
Bruce Waltke puts it like this, “When facing death, the patriarchs secure their last will by an oath at the source of life.” [3]
You’ll be relieved to know that when updating your Will these days, you only have to sign a piece of paper. No touching of the ‘thigh’ is involved.
Jacob sets the tone of tenderness and respect in the way he says to Joseph,
‘If I have found favour in your eyes…’ Jacob is Joseph’s superior and yet he asks his son politely for this favour. Jacob recognises that Joseph holds the power in this situation.
Jacob wants Joseph to promise to show him kindness and faithfulness. The word translated as kindness, in verse 29, is hesed in the original Hebrew. Jacob is asking Joseph to do hesed for him. In this situation, the specific act of loyal love and kindness involves Joseph taking Jacob’s dead body to bury in Canaan. Something significant that Jacob could not do himself.
An act of hesed like this cannot be compelled or forced. Jacob does not coerce Joseph. He does not try to emotionally blackmail his son. Jacob understands that what he is asking cannot be taken, it can only be given. The old man approaches his son with a poverty of spirit that is genuine and touching.
Jacob did not presume upon Joseph’s good nature but instead made himself vulnerable to rejection before his son.
I am reminded of the leper who comes to Jesus in Matthew 8, kneels down and says to the Lord, ‘Sir, I know you can heal me, if you want to’.
The leper is asking Jesus to show him kindness, to do hesed for him. No doubt this leper has experienced a great deal of rejection and hurt in his life. We can almost hear him thinking, ‘I understand if you don’t want to heal me’. Here is a man who is poor in spirit. Yet he finds the faith to risk further rejection.
I love the winsome way the leper does not pressure Jesus. He understands that what he is asking cannot be taken, it can only be given. It is a tender moment.
And in an equally tender and winsome way, Jesus responds, ‘I want to. Be clean’. And immediately the man was cured of his leprosy.
Have you been routinely rejected and hurt? Does it feel like a risk to ask for help? What act of kindness or hesed do you long for? Hear Jesus’ words for you personally, ‘I want to’.
Joseph loves his dad and he wants to. So he swears an oath, promising to do hesed for Jacob by carrying out his father’s dying wishes. Words, in ancient times, carried more weight than they do today. These words cannot be taken back.
The ceremony finishes with the elderly Jacob leaning on his staff worshipping God. Jacob faces death with hope and thankfulness.
There’s an interesting connection between verse 31, of Genesis 47, and the New Testament letter to the Hebrews. In Hebrews 11, verse 21, we read…
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Now this is curious. Of all the remarkable things Jacob did in his life, why is he commended for blessing Joseph’s sons and worshipping God while he leans on his staff? That doesn’t seem difficult or extraordinary.
Well, faith is not always a grand gesture. Sometimes faith can involve a heroic sacrifice, but most of the time faith appears quite ordinary and unspectacular.
Now in saying that faith is often ordinary looking, I don’t mean it is easy.
We need to remember that by this stage, Jacob is 147. The outlook you have when you are in your twenties and thirties is not the same as the outlook you will have when you are in your seventies and eighties.
It is one thing to worship God when you are young. It is an entirely different thing to still be worshipping the Lord when you are old and your strength is failing and you’ve lost loved ones.
Jacob is an old man who has lived a hard life. Jacob has struggled constantly with those around him. Most of the hurt he suffered was inflicted by those closest to him, by his family. And if you can’t trust your family, who can you trust?
Add to this the fact that Jacob had to leave his homeland and knows he is going to die in Egypt. It’s a lot.
Despite the wounds he carries, Jacob does not lose his faith in God. Even in the face of death, Jacob is sure of what he hopes for and certain of what he does not see. He still has a firm grasp on God’s promises, even though he knows those promises are not going to be realized in his lifetime.
As ordinary as it may seem, Jacob’s actions in worshipping and blessing bear witness to his strong faith. Jacob can worship God and bless the next generation because he believes his body will be repatriated to Canaan, and his descendants will inherit the land as God promised him.
Conclusion:
As we get older and our energy and capabilities begin to diminish, we may begin to feel less valuable. We may ask ourselves; how can I be useful? What do I have to contribute? Take a leaf out of Jacob’s book.
As ordinary and unspectacular as it may seem, coming to church to worship God and give your blessing to the next generation is incredibly valuable.
Our faith is not just for our personal benefit. It is also a public good. Yes, there is personal comfort in believing that when I die, I will be safe in the arms of Jesus. That’s real and it’s important.
But there is an equally important public aspect to our faith as well. When younger people see older people worshipping God it communicates to everyone that God is faithful. That the Lord can be trusted and relied upon throughout all of life.
The presence of older Christians makes younger Christians feel safe. And feeling safe is needed more than ever these days.
Furthermore, when older people bless younger people, it makes the next generation stronger. People in their twenties and thirties may not say it but, at a deep level, I believe young people long for the blessing of their elders.
When you bless those who come after you, when you are warm and kind and positive, you say to them, ‘I believe in you. I believe God has good planned for your future and the future of the church’.
Whether you are younger or older (or in between) may the Lord strengthen your faith and hope that you would be a blessing to others. Amen.
Questions for discussion or reflection:
- What stands out for you in reading this Scripture and/or in listening to the sermon? Why do you think this stood out to you?
- Why does the book of Genesis devote the better part of its last three chapters to the death of Jacob?
- What is the significance of the life spans of the Patriarchs? What would you do with your life if you could live as long as Jacob?
- Is your Will up to date?
- How did Jacob face death? What do you think and feel about death?
- Have you been routinely rejected and hurt? Does it feel like a risk asking for help? What act of kindness (hesed) do you long for?
- Why does Hebrews 11 commend Jacob for blessing Joseph’s sons and worshipping God? Why is it important for younger Christians to see older believers worshipping God?
[1] Refer Derek Kidner’s commentary on Genesis, page 117.
[2] Sarna quoted in Bruce Waltke’s commentary on Genesis, page 591.
[3] Refer Bruce Waltke’s commentary on Genesis, page 327.
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