Jacob's Lord Who Journeys With Us! Genesis 46:1-7

Second Sunday After Christmas                                       2-January-2022
Sermon Text: Genesis 46:1-7
Sermon Theme: “Jacob’s Lord Who Journeys With Us!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “You shall not murder” The Lord God protects human life from the moment of conception to the point of natural death. Contrary to the good and gracious will of our Creator - the devil, the world, and yes even our own sinful flesh thinks death solves our problems. In today’s Gospel we hear of wicked King Herod slaughtering baby boys two years and under in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. Herod didn’t want his lavish lifestyle threatened by a Baby Boy proclaimed King by a star. His slaughter keeps him in charge, but the mothers of Bethlehem weep for their little sons are no more. A mother who losses a child through illness, miscarriage, or an accident know what the it is to “weep for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
        “We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm or neighbor in his body.” God the Holy Spirit warns us through the pen of St. Peter that the world will treat Christians just as it treated Christ Jesus. You are marked men and women. Beloved by the Lord, you will be falsely accused and hated by the world. Satan will rally his lies and stir up anti Christian power and propaganda to persecute you for bearing Christ’s Name. Speaking of Jesus to others will be classified as “hate speech” dangerous to society. Gathering together to hear Christ in His Word ministering to us through His gifts will be classified as non-essential. Credible news reports tell us that in 2020 their was a 60% rise in Christians murdered for their faith. In 2021 “Open Doors found over 340 million Christians facing “high levels of persecution” across the globe, which works out to one-eighth of the total Christian population.” The world, spurred on by Satan, has no problem hurting or harming Christians in their bodies with words, deeds, lock downs, and forcing them to violate conscience.
          We are marked men and women. Marked with the sign of Christ’s Cross - His victory is ours. If we suffer for His Name’s sake we rejoice for being counted worthy to bear the same reproach as Jesus. Under suffering we trust God’s will. He is our faithful Creator and our life is in His hands. Strengthened by His Spirit through Christ Jesus we continue to do good to those who hate us.
            Joseph, Jacob’s son, learned this truth under the cross. Hated by his brothers for being his father’s favorite. Beaten and sold into slavery by his brothers he suffered hurt and harm in his body. Faithful in his duties as a slave for Potiphar, he is falsely accused and imprisoned for nearly two decades. Meanwhile his father mourns his death, refusing to be comforted. A father who losses a son through family strife knows Jacob’s grief. Joseph trusting the Lord’s good and gracious will. Forgives his brothers and seeks to reconcile his family. He longs to see his father Israel again.
    On this ninth day of Christmas rejoice for Life has come! His Name is Jesus! He is :”Jacob’s Lord Who Journeys With Us!”
      Imagine Israel’s surprise. The son for whom he had mourned as dead for at least three decades, is reported alive. Not only alive, but second only to Pharaoh ruling Egypt. He doesn’t seek to get even with his brothers and their families, but to save their lives. The famine in that entire region would last for a few more years. Joseph invites his family to join him that he may provide for them. At first Israel cannot believe the news brought by his sons. It is only when he sees the carts sent by Joseph to reconcile the family, that he believes. Gen 45:28 Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
        Israel knows that he will die. He will not deny the truth that the wages of sin is death. No vaccine. No mandates. No medical interventions can prolong our life past the point that the Lord has set for our death. (Vs.1) What does Israel do preparing for death? He comes to Beersheba - the southern most point in the land promised to grandfather Abraham. Like his father Isaac, and his grandfather - he builds an altar to offer sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Preparing for death - he goes to church. His father had taught him this, having learned it from his father Abraham. Study the historically accurate record of Genesis. Where Abraham journeys he builds altars - chapels - to sacrifice unto the Lord God who had called him. These sacrifices weren’t to appease God by the work of slaughtering an innocent lamb. They confessed God’s promise to Abraham. The Seed would be born from Abraham’s descendants. God the Holy Spirit explains it through the pen of St. Paul, “Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "AND TO YOUR SEED," who is Christ.” The sacrifice for sin would be offered and the family would feast on its roasted flesh. Here the Lord was preaching not only of their deliverance from Egypt by the blood of the Passover lamb nearly five centuries later. God the Holy Spirit taught them of Jesus - “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” His sacrifice would free them from the slavery to sin, the fear of death, Satan’s lies, and hell.
          Isaac had moved the family down to Beersheba during a famine. Worshiping the Lord through sacrifice, God told him not to go down to Egypt. Israel now waited. He would not continue on his journey if it was not according to God’s Word. (Vs. 2) The Lord calls him by the name given to him by Isaac and Rebekah. Jacob - the trickster. The Lord knows all that Jacob has done, but the Lord in grace will not turn His back on him. He calls him. Jacob simply responds, “Here I am,” and waits to hear God’s Word spoken to him. Learn from Jacob, not only to come to Church and fix your eyes on Jesus. Listen to the Word Christ speaks to you. Not in dreams or visions. St. Peter teaches you, “2Pe 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; (20) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, (21) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Joseph, step-father and guardian of Jesus and His mother Mary. Is warned in a dream by an angel, but he will not journey apart from God’s written Word. “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Learn from these fathers to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word of God so that you may discern the path where Jesus leads you on your journey.
      Who speaks to Jacob? (Vs.3-4) “I Am God!” Our Lord God doesn’t change. God the Holy Spirit teaches you who this is speaking to Jacob, “Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” God’s love for you in Jesus doesn’t change. His Word cannot be broken. The promise sealed upon you in baptism - stands. He is faithful and will not deny Himself.
        Jacob and his family would not be alone. Our Lord speaks His Word - “do not fear” “I will make you” “I will go down with you” “I will also surely bring you up again.” The pagans of Jacob’s day imagined that their false gods were regional. Once you left their territory they no longer could help you. Our God, our Jesus, is the Creator of heaven and earth - He is with us always - even to the end of the world. He is really present in His Word and His saving Works of baptism, absolution, Gospel preaching, and the Lord’s Supper. The Lord would bring the family back together in Egypt. He would bring the family back to the promised land. Here Jacob learns that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, tending His people on their journey through a sin corrupted death filled world - to bring them safely home to the promised heavenly land of the life of the world to come.
        Christ Jesus promises Jacob a final blessing. As his journey ends this side of eternity, his beloved son Joseph would be at his death bed. Breathing his last as the Lord bears him Home through death - Joseph would close his eyes. The last act of love and honor shown a parent to be at their death bed, thanking God for the gift of father and mother as we close their eyes. It is a blessed gift for fathers as they are dying to see their family reconciled as he breathes his last. This reconciliation isn’t his doing - it is God’s gift in the forgiving blood of Jesus. Dear Christian don’t neglect your duty to honor your parents, your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, by tending to them as they are dying.
      Jacob awakes and travels forward in Christ’s promise. (Vs.5-7) He has been given a new name - “Israel” - “God Prevails”- Christ’s promise to him that He is His Strength and Salvation. He would fulfill His promise to Jacob and his family. Jacob brings all his family to Egypt that the Lord’s promise might be fulfilled in Christ Jesus. On the Second Sunday of Christmas we see the young boy Jesus following the same path. Death pursues Him, his father Joseph is warned in a dream verified by the written Word of God. They journey to Egypt that Jesus might retrace the steps that He walked shepherding Israel and his descendants. Our Lord Jesus journeys with us. He helps and support us in every bodily need - through His Word preached within His Church preparing us for the final journey through death and the grave to life eternal on the day of the resurrection of all flesh. He washes us new again every morning in our baptism. He feeds us the Bread of Heaven - His living flesh and blood in bread and wine. We are forgiven. We have life - beyond our death bed. We have salvation - it is His gift to us at Christmas and through out every season of the Church Year. Amen.