Title: The Last Moment of Jacob
If we could define Joseph’s view of life in one word, he lived a life of a sojourner thoroughly (Gen 47:8-9). And after he had been with Joseph for 17 years, at the age of 147, he too had to follow the path that all the faith ancestors had gone through (Gen 47:28-30). Gen 48:14-16 describes Jacob’s last moments, but the essence of Jacob’s last moments can be found in Gen 48:21. Today I will share God’s grace through Jacob’s life, especially how he prepared for the last moment.
- It teaches us that man is a finite creature
People cannot last forever. Our lives are not eternal, but temporary. We are only finite beings. Therefore, while we live on this earth, we must have a mindset of sojourner. Heb 11 talks about the faith ancestors, and it says that if they including Abraham had considered this land his hometown, he had a chance to return. He could have gone back and build a nice house or so. However, these faith ancestors believed and lived in the eternal kingdom of heaven as their hometown (Heb 11:13-15).
We have received the Word of eternal life and therefore, we are blessed to believe that eternal life is our blessing. However, in general; God has confirmed so many times that man’s life is finite. From the moment we are born, the cell in our body grows old and eventually we will become weak and fragile (Jms 4:14; Psa 90:10). However, look at the people in the world: The worldly people who have not met Jesus Christ, does not know the Word of eternal life, does not know there is a blessing of eternal life. Yet, they live like they have an infinite life. Therefore, to think that man’s life is infinite is the result of being deceived by Satan.
A person who realizes that life is finite has no choice but to be honest with it. He can’t help but be grateful that he can live each day. I pray that we realize that we are sojourners in this world so that we may live the rest of our life with honesty and gratefulness before God.
- It teaches us the principle of God’s Word (Gen 3:17-19).
Originally, when God created man, he made it immortal. If God is pleased with you, why would you kill him? But because of the sin of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, we have become an immortal being.
However, Enoch the 7th generation descendant of Adam, did not die and transfigured. And as to the reason, Heb 11:5 explains that Enoch received a testimony that was pleasing to God. That is, only when we receive the evidence that pleases God can we overcome death, the price of our sins, and enter the world of eternal life (Heb 11:5-6).
1 Jhn 4:20 says that if we hate our brothers, we cannot love God who is invisible. 1 Jhn 3:15 says that if we hate our brothers, we have no eternal life. The founding pastor explained to us that if we have enemies in our life, if we hate our brothers and sisters, we cannot please God. Thus, we will be banned from receiving the blessing of transfiguration.
Why do we believe in Jesus? Through Jesus, we learn to forgive our brothers and sisters, furthermore we learned to forgive our enemies. We cannot forgive our enemies naturally, but through the love and grace we received from Jesus, and by the faith in Jesus, we will be empowered to forgive our enemies. And through such, we will receive salvation, eternal life, the blessing of transfiguration.
- It teaches us that until God’s purpose is fulfilled on this earth, the earth always rotates (Gen 8:22).
The Bible says that while the earth remains, spring, summer, fall, and winter come and go. Day and night will never cease. It means that until God’s purpose is fulfilled, the earth continually rotates. This understanding is expressed by Jacob in Gen 48:21. “I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.”
It means that even if I die, God will never stop working. He will fulfill His plan, and all the promises He had given to us.
We are talking about Jacob’s last will. What can and what will you say to your family for your last will?
From dramas, we have seen many times that I have a property, it should go to which son. I have some savings in my bank account, it should go to which and which son or daughter, etc etc. However, look at Jacob. He was transmitting the faith to his sons that even if I die today, God is alive, and He will be faithful to all His promises. Isn’t this the true example of living by faith and believing in God who is living and working? (Gen 48:15-16)
It means that Jacob was entrusting his descendants to God who grew him and protected him (Gen 32:28).
Jacob had experienced that God who is living. Therefore, he wants his children to have such God. God was known as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Here, Jacob is asking God to become the God of Joseph.
Let’s look back at our lives. Are we 100% sure that God has guided us, and protected us? Then, we have to transmit such God to our children.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 