Sermon Cloud

 5-23-10

Shadows of the Shepherd

GENESIS 46-47

INTRODUCTION

There is a curious statement in this passage about the Egyptians not being fond of shepherds. Now we’re not told specifics as to why. Most commentators guess that it is a cultic superstition having to do with the sacrifice of sheep and possibly even related to the uncleanness of foreigners. Either way, that’s interesting to me because the image of a shepherd and sheep is crucial to the story of redemption and Egypt figures in that story as the house of slavery. 

THE SHEPHERD LEADS THE SHEEP IN AND OUT (46)

THE SHEEP KNOW THAT THEY ARE SOJOURNERS (47)

The Big Idea is that the Good Shepherd alone leads his sheep in and out of the valley of the shadow of death.

Egypt is the place of slavery. Certainly Jacob thought of it as a place of death, as he reflected on how his forefathers related to it. 

DOCTRINE

THE SHEPHERD LEADS THE SHEEP IN AND OUT (46)

Israel’s Shepherd Renews the Covenant

Jacob intentionally camps at Beersheba

Where Abraham had worshiped in his dealings with the pagans

[21:23-35, TURN] Expelled from Egypt / Admired by Philistines 

Where Isaac had commemorated the covenant

[26:3, 24, 28, TURN] Blocked from Egypt / Envied by Philistines 

The only God, the God of your father

[Gen. 48:15] “the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day…”

Don’t fear: I’ll make of you that great nation—in Egypt!

Growth of the nation will happen among the hostile peoples

[Ps. 23:5] “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

By the time they left Egypt to return, 600,000 men made up Israel: meaning at least 2 million when you include the women and children.

I will be with you: I will cause you to go in and come out. 

A reminder of the invincible nature of God’s promise

[Rom. 11:29] “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

[Gen. 15:13-15] “Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions. As for yourself, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

[Jer. 31:10-11] Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’ For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Israel’s Offspring Come into Egypt

The Leah and Rachel breakdown – 70 in all 

This doesn’t include wives, only actual descendents of Israel (27b)

Are ancient names boring to you? They are not uninteresting to God: with them He teaches us that He will never forget a single one of his children!

[Ex. 33:17] “And the LORD said to Moses, ‘This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

Now Judah is sent ahead of Israel (recognizing his special place)

Joseph and Jacob’s reunion

Reminds us again that we cannot look for the greatest joys in life outside of God’s big plan, but in it. 

Some guesses as to the “shepherd-hating” [Kidner, 221]

Bitter memories of the Hyksos rulers, thought of as “Shepherd-kings”

More likely, it’s the natural antipathy toward wanderers, gypsies, etc. 

THE SHEEP KNOW THAT THEY ARE SOJOURNERS (47)

Israel Blesses and is a Blessing to Egypt

Joseph’s strategy within God’s will

Joseph’s strategy assumes this common sense: evangelism by excellence:

[1 Pet. 2:11-17, TURN] As sojourners…be a gospel-example to the world

[1 Tim. 2:1-2] “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

Answer “shepherd” so that we can stay in an obscured land where we can grow uninhibited.

Mission by Separation: Israel at its best, was Separate but a Blessing:

[Jer. 29:4-7] “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

Jacob’s fitting gesture

Instead of bowing down, Jacob gives [cf. Gen. 12:2]

Age was revered: yet he describes his 130 years as “few and evil,” suggesting a higher standard than even this, that he knew the secret of!

Joseph Continues to Deal Shrewdly

Pharaoh owned all the land in theory anyway:

Joseph’s economic savvy simply put this into practice.

[Lk. 16:8, 10-11] “For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light…One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?”

Moral dilemma? Not really. A generous “tax bracket” compared to modern industrialized states. 

[Prov. 16:7] “When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

*** SOJOURNERS aren’t lazy or unconcerned with excellence. Because they’re sojourners, therefore Joseph’s strategy, Jacob’s blessing and long term plans!

Jacob’s Eternal Perspective

Israel is used for the first time of the whole family: “they…” (v. 27)

Kidner suggests that the Hebrew is better rendered…

“When I sleep with my fathers…you shall burry me…”

Distinguishing the biblical worldview from the Egyptian: our rituals do not secure eternal life, but symbolize what God alone can promise.

The dying saint’s perspective

More concerned about the future of God’s people than any fear of the afterlife;

But only because of that very eternal perspective!

Repeat the Big Idea: the Good Shepherd alone leads his sheep in and out of the valley of the shadow of death.

So consider the sojourners action in light of the Shepherd’s action—the sojourner’s life is a response to the Good Shepherd. In the shadow of the Shepherd, the sheep become shepherds themselves—spiritual giants walking in a world of sheep and goat / sheep and wolves. Those sheep who see the Shepherd, watching his movements carefully, become more than sheep. 

APPLICATION

To the Mission of the Whole Church – Also, in two-hundred years, the chosen family went from one man to seventy souls. In the next few centuries (just double that same amount of time), it would go from seventy to two-million! God works fast and huge in short bits of time, but He also takes his time laying the foundation with a core of people. If this is the way the Good Shepherd works, then we shouldn’t expect or desire a different approach in our own shepherding. 

To the Mission of the Individual Christian – the story of Joseph is often used to speak of excellence and the welfare of the city. We have focused on the sense in which Joseph is a sign of Jesus. This is not either/or. However, that does not mean that the order doesn’t matter. Joseph was not a “missional-failure.” And yet, not a word about any Egyptian converts. There may have been, but that isn’t the main thing God wants us to see.