THE GOD WHO SURPRISES

Text: Genesis 48:11

Introduction: My mother spent the closing years of her earthly life in a nursing home in Buffalo, New York. On one of our visits, we walked into a big birthday celebration with TV cameras recording the event. It was a birthday party for the oldest person in western New York. This Czech woman was 109 years old, and her son who attended the party was 75.

When Jacob came to the end of his life in Egypt, he was 147—38 years older than the woman in the nursing home. And when we come to the closing chapters in the book of Genesis, we read about three father-and-son visits in Genesis 47–49. Each chapter is about what was on the heart of this patriarch who realized his life was almost over. In Genesis 47, he discussed with Joseph where he wanted to be buried—not in Egypt, but at home in Canaan in Hebron. In Genesis 48, the topic is Jacob’s spiritual legacy. He shared what he had learned about God the Father in his 147 years. And in the 49th chapter, the sons gathered around his bed to receive a final prophetic blessing. Today, I want to look at the Genesis 48 visit.

1.    The call to the sick room (48:1-2). Joseph decided to take along his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to see their grandfather on his sick bed. It could be the last visit with their grandfather. It was a wise decision on Joseph’s part, because these two young men were able to hear their grandfather share his spiritual legacy.

2.    The spiritual legacy (chapters 42–45). Earlier in this story, Jacob’s sons made two trips between Canaan and Egypt to buy grain from the Egyptian leader, who later revealed himself as their brother Joseph. One of Joseph’s demands on his brothers was that they bring his younger brother Benjamin on the next trip. When they told their father, Jacob rebelled against the idea: “You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me” (42:36). But when Jacob learned that his son Joseph was alive, he saw the providential hand of God. Thus he wanted to give his testimony before he died.

• God is sufficient—“God Almighty” (Gen. 48:3). This is El Shaddai. This was the first thing Jacob wanted Joseph and the boys to remember. Though there was a famine in Canaan, providentially there were full silos in Egypt—and providentially his son had the keys! El Shaddai took care of him and his family. And out of thanksgiving to God, Jacob would double the land legacy for Joseph through his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.

  Then Jacob shared his heart about Joseph’s mother Rachel. Nothing had probably been more painful for Jacob than to have Rachel die in giving birth to Benjamin. Listen to his words: “I buried her there on the way to . . . Bethlehem” (48:7). You can hear the pain even though it had been many years ago. Before he died, he wanted Joseph to know that God Almighty is sufficient to help in life’s most difficult hour.

• God surprises (48:11). And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!” God surprised Jacob in so many ways. His long lost son Joseph alive! A new home in his senior years—Goshen. An audience with the Pharaoh of Egypt, and grandchildren he didn’t know he had. And the surprises all began with an oxcart loaded with the best goods of Egypt (Gen. 45:17-24). Charles Swindoll comments on this scene: “The text says that ‘He was stunned.’ Some translators say ‘His heart fainted.’ The Hebrew says, literally, ‘His heart grew numb.’ I personally think the aging gentleman . . . had a mild coronary” (Joseph, p.156). Then Jacob’s spirit revived. Jacob knew the story of Joseph being alive was true when he saw the oxcarts. This was reminiscent of his grandfather Abraham’s story when he was asked to do the hardest act imaginable: sacrifice his son Isaac. But when he saw a ram in the thicket, he knew God was Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides.

  God is still surprising his people in the 21st century. Our daughter is a single parent who often wonders how she will make it. One year ago, close friends invited her to join them for a family vacation. On the last morning at the breakfast table, she found the information booklet for a brand new car. It wasn’t an oxcart but a new Pontiac. She later shared her amazement at the God who surprised her. “I think the best part was sitting there and looking at that car and being in awe and thankful, almost confused by what had just happened. I could hear God say, ‘Lori, is this really a surprise to you? I parted the Red Sea—a car, that’s easy!’ ” God is still surprising His children today. Look for it, and expect it!

• God is sovereign (48:14). “Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.” Joseph was upset and attempted to change the hands of blessing, but God in His sovereignty was guiding the aged hands of Jacob. And once again the elder shall serve the younger. When he sensed the consternation of Joseph, Jacob said it this way: “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations” (48:19).

• God is a Good Shepherd (48:15). Jacob had one remaining part of his spiritual legacy to bestow, and he simply said, “The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, . . . bless the lads,” The niv translates it: “The God who has been my shepherd.”

Conclusion: Jacob had a roller coaster ride spiritually. And yet at the end of his life he shared profound truths about God. He was heading home to the God he praised as sufficient, surprising, sovereign, and the Good Shepherd. This is our heavenly Father, who “knows that you need all these things” (Matt. 6:32). We can depend on Him.