Sermons
Vander Kam on Genesis 49:22-26
Sermons
Vander Kam on Genesis 49:22-26Genesis 49:22-26 – "'Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a spring;
Its branches run over a wall.
The archers bitterly attacked him,
And shot at him and harassed him;
But his bow remained firm,
And his arms were agile,
From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
From the God of your father who helps you,
And by the Almighty who blesses you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
The blessings of your father
Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills;
May they be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.'"
(New American Standard Bible)
Beloved in the Lord: when we come to the story that is told concerning the man Joseph, then we are dealing with something of course, that is also one of the most beautiful stories in all literature. And that it is also true that every child is also able to understand it, and that every child also delights in it, and especially in the way in which it turns out. And that we may also know that it is the hand of God that has so led, that he has been led in such a way even though it has gone through deep ways, that finally it leads him to the very throne of Egypt.
But at the same time beloved, we are also to realize that in that life of Joseph there is also one of the greatest problems that Scripture touches upon, dealt with. And that it is one of the great problems that is still before us to the present day, that we are still not able to decipher, that it is still that kind of a problem that keeps theologians and philosophers busy, that it is the kind of a problem to which we are seldom able to find a solution, and that is the problem of evil.
The problem of evil in the life of an individual; why is it, how does it come about, how is it possible that these things are going to be when there is a God who is a God of love, and that is the God who is in control over all things.
We speak then to you tonight on, Joseph, The Problem Of Evil. Then we notice in the first place, the approach; secondly, the evidence; thirdly, the blessing; and finally, the solution.
Now here at this particular time beloved, as is also well known of course, but those are the things that we are also to see in the story before us, that this is of the child that Jacob loves above all the others. This is the child for which he has longed, and this is the child of his favorite wife, this is the child of Rachel.
And now this man is as it were, in ecstasy, now that he has this child and has this child in his old age. And God has now also finally remembered Rachel and that she has also borne him a son. And this is the kind of a love that he now shows which is very unwise, but nevertheless the kind of a love that we are also able in a measure to understand, and that there is also very little that he has in response from his other sons. There seems to be very little communication between the others and Jacob their father. But now this man Joseph, this boy, comes and this is the boy of his old age and the boy of his love.
Herein he again sees that God has taken away the reproach of Rachel, and that He has thereby also taken away his own reproach, and that now from her, from the one whom he loved, from her has he now received this child. And this is the thing that he now demonstrates in various ways, so that it is also apparent to everyone of course, that this is his favorite. And then it is always unwise, wherever there is that kind of a partiality, wherever there is that kind of a favoritism, there there is always an unwise love; it may still be love, but it certainly is unwise. And those are the kind of things beloved, that are also clearly before us in the case of Joseph.
So that now his father makes him this coat, and that is the coat that has become famous, and that is the coat that is also well known to every child here in the audience, that coat of many colors that he is to wear. This is now to be a royal cloak, this is the one who is now to have the kind of a place so that it is virtually royalty, and the father is also able to afford it, and he now bestows it all upon this child, upon this son.
But of course, clothes don't make the man! And you could put a kingly robe on somebody, but that doesn't make him a king. And Jacob is also able to come to his own choosing and his own choice is this, this is the one. And God says, Judah is. And here he now puts this robe upon this child and this is the child of his love, the child that is now going to receive all the favors of his father. This is also at the same time the kind of a thing of course, that arouses the ire of all the others. And that we may also realize that Jacob and Joseph dream, but that the other brothers remain very sober. And that these two, Jacob and Joseph, dream of great things, that they dream concerning the future, that they dream concerning the end of the life of Jacob, what it is going to be like. And as a result of that, they also have ever so many fanciful things, while the brothers look upon it very soberly.
And there is that ire that is aroused within them, and that we may also realize that this is the kind of a boy who is old long before his age, long before his time. He is the one who receives visions, he receives dreams, and he can't help that. He can't help it that God speaks, he can't help it that God speaks to him directly, and he can't help it either that that is a revelation of the Most High, but it is an enormous burden for this seventeen year old to carry. And he doesn't know how to carry it.
And as a result of that he now makes it known. That was not the thing that had now been delivered to him in order that he might publish it. There are revelations that are not to be published, and there are revelations with which publication you are to wait. But these are the kind of things that are now given to this immature lad. Here he now comes right into the presence of God Himself, and here he has that tremendous weight upon his shoulders, that he has now received the dreams concerning the future.
Not only that, but he also begins to speak to their father about the evil deeds of the others. And they're all true! And there are also ever so many things that are true that should never be said. Of course, says the apostle, that we are to speak the truth, yes, in love, and otherwise you'd better keep still. Because, speaking the truth is thereby also to cause such an ire to be aroused that it is going to develop into its opposite. And those are the things that Joseph experienced. So that they rise up against him, and they of course, cast aside the Gospel together with the herald. They cast aside the dreams together with the dreamer, because he has no place in their scheme of things.
Now that is the kind of an approach that is used here by Jacob and that is also used by Joseph. In order that they may also get to the bottom of this question concerning the evil that is in the world, and how is it possible ever to come to a solution of that problem. And then of course, it is the best, seemingly, that you are going to seek the truth, and let the truth fall, let the chips fall where they may. And at the same time it is this that causes such an uprising, that it virtually wipes out any good that might ever come.
This father, who is so partial, and favors the one so far above all the others, is the one who is rebuked so that he says to Pharaoh, "A hundred and forty-seven years, and they have been evil, evil." Because you have to be careful with the gifts of God. God had given so much to him, had given so much to him in his old age in this son. Had given so much to Joseph in the various dreams that He had spoken to him, but when you have these gifts of God, these are the ones that bring tremendous responsibility, and these responsibilities also have to be assumed in the light of the word that He has given. And that we will therefore also use them in such a way so that they will attain to their purpose.
Notice in the second place also, the evidence of that problem of evil. And the evidence of that beloved, is so very marked in the life of Joseph. We find it already of course, at the time when he is sold into slavery by his own brothers. That it is even a matter of life and death and that it is even very close to this, that they are going to snuff out his life; that is in fact the plan. And then through the circumstances, it becomes this, that they sell him, and that he is even sold cheaper than my Lord. That he is sold for twenty pieces of silver in order that he may so be deposited in Egypt, in order that he may never bother them again with the various dreams that he dreams.
He comes into the house of Potiphar, and now we would also say here, it is the hand of God that is leading so that this boy, even though he has been trodden under foot, and even though he has now been sold into slavery, that nevertheless God is with him and He upholds him and gives him now a place of prominence. And here in this house of Potiphar, here you find the great temptation when the wife of Potiphar now tempts him to sin. And she did it, says Moses, every day again; not once, but every day again, and that is a strong temptation. That is the kind of a temptation to which the great majority would have succumbed, but Joseph has a very keen sense of right and wrong, and he places God right between them. And he says, "How can I do this great evil and sin against God?" But the badge of his innocence becomes the token of his guilt. And his garment is left behind and she uses it as proof.
Now how far is God going to allow things to go? He is in control, and he is now faced with the problem of evil and is able to find no daylight whatsoever. It is something that is dark, that is so black, that there is seemingly no answer to all the various problems that arise, and is now placed in a dungeon. And yet at the same time that we will also realize that even though here is the one evidence after another concerning this, that evil that comes into his life and that is there permitted, that nevertheless he here also has that same noble character that he also showed in the house of Potiphar.
And that it is here again beloved, that he is going to uphold the honor of his God. And that even at that tender age he is standing alone, standing alone in a heathen country, standing alone in the midst of all idolatry, and he says, "How can I do this evil and sin against my God!" And they say, "that wouldn't be hard at all." But he can't do it. And even here in the prison he is neglected, here he is forgotten; here even the cupbearer of the king, though he has so much to thank Joseph for, nevertheless forgets about him completely. And then is there not the reason and is there not reason aplenty that the soul is going to cry out to God and say, "Lord, how long, how long shall it be until Thou dost enter in and dost set things straight!"
But it goes farther. And we so many a time of course, read the history of his life, and then look upon it and see what a glorious ending it had. Joseph doesn't know that at this time. He doesn't know anything about that, he doesn't know whether anything is ever going to come out of it, he doesn't know whether there is ever going to be a good ending, or whether the ending is going to be as it seems now, and that is, that he is going to perish in a dungeon in Egypt. That he is there completely forgotten, and that also in the eyes of his father, long dead.
He stands as a slave before Pharaoh. That is the position that he now has, that he is standing there as a slave before that monarch, when he now has to give him advice concerning the years of plenty and the years of famine that are going to come. Here again, it is this, that he has gone to the very depths, and God has allowed it. How far will He let him go! And that is the way the child of God cries out through every age. Job also cried out concerning that, "Lord, how long; is there no righteousness anymore; has God forgotten to be kind; will His mercies always cease?" Those are the thoughts of a Joseph in prison.
When it is not by virtue of his own deeds necessarily that he has now landed in this place, in this place that is strange. That he has now landed here in prison, while he is totally guiltless, and that he is now standing before this monarch of Egypt. Now other clothes have to be given to him, and that kingly robe that his father had made him at the beginning no longer holds, that is long gone. Clothes don't make the man, but is rather this, that he must now have other clothes because he isn't even fit, even fitly dressed to stand before the king of Egypt. He has to shame, says Moses, to change his clothes so that there is somewhat of a decent appearance, as he stands there in the palace. How long is it going to go on!
The problem of evil, beloved, is something that is very strong, and that is indeed very clear in the life of the man Joseph. And that God allows it to go on step by step by step, until you would almost say there is no return, until you would almost say there is now no possibility that he is ever going to be taken out of this difficulty into which he has come. And then you read Revelation 5, and we're going to come back to that too. There John says, "I saw it there, in heaven, in visions, and the book was in the hands of the One that sat on the throne. And it was sealed, seven seals on it. Nobody could open it or look thereon, until there comes the Christ. He taketh it. He says, 'Give me that book,' and He breaks the seals. He has these things in His hands, also the problem of evil that is contained in that book.
Thirdly, notice also, the blessings that are given. Now in the words of our text beloved, you have here the wording of the blessing that is given to Joseph. And we are to realize that because of the fact that this is the favorite of Jacob, that this is the one to whom he also desires to give the greatest blessing. That is, that he may be able to give him the blessing that had also come to himself; that blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and that that blessing may now be given to Joseph. And God says, "No!" And then when these sons appear before him as he is now dying, and now he sees in the background all the things that have taken place, and that he says, "Judah, thou art the one!" And that just about cost him his life, because he didn't care to give it to Judah. He was going to give it to Joseph.
But Jacob's choosing is not God's election. See! Jacob's choice is not God's election. And consequently, he gets nowhere. And as a result of that beloved, also the blessing that is now to be given to him, that is going to be a blessing entirely different from that of Judah. It is the kind of a blessing that you would also look upon first of all and you would say, here there is also ever so much given. Because as far as the length of it is concerned it rivals that which has been given to Judah. And now this man becomes as it were poetic, and he is speaking concerning all the blessings that are going to devolve upon Joseph. And these blessings are going to be so many; they are going to be so great; these are going to be blessings that are blessings indeed. And six times, he speaks of blessings, and he uses five different names for the name of God. And when it is all said and done, then all that it is, is the material blessing. And the six material blessings, and five times calling upon the name of God, does not even begin to approach the nature and value of the blessing given to Judah concerning Shiloh.
It is as though he is here using words freely and is using them poetically, and is using them in such a way as though he would also give the impression that the blessing of Joseph is going to be great, this is the boy of his dreams. No. God says, "It is Judah." And Joseph will have to be satisfied with the natural blessing.
He is as a bough, and a bough that runs over the wall, so that you are not even able to contain him in the enclosure in which you have planted him. It is as a vine that is running over the wall, so that his blessing is going to be great. He has been shot at, says Jacob, by the archers and they have wounded him, but nevertheless he has overcome and that especially by the might of his father Jacob. And now he is groping for words in order to give the semblance of a richness of blessing, and it isn't there. Oh, the blessing that is given to him is not much more than the blessing to Zebulun.
The blessing that is given to Joseph, beloved, is all contained in this one thing, that they are going to be the material benefits that he is going to receive, and he certainly received them. And that they are going to be benefits of that nature so that they are not even going to be able to be contained, and that is the way God usually gives. He gives so abundantly, and therefore there is nothing new. He gives in such a way so that indeed this is the one who has also been sheltered even in the midst of danger. But Judah, "Thou art the one! And to him shall the obedience of the peoples be, and he shall rule, and the ruler's staff is going to be given to him, until Shiloh come out of Judah." And Joseph has nothing of that.
So that, in the final analysis beloved, it is this, that even though Leah is the one who is despised, and though she is also the one who is to bear reproach, and though her sons are also the ones who bring ever so much grief, both in the life of Leah and also in the life of Jacob, that nevertheless in the final analysis it is yet Leah who triumphs. And it is Leah, Jacob says later on, that I also want to be buried in the cave of Machpelah. There Abraham is buried and Sarah, his wife. And there Isaac is buried, and Rebekah, his wife. "And there I buried Leah, and may my bones also be there in that cave in Machpelah." And under a tree at Bethlehem, Rachel's grave was to be found. Blessings of Joseph? No. They're not there. The blessings? Yes, materially, horizontally, not that vertical line unto God. And that makes the problem of evil for Jacob even so much more intense.
And finally, notice also the solution. The solution, beloved, that has to be found in this problem is this, that Joseph saves Judah in Egypt by giving him food, and Judah saves Joseph, out of Egypt. I have called my Son out of Egypt. Joseph will also finally have to look to that Judah, will finally have to look there, to that Shiloh. And that is the only salvation of Joseph too regardless how many coats he has. Regardless how often he is elected to prime minister of Egypt. Nevertheless the redemption comes not out of Egypt, and the redemption comes not being the first minister of Pharaoh, but the redemption comes out of Judah, and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.
And those are the kind of things that Joseph must also ponder, that he must absorb. That he must absorb even while he is there in prison, that he must absorb also later on when you have again that very distressing thing, that God is doing everything backwards. And that he brings his own sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob in order that they may be blessed, and that old man who can't even see anymore, crosses his hands, mind you, in order that his right hand may lay upon the lesser. God does everything backwards!
So that they may learn to hope in something else, and may also realize that it is not their own logic that is finally going to lead them out of the problem that has come into their lives, out of that problem of evil. But that it is finally going to be faith; believers' stuff. Again; we are also to realize, beloved, that this is the man who has come to such honor here in Egypt, this Joseph. This is the man who could have had a pyramid built to him, so that you and I might be able to look at his mummified form even today for fifty cents admission.
Now; what is the solution in his mind? It is this, "that when ye depart out of Egypt, take my bones along." Casting his lot with the people of God. Now, says Hebrews, therein is he the hero of faith. Not in anything before that, but in this, that he would have his bones buried in Canaan, and not in Egypt, not in foreign soil. That he still belongs to Jacob's lineage, and that he still belongs to that land, that land that God had given to him and to his fathers. Judah isn't mentioned among the heroes of faith. The only one of the sons of Jacob that is mentioned among them in Hebrews 11 is Joseph. And then only in regards to this, that he has given commandment concerning his bones, that these are to be taken away and therefore not mummified, therefore not in a pyramid, but set aside the quickest way that you will get, the situation that there shall arise a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph.
And at the same time, that it may also be a reminder to the people of God as long as they are there, that they are going back, that God has not forgotten His promise, but that even though He has led them along such detours, the like of which they had never dreamt; that nevertheless they are again going to come into the land that He had sworn to give to their fathers as their inheritance forever.
And then we again read Revelation 5. And then we realize beloved, that everything depends on this: who is going to open the book of history, open the book of God, open that book that formed history, not only the record of it, but formed it. And then I saw Elias, who is a lamb, the Christ, the Son of Judah. He comes to the throne and says, "Give Me the book," and He takes it and rips apart the seals. And as He had opened this seal I saw this, and when He had opened that seal I saw that. He opens the whole world's history. The problem of evil was real in their life. And as Joseph is there in the midst of it beloved, whether in Potiphar's house or whether in the dungeon, or whether he is sitting upon the throne of Egypt, nevertheless the problem is real. He sees it again when his brothers come before him, but it is this, "Ye meant it for evil, but God meant it for good!" And He got His way. Because it turned out that way.
We stand before these problems time and again in our own lives and also in the lives of others. And we say now, "Is there any logic in it?" No. No. These things are not solved by logic. Has God forgotten to be kind? No. No. The solution to the problem comes only through Jesus Christ. He works out His purposes; He works out His ideas, His goals, and He attains them. Jacob had set great goals for Joseph, and especially in the far distant future. Now Joseph's name is even lost, and instead has to give his name to Manasseh, Ephraim. Those are the ones which are going to be mentioned among the twelve tribes of Israel. He had great things in mind; God says, "Jacob, I told you it was Judah." And that Judah is not among the heroes of faith, has sinned deeply, and that is the one who is going to bring Shiloh, the Messiah, into the world.
So that when we stand before that whole problem of evil, which has kept theologians and philosophers busy throughout the centuries, we can only kneel, worship, obey, believe. Amen.
We thank Thee heavenly Father, for Thy Word, and we pray that it may be sanctified to our hearts. That thus we may grow in Thy grace, in Thy knowledge, that we may thus be drawn ever closer to Thee, and that we may also walk in Thy ways. Bless us further; forgive our sins, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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