Faith That Passes the Blessing

0:00Good morning. I love uh hearing all of the all of the little ones speaking out. They were speaking in Sunday school uh as well, and we were we were joking. Uh this church is following the uh a kind of different church growth model. Uh we're just gonna have a bunch of babies and grow a church that way, which is fine by me. So praise God for that blessing. Uh turn to Hebrews. Um we're still in chapter 11. Not that that's a disappointment for you, I hope. Uh, but you're gonna hear a sermon, I think the past few weeks, uh maybe you felt that my sermons have been basically the same, and and there's some nuance differences between them, but when we're talking about faith uh and the different ways in which faith uh manifests itself in our lives and the way in which we see it work out in the lives of patriarchs and certainly in our lives, it is going to feel similar. So I can't avoid that. But uh this this morning we're we're talking again about faith. Uh verses 20 to 22. We're gonna cover three verses uh this morning. And one of the more uh interesting and revealing things about uh the Bible, uh our holy scriptures, is that it is not just a bunch of random stories, right? This word that we have is not just a bunch of random stories about and written by a bunch of random people. There is a clear linear succession moving towards something. That something is a promise. And each story is passing that promise from one person and one generation to the next. And each story connects back to the other story, and we see this movement towards redemption and ultimately this restoration of paradise. I don't know if y'all have seen that graphic that was floating around for a while. I'm sure it's there, that has the whole of the Bible and these like uh arcs that show all the various connections between the old and the new, and there's just hundreds and hundreds of connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. So, in that respect, we see that there is a referencing back to one another, right, in this kind of cyclical way, but then there's also this forward movement progressing towards the fulfillment, final and full fulfillment of God's promise. So this morning, then, from the text, 20, 21, and 22, we have three separate people that we're gonna talk about, three separate families, but they're all a part of one big story and one big family. Three very different lives that we're gonna talk about, and we'll go through each one of them individually, and they certainly individually have much to say to us, but more importantly, how all of these stories connect together to give us this succession of faith in the promise of God, the hope of glory, the restoration of paradise, the deliverance from the enemy, and the deliverance from death, and the longing for hope. And this is reinforced time and time again, all the way back to the start when God promises, promised and promises a deliverer from the seed of the woman who is Christ, and he made that promise also again to Abraham. I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after and throughout your generations, for an everlasting covenant to be God to you and to your offspring after you. This is God to Abraham. And Paul clarifies that for us again in Romans, for all not all who are descendants from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham, because they are his offspring, but through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means, again, still Paul, that it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but children of the promise are counted as offspring. What's the point then as we look into the text? That this blessing that is being passed along from one generation to the next, from one family to the next, this blessing, this promise that ties the whole of the Bible together. While here in the Old Testament it was by flesh, it is ultimately a blessing that is passed through faith. Through faith, through faith in this promise of God, this promise of blessing, this promise of deliverance, this promise of freedom from death, promise of salvation. And that's what we consider then this morning as our theme. Faith that passes the blessing. For those taking notes, faith that passes the blessing. Again, three points, three people, three stories. Faith has spiritual sight. Faith has spiritual sight. Faith's end is worship. Faith's end is worship. Faith looks to the future fulfillment. Spiritual sight, end is worship, and looks to the future fulfillment. Three people, three stories, but one focus. It is by the promise of God through faith that this blessing and inheritance is passed along. So that's where we're going. Stand with me once more as we read. Hebrews 11, starting in verse 20. By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the Exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. This is the word of the Lord. Lord, we thank you for your word. We thank you for this faith, Lord, that we are talking about this morning, Lord. I pray and ask that you would open our hearts, Lord, and speak for Christ's sake. It is in his name that I pray. Amen. Faith has spiritual sight. Faith has spiritual sight. This is verse 20 of our text by faith. Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. So we talk first then about the blessings of Jacob and Esau. This is the first time here that the younger received a blessing purely by God's will, right? This is the first time Isaac blessing Jacob and Esau. That the younger received the blessing purely because there was no other specific reason other than God's will. And Paul, again, in Romans 9 confirms that for us. That this is purely God's will. And this promise that Jacob would receive the blessing over Esau, that promise God told to Rebekah, remember? That the younger Jacob would get it. God appears in a dream and tells Rebekah. Thought, why did God tell Rebekah? Possibly, and this is somewhat speculation, but I think the story bears it out. God knows how obstinate and foolish Isaac was here. And God knew that he liked Esau better, right? That's what Genesis tells us that Isaac liked Esau's cooking. He made good food, he hunted good game, he was a man of the wilderness, and Isaac had preference for Esau. And of course, we remember the story back from we were in Genesis. Isaac is tricked into giving the blessing to Jacob. And you know the story again. Isaac had no intention of giving the blessing to Jacob, but because of some trickery between him and Rebecca, Jacob and Rebekah, the blessing goes to Jacob. But couldn't he have just switched it? You know? Well, how would God have honored a blessing that was received through trickery? Couldn't he have just switched it if it was all a big misunderstanding, a big mix-up? Why didn't Isaac just switch the blessing? Thought about that? Genesis 27 in verse 33 tells us that upon the realization of the trickery that happened, it says that Isaac trembled very violently. Upon the realization of the trickery, Isaac trembled very violently. And MacArthur notes that this trembling was not due to the fact that he was tricked, and he was somehow worried about the fact that he was tricked, but upon the conviction that it was God and his providence that tricked him. It was the providence of God. This trickery overcame his obstinence, his disobedience. And it was this trickery then, by God's ordained plan and providence, to do the very thing that Isaac had been resisting to do, which was give the blessing to Jacob and not to Esau. Certainly, well can't say certainly, but we would say very likely Isaac knew that Rebekah had this command from God that the blessing would go to Jacob and not Esau. Surely she would have told him that. But instead, all of his life, despite Esau's disobedience, will say, continued to favor Esau in defiance of what God clearly willed for him. So why then, do we open up Hebrews 11, verse 20? Is this man Isaac in the hall of faith? Why, if he was involved in all of this? Trickery? Disobedience, ultimately succumbing to God's will against his own? Why is he in the hall of faith? Why is his faith speak to us? Providentially, again, Isaac was blind at this point, right? That's part of the story. He was blind, he couldn't see. And that's perhaps a metaphor for his blindness toward the purposes of God, viewing them from his human perspective. Ultimately, though, we see through this situation that Isaac sees with a spiritual sight. He finally looks to the greater purpose and the greater plan of God. His faith finally, in his faith or by his faith, he finally sees the predetermined will of God and he submits to it. He doesn't try to change the blessing. He says, Okay, God, I get it. Trembling under that, the weight of God's providential will, he says, Okay, I get it. His faith wins there. And in the end, he blesses the future as God wills. He blesses Jacob. And he trusts beyond then his own preference, but rather he trusts by faith in that long-term vision of God, the preordained will of God. His faith trusts in that. How often do you obstinately kick against the goads? How often do you push forward with some plan of your own that you know deep down is against the will of God? I'm not sure if I even have to ask if you've ever done that. How many times have you tried to justify your own actions on the basis of some foolish justification in your own mind? Because it's what you wanted. Not what God wanted for you. Faith has spiritual sight and it sees beyond what the eyes see or what the flesh wants. It discerns the providential will of God and trusts that beyond sight, beyond the flesh. The good news, though, is that this story also shows us that God's will can never be manipulated. He may let you walk in deception for a while, but what he ordains will come to pass. Church, don't let it get to the point of you having to be tricked into following his will. Trust in his will. His commands, not your own. And through all of that, Isaac here is in the hall of faith. His faith is speaking to us despite his disobedience and his actions. Isaac's faith has something to say to us because in the end his faith trusted God. His faith submitted to God. His faith looked spiritual sight. Okay, the second story. Man, I'm running out of time already. Second story is uh the life of Jacob. This is verse 21. By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. Okay, this is the life of Jacob. It would seem that the deception that started Jacob's blessing carried through much of his life, unfortunately, right? We know the story of Jacob's life. He's entangled in this after fleeing from Esau. He's entangled in this years-long battle of lies and deception with Laban for Rachel, where he ultimately he's cheating Laban to enrich himself, and it's a mess, right? It's a mess of deception and trickery. Ultimately, Jacob spends much of his life wrestling against God. He wrestles against obedience to God and to an obedience to God's will. So much so, as we read when we were going through Genesis, that Jacob actually wrestled with God. Likely Christ. Had his hip put out of joint. But through all of that, then we get to the end of Jacob's life and his time to bless the sons of Joseph. And through all of that wrestling with God that Jacob had through his long life, here he is in Egypt. Egypt is not the land that was promised to him. But he is here in Egypt and he is passing this blessing, right? Promise of God on to Joseph's two sons. What is unique then about this blessing, looking back into Genesis and then referencing here, is first that he didn't want to be buried in Egypt, right? Jacob did not want to be buried in Egypt. He wanted to go to Macpilah, a place where Abraham was buried. Sarah, place of his family. He did not want to be buried in Egypt. He wanted to go home. The second thing that Hebrews mentions to us in verse 21 that is offering clarification back to Genesis that when he was giving this blessing, as he is nearing the end of his life, he is bowing in worship over the head of his staff. He leaned upon his staff in worship near the end of his life. A worn out life ends in worship. And I think Hebrews points out this for two reasons. That the staff is mentioned, right? This staff that he is carrying is a symbol of his pilgrimage. The staff is a symbol of his life of exile, that he is not home. He has been walking and moving his whole life. Jacob was not resting in the promised land. He spent his whole life journeying, battling sin, wrestling God, and he never made it to the fullness of that promise. Can you imagine that life? Never making it to your promised land, wrestling with God, and here you are at the end. Despite all that he has gone through and all that he has done, he is here at the end of his life. Strength is failing him. He's in Egypt, not where he wants to be, leaning against the symbol of his long, arduous journey through life, and he is worshiping God. For Jacob, the end of his life was the legacy that he leaves us. His faith that finished well, that worshiped God till the end. That's how he's remembered for us. This is the model of faith, one that worships to the very end. Not so much his life, but his end. He worshipped to the end. Apostle Paul gives us a very clear picture of that in Timothy 4, verse 6. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award me on that day. And not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. That's a life that finishes well, that worships and trusts to the end. That's a life of faith. Faith's end is worship. Worship and glory for all eternity. Oh, church, keep fighting the good fight. We will finish the race. By God's grace, we will finish the race well in worship. Jacob shows us then that it's not always gonna look pretty. You may be dragging your feet, needing a staff to hold you up. But you will make it. By grace, through faith, through true faith, you will make it and you will worship God till the end. So keep fighting. Because the end is not the end. Only the beginning of our eternal worship and glory with our Savior. Finally, faith looks to future fulfillment. Faith looks to future fulfillment. And this is verse 22. By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. The life of Joseph. What an eventful life Joseph had, right? Hated by his brothers, almost murdered, but then spared, but then sold into slavery. Was wrongfully accused and falsely imprisoned. He was then elevated to near royalty in Egypt. He saved his family, the people of God, Israel. He saved countless other Egyptians. He had wealth in Egypt. He had status in Egypt. He had power. Joseph was a somebody there. Despite all of that, how does the writer of Hebrews remember him? And I think there could have been any number of things that in Joseph's life that could have been pointed out as markers of his faith, right? Joseph clearly exhibited faith in God. He trusted in the providence of God that took him from slavery, from rejection by his own family, took him to prison, ultimately to saving his family. And the most obvious way is that Joseph says that y'all meant all that for evil, but God meant it for good. What a declaration of faith by Joseph. But that's not specifically what the writer of Hebrews remembers him by here. What he is remembered for is that he didn't forget his true home. He didn't forget the promise of God. He didn't forget where God was ultimately taking his people. What a show of faith to not have that promise for Joseph be clouded out by all of his worldly successes. Take note of that, church. Calvin says this the fact that wealth, luxuries, and honors did not lead the holy man, Joseph, to forget the promise nor hold him back in Egypt, this is a strong argument for faith. Joseph could have been tempted to say, maybe God wants us to stay here in Egypt. I mean, after all, look at this life that we have. We're so blessed here. I'm somebody now. That's not what he says, though. He says, this is not where we belong. This is not where we're going to stay. We have a future home. We have these blessings now, but they're not going to last. There is something better. There's a better promise being prepared for us. So he gives instructions. He tells the generations in the future to take, right? Take me out when you leave. Because they will leave, because God has promised us a land, and Joseph believed it to be so, and he says, Take me out when you leave. Joseph, though he made a life in Egypt, wanted his bones to rest in the promise of God. Take me home. That's where I want to be. Look around at your life. Look at all the things that God has blessed you with. And you might be tempted to say, this is enough. I could be happy with all of this. And thanks be to God for his provision and for his blessing because he so richly blesses us. But this is not it. It can't be. We look at our clean running water, perhaps, that flows out of our taps, seemingly at our own will. We have a warm shower. I have not one, not two, but I have three cars. We have all these things, and we might be tempted to say, surely God loves me. Look at this blessing. Look at this life. Look at all these things. Surely God loves me. But what about the faith of the one in some part of the world where they have none of these things? Are they less saved? Are they less blessed? Do they have less faith? Maybe more so. Because they long for the promised end. So see the example of Joseph's faith, and don't let the present blessing cloud your eyes from future glory. I'm not guilting you of your blessing, by the way. That is from the Lord according to his sovereign providential will. Receive it with joy. But we cannot take our eyes off where we are going. We are building, we are moving toward this blessed promise of glory, and that is far better. Our bones will be rested in the promise of God until they are resurrected, and that home will be far better. So as we close, then we're going to consider once more what these three generations had in common. They modeled the faith that was defined at the very beginning of Hebrews 11. They modeled this faith, the assurance of things hoped for, and the convictions of things unseen. This is the faith that all three of these lives modeled. More specifically, they took very seriously the call to pass down the spiritual blessing of faith to the next generation. That's big. They took very seriously the call to pass down the spiritual blessing of faith to the next generation. They see how the promises of God, however far out they may seem, and they long for it. They long for the promises of God to be revealed to them. They long to share it with the generations of God's people, with their families. And none of those, none of these really knew the fullness of what that even meant. But we do. Revelation 7, verse 9, after this I looked, and behold, the great multitude that no one could number from every nation, from all the tribes and peoples and languages standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and power and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen. This is the hope of the gospel. This is the hope of the gospel and the blessing that we pass on by faith. That no matter where you've come from, no matter how much you have sinned, you've fallen short of God's glory, you didn't have to be born into the right family at the right time, you didn't have to be born in the right country. If you would this day, recognize your sin. Recognize your sin that has cast you out of paradise, that has put you in exile, that has put you away from the presence of God, if you would confess that sin and that transgression, and all of your sins and transgressions against God, if you would repent, if you would turn to the promised salvation, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, if you would receive his sacrifice as the just and final payment for your sin offered for you, to redeem you from death and the evil one. If you would enter into the ark of your salvation, you are promised to be one of those that Revelation speaks about, clothed in white, worshiping before the throne of God. One of those which Isaac and Jacob and Joseph longed to be reunited with, even though they did not know you. Through faith in this blessed Lamb of God, we receive the blessing that has been passed down now for thousands of years. If you have received that blessing, if you have received the blessing of salvation and eternal life by faith alone, through trusting in Christ alone, and not by any other means, won't you consider identifying that publicly and professing that faith publicly through baptism? Christ is your Savior and your Lord, and he has been received by faith. Won't we all identify with him in death? So that we may identify him in resurrected life. Joseph's bones are still buried somewhere. The dust is, anyway. They won't stay dust forever. Through those waters of baptism, we declare by the power of grace of God, the grave will not hold us. It cannot hold us. Though we are buried with Christ, we will join him. We will join our spiritual family in that blessed eternal paradise. Today's the day of salvation. We must not delay. Let us cling to that faith then that passes on this great blessing. And let us pass that blessing. Amen. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you as always for your word. We thank you for this faith, Lord, that you have shown us in and through your word that passes on this great blessing, the hope of this promised restoration, Lord, of paradise, living with you again, Lord, where you are our God and we are your people, and we you are dwelling with us, Lord. Lord, may we take seriously the call to pass that faith on, Lord. May by your grace you give us a faith that worships till the end, or that sees with spiritual sight, Lord. Or that trusts in you in all things, Lord that longs for hope. Thank us for thank you for the faith that you've given to us. We confess that faith this morning. Trust in Jesus Christ alone. In his name that I pray.