Genesis-143 – Nunc Dimittis: Now It Is Enough

Genesis 46:26–34:

 

“All those who went to Egypt with Jacob—those who were his direct descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives—numbered sixty-six persons. And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two. All the members of Jacob’s household who went to Egypt were seventy. Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to guide him to Goshen. When they reached the land of Goshen, Joseph got in his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.” Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. The men are shepherds; their work has always been to raise livestock, and they have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ you are to say, ‘Your servants have devoted themselves to raising livestock from our youth till now, as did our ancestors.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.” Amen.

 

Now, It Is Enough

The original title for the message we will share today was “The Land That Grew Close Yet Distant,” but unfortunately, we could not cover that content, so we changed it to “Now, It Is Enough” to proceed.

 

The final part of Genesis Chapter 46 mainly records three central topics. First, the list of family members, or genealogy, that went down to Egypt with Jacob is presented. Second, the reunion between Jacob and Joseph occurs. Third, the content of how they settled in the land of Goshen is introduced, which continues into Chapter 47, leading up to the scene where Pharaoh and Jacob meet. The original plan was to examine up to the settlement in Goshen, but today we will focus on the content up to the meeting of Jacob and Joseph, thus setting the title as “Now, It Is Enough.”

 

This expression is rendered in Latin as “Nunc Dimittis.” Nunc means “now,” and Dimittis means “dismiss” (to release, to let depart). Thus, the phrase carries the meaning of “Now, at last, it is released.” This is a very symbolic expression that has inspired many famous musical compositions with its biblical significance.

 

Let us trace the background of why the sermon title was set as “Now, It Is Enough.” When Jacob offered sacrifices to God, God gave him the great assurance, “I will go down to Egypt with you.” God did not simply say, “Go well to Egypt,” but “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again.” This is practically God foretelling Jacob the history of the nation of Israel that would span almost four hundred years. God was promising to personally form and preserve the nation of Israel throughout that long period.

 

The Meaning of the Seventy and God’s Work

Although we expected the narrative to proceed immediately to Jacob’s entry into Egypt, a list of Jacob’s descendants appears in between. As we read today, it is recorded that “seventy persons” went down to Egypt. There are countless difficult treatises on this number because the list and number vary slightly in the genealogies of not only Genesis but also Numbers and Chronicles. Scholars deeply pondered which number was correct.

 

However, if we look closely at the record of the “Seventy Persons” recorded in Genesis, we can see that the record itself was not intended to strictly match the literal number of people. In fact, the number was likely set at seventy to convey a symbolic meaning to us.

 

In reality, there were others as well. For example, in the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the number is seventy-five, not seventy, because Joseph had more children. Why did the Bible use the number seventy? The Bible uses the number seventy to signify the “whole” or “totality,” just as it refers to the “seventy nations” when describing the dispersion of all peoples after Noah. Therefore, the intention is to emphasize that “Jacob’s whole family went down.” It means that no one was left out; they all entered Egypt together.

 

A Caution Regarding Biblical Name Interpretation

Of course, through these lists or genealogies—the names that appear, or which names are included or excluded—we can discover a substantial amount of biblical knowledge. The only thing you must be careful about is that as you trace the names that appear here, you tend to interpret them or seek grace through their etymologies or meanings. Seeking profound significance and emotional inspiration in this manner is the part one must be most cautious about.

 

While the names in the Bible are important, the Bible itself directly provides the interpretations for the core, significant names, explaining why God changed a name or why a certain name appears. However, names that appear only once and are not explained often have unclear etymologies. If we attach too much meaning to them, we begin to hear what we want to hear from the names, rather than what the Bible intends to convey. This is what we call “interpreting the Scripture privately.” Here, “privately” does not mean “personally interpreting,” but rather “viewing the Scripture with one’s personal greed and desire.” This is the part we must be most careful about when reading the Bible.

 

The Seventy Record Shows the Fulfillment of the Covenant

The reason we are focusing today on the meaning of “the entire family went together,” rather than tracing all seventy individuals in this text, lies precisely here. The first reason this list appears is clearly to show that the covenant God made with Abraham is not dead but is eventually being fulfilled.

 

We all know the story of Abraham and Sarah, and we know how Isaac was born. It was an event that seemed impossible—a child being born to Abraham when he was over one hundred years old, something that should not have happened. By God's intervention, Isaac was born at an age when having children was medically impossible. Even while observing such events, we follow the story, wondering, “Is God truly intending to bless Abraham and Isaac?” Yet, it was always precarious. Jacob also arrived at this point under circumstances where things could have fallen apart at any moment. But through this list of seventy people, we understand clearly for the first time: God is keeping the promise He made with Abraham and is bringing it to fruition.

 

God Uses the Insignificant

The number seventy is important. But how much time did it take to reach this number? Here’s a hint: Jacob is now 130 years old, and Abraham was called at 75. While these two numbers alone don’t tell the whole story, if we add up all the time periods, including the years of Abraham’s children and Isaac’s story, it totals approximately 215 years. Over 215 years, Jacob’s family grew to 70 people. This is by no means a number that indicates successful growth. Had Jacob not had twelve sons later, the situation might have been very different. But through Jacob, the twelve tribes emerged, and the number grew to 70. Yet, as mentioned, 70 people over 200 years is a truly insignificant number.

 

From Insignificance to Greatness: The Work of God

Now Israel enters Egypt and remains there for 430 years. Do you know how much the number changed during that time? The number of combat-ready men alone reached 600,000. This happened in just four hundred years. This is not simply a matter of, “If you multiply, you get that many!” The Bible clearly states that God caused them to become a great nation. The Egyptians were terrified of them. The rate at which the Israelites multiplied surpassed the growth rate of the Egyptians.

 

When we hear this story, we recognize, “God begins with an insignificant number! God uses the weak!” We would all agree up to this point. Then our thoughts immediately turn to, “But they grew to 600,000! Indeed, God makes things great!” And we immediately recall the verse, “Your beginning was small, but your latter end would increase abundantly,” thinking, “Isn’t that a perfect fit?”

 

However, those who have listened to sermons in our church for a long time know that this verse is not to be used in this way. That verse is found in the book of Job, and it holds a completely different meaning within the context of Job.

 

The Biblical Perspective on Abundant Increase

Yet, here too, we often harbor the question, “But didn’t they clearly increase abundantly? Why is this not a fit?” However, there is a trap here. Israel became a greatly increased nation with 600,000 people, and that Israel went to Canaan.

 

But did they ever win a war solely with 600,000 soldiers? No. How did they conquer the well-known city of Jericho? Was it because they had a large number? No. It was God who gave them the city. After receiving the city, how prideful did they become? What happened when they attacked the city of Ai on their own strength? They were humiliated and nearly destroyed.

 

This story shows how easily we fall into a trap. We think, “Ah, the number grew from 70 to 600,000! The beginning was small, but the latter end increased abundantly!” But the Bible’s intention is not that at all. The intention here is to show how their faith grew. When they became people who relied more on God, that is the true ‘abundant increase.’

 

Even with 600,000 men, what did Israel say when they first entered Canaan? “We are like grasshoppers before them. They can easily devour us. We are all grasshoppers.” That is what they said. Even then, they had 600,000 men, totaling about two million people. And because of that unbelief, they wandered in the wilderness for thirty-eight years. Was that because they lacked numbers? No. It was because they lacked the faith to rely on God.

 

The True Meaning of Making Us Great

What does it mean for God to make us great? It means that even though our faith, our thoughts, and what we possess may be insignificant, God causes us to rely on Him. Setting us up as those who rely only on God—that is the true meaning of “making us great.”

 

Therefore, the list you are looking at now, this genealogy of only seventy people, is God showing beforehand that His making them great means that they will now be established as people who rely on God.

 

God Knows Our Names

Also, if we consider this genealogy, the third most important aspect to examine is that when we look through the list, there is a lack of respectable people, and if I say this and then go to heaven, I might get chastised by the people on the list. When you read all seventy names, there is hardly a decent, blameless person. At best, there is Joseph, and even Jacob has some ambiguous aspects.

 

Friends, what kind of person was Reuben? What great crime did he commit to try and secure his birthright? Judah needs no mention. Even Levi, who later became the priestly family, was a person who took the lead in brutally killing the people in a city. How their lives turned out is fully revealed through Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis Chapters 49 and 50. Even setting aside these things, didn’t the ten sons try to kill Joseph and eventually sell him into slavery? The people listed here are those ten sons and their descendants—the story of their sons and daughters.

 

The Company of Sinners, Called by God

Then we can understand. They are indeed a company of sinners, to the extent that one might wonder how human beings can be so wicked, how they could be like this. Yet, God not only records them in the Bible but says that He will accomplish His history of salvation through them. Despite our sins, God says He will demonstrate how He is bringing about His salvation, how He creates something out of nothing.

 

It is good for you and me to always reflect on ourselves before God and stand humbly before the Lord. However, in many cases, when we say, “I couldn’t do this. I cannot do that. I am incapable of such a thing,” God does not say, “Alright, since you can’t do it, just lie down and sleep.” What happens when parents raise their children and first set them up, calling out, “Come here,” happens to us every day. No children come immediately when told, “Come here,” do they? They all stumble and fall as they try to come. They take one or two steps and just collapse.

 

I have never seen a parent who, upon seeing a fallen child, says, “Yes, it looks comfortable to me too. Live like that.” What do all parents do? They run over, set the child back on their feet, and again call out, “Come here.” Until when? Until they walk. Isn’t that a parent’s heart? Why don't you know? God raises us up again in our weakness, says again, “You are coming this far,” and when we fall again, says, “Take courage and come here again.” This is what is happening among us now. God takes us in our weakness and accomplishes His work with us.

 

The Standard for Perishing and Salvation

In this light, no one perishes simply because we are sinners. We perish because we do not rely on the Lord. We perish because we do not return to the Lord. We perish because we do not rely on the cross of Christ, not just because of the fact that we say, “Ah, I really am a sinner even in my own eyes.” We can fully understand that.

 

However, the word “sinner” is not always a word that makes us feel happy. It’s not a pleasant word, is it? Think about it. If I simply say, “You are sinners,” you might inwardly think, “Am I the only sinner? You are a sinner too!” But if I say to you, “Friends, please live according to the Word,” it would be fair for you to respond, “If you live according to the Word, I’ll try to live that way too.” Since I am the one saying it, I agree that is fair. You can certainly say that to me. It is only natural. That is because I, too, am one of those people who hold onto that Word but stumble and fall daily because I fail to live according to it, yet I rise again and run toward the God who says, “Come here,” before me.

 

However, because Jesus said this, the meaning changes completely. Jesus says, “Do not give up, but run back again. I love you. I am calling you from here. I will be with you. I will heal you. Therefore, you need not be ashamed to confess that you are a sinner, that you are truly insufficient rather than righteous, and that you have nothing but shame when you look at yourself.” Because Jesus calls, the meaning changes.

 

God Knows Our Names

This simultaneously contains the meaning that while God calls all of us and calls us as one community, we can also know that He is the One who clearly knows the name of every single person. He values each person as precious. In that respect, while all of us are weak, the fact that the Lord establishes us in this way is a definite comfort to us.

 

Friends, think about how amazing it is that God knows your name. When you read the Bible, one of the words that appears most often in Exodus, as well as Genesis, is “Pharaoh.” ‘Pharaoh’ refers to the title of the kings of Egypt. Although there are names of countless kings, such as Tutankhamun and Amenhotep, whom you know well, not a single Pharaoh’s name appears in the Bible. It is simply ‘Pharaoh.’

 

However, in Exodus Chapter 1, when the Israelites multiply, the King of Egypt issues a decree to the midwives, saying, “This will not do. If a boy is born to them, kill them all.” Yet, there were midwives who heard that and saved the babies instead of obeying the order. You know what I am about to ask, don’t you? Were the names of those midwives mentioned, or not?

 

Although the names of those many Pharaohs never appeared in the Bible, the names of these midwives appeared just once, but they were mentioned because of the reason they appeared at that moment. The names of two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, are mentioned. There are those whose names God knows. Especially in the history of salvation, there are those whose names God calls. Friends, do you remember God’s words to Moses? “I know you by name.” And by what does that God know you as well? He knows you by your name.

 

Called as One Community

Friends, your name may not be just the name we know, the one given to you by your parents. First, because the character ‘Holy (聖)’ is attached before that name. The character ‘Holy (聖)’ is attached before the name. The name that follows is, of course, our unique name, but it will be a name that God acknowledges and recognizes. Could it be that the names God gives us are beyond our imagination? Just as Abram became Abraham, and just as countless figures in the Bible received new names in God's amazing history of salvation, perhaps we will share amazing names that are suitable for heaven and represent the glory of heaven.

 

Of course, this content is not explicitly stated in the Bible. However, it says that the Lord not only remembers our names but has written our names on His heart, on His hand, and in His book. Is that not so? There are too many similar names that we have given. Korean people’s names are almost all similar. When we go to heaven, the majority will probably be Lee, Choi, and Kim. Regardless of what the name is, God knows our name by our name.

 

Grace Through the Community of Seventy

My faith is small, and I still waver, but the Lord holds onto me. My sin is still deep, but through the cross of Christ, He forgives me again, and the Lord calls me to be one who relies on that God. That name is never a small name, because God’s grace is great. My name may be smaller than a mustard seed, letter by letter. Who can boast of their faith? However, the grace poured out on you is greater than the faith you have, greater than your life, and greater than your soul. The Bible clearly confesses, “Your lovingkindness is better than life.” Because that grace has been poured out on you, your name is not small.

 

Thus, just as all seventy people went down, in this New Testament era, you are all called as one community. In it, there is Reuben, Judah, Jacob, and Joseph, and there are many people whose names we do not know, but we strive together to form one community as the people of God. The heart is to feel, “Let us walk this path, no matter what.” When we look at each other, there are those who would sell one another out, those who would betray, and those who hurt and wound one another’s hearts. Yet, on the other hand, there are those who love one another passionately. In those moments, all that grace and God’s love ensure that not one of the seventy in our community is lost, and we believe together that the Lord causes us to walk that path.

 

Forgiveness and Restoration Within the Community

This is not an easy thing. How difficult is it? There are four of us in my family. Sometimes, even four people find it hard to be one; we argue, each claiming to be right over the smallest thing. How difficult must it be for the saints here to become one? It becomes even more difficult, especially the better we know and the closer we become to one another. That is because we begin to lose our manners. We sometimes cross the line, do we not? And that is when we wound each other.

 

But even so, God shows us: “Is it hard? Reuben was there, but they were seventy. Is it hard? Levi was there, but they were seventy. Is it hard? Even Jacob, whose name means ‘supplanter,’ was there, but all of them walked this path together.” Therefore, even if you have wounds and pain in your heart, you must look at one another without losing the conviction: “We are people who must forgive one another and walk this path together! We are people who will meet in heaven! We are the people of God who will live together forever!”

 

I know. It is difficult. There may be times when you want to close your eyes. Sometimes you want to turn your face away. Sometimes you feel it would be easier not to see that person again. But God called seventy people. He does not lose or give up on them. How clearly did the Lord say it? I will lose none of those the Father has given me. Therefore, as we walk this path, the time may be slower. Sometimes we must heal those wounds, and sometimes we must fall to our knees because of them, cry out to the Lord and pray, and continually go to the Word, exerting all our strength to heal ourselves. But we cannot give up. That path is the path we walk with the Lord.

 

God’s Unexpected Grace

Friends, no sooner do we examine the meaning of the list of seventy people than the story immediately moves to the reunion of Jacob and Joseph. An event that should have been impossible, considering this list, is now taking place. In this group, where ten sons sold Joseph, where people bought and sold, and were ready to kill each other, what happens? All seventy of them were saved because of Joseph, whom they had tried to kill and believed to be dead. An utterly unimaginable event occurred. When you read the Bible, you might simply think, “Seventy people came down, and Joseph and Jacob met,” but how incredible is this story? The list of seventy people is recorded, and now it is saying that they “were saved because of Joseph,” isn’t it?

 

Truly, Jacob certainly did not expect it, and the brothers definitely never anticipated it, as they thought Joseph was dead. Yet, salvation came there. It was God’s grace that they never expected.

 

Far Beyond What We Ask or Imagine

Therefore, in the New Testament, Paul passionately expresses the same content in this way. It is a verse from Ephesians Chapter 3:

 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever.”

 

Do you know that God provides us with things better than what we ask or imagine? Jacob and his brothers never expected, “Could we possibly receive salvation here? Could we possibly live in this place? While so many people are dying from famine, could we possibly survive here? And because of Joseph, whom we sold, whom we thought was dead?” It is truly an astonishing event.

 

Small Acts of Service and the Power of Community

Friends, the things we overlook and simply pass by, the words we utter unintentionally in the Lord, can save a person. The simple act of saying, “Come on, let’s be strong. Even though this time is hard, isn’t the Lord our God?” and trying to share a smile, can save a person. The moment when we said, “Let’s share a meal together,” thinking it was nothing, and shared a meal and a laugh, can make a brother realize in his heart, “I am loved! I have not been completely forgotten! I truly am a part of this community!” and lead him to realize that he is a child of the Lord.

 

When we bear with something together, walk together, correct each other, and grow together, even though we may be insignificant and the task may be an eyesore, we see “Ah, this is the hand of God! This is the grace of God!” in this church community. How amazing is this? We were saved by a small thing that we did not even expect.

 

This is a story I have shared before: When I was in college—a time when many of you were also dealing with many concerns—I was attending school while contemplating whether or not to take a leave of absence. Honestly, I often wondered how many people truly focused on their studies in my generation, as we were facing so many deep concerns. Believing in Jesus was also a time of great struggle and anxiety. So, that day too, after the youth service, I was sitting in the back, powerlessly contemplating unsolvable questions like, “What is life? How should I live? What is the meaning of it all?” despite having just heard a good message.

 

Then a sister came up to me, looked at me, and asked, “Brother, is something bothering you?” When I replied, “No, it’s nothing like that,” the sister said nothing else, just took out a Choco Pie, handed it to me, and walked away. She didn't say another word to me afterward.

 

But how grateful I was for that Choco Pie! The reason I was so grateful was that the moment I received it, the thought came to me, “I am not alone in this crowd; I am connected to this Christian community,” and my heart suddenly swelled with emotion. Friends, that incident was truly nothing. That sister probably does not think about it or remember it at all now. I do not even remember her name. But in that unexpected moment, God turned one person’s heart back again. It is truly astonishing.

 

Joseph’s Glory and Humble Reunion

Friends, while Jacob’s story is noteworthy, Joseph’s appearance is even more astounding. Joseph’s appearance is described in just one verse, but it can be said to be the most overwhelming scene among all appearance scenes in the Bible. In terms of cinema, it would be one of the coolest entrance scenes for a male protagonist. I will read it to you so you can see how magnificent it is:

 

“Joseph got in his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.”

 

You might think, “What is so great about just this much?” But let me explain what this passage entails.

 

First, it says Joseph got in his chariot. Do you know what happens when he rides in his chariot? The king had given Joseph the chariot with the instruction that everyone in front of it must bow down and worship when he rode in it. Joseph was riding that chariot from where he was to Goshen. So, there must have been a commotion everywhere along the way. Even upon arriving at Goshen, there must have been a commotion among the people there. He did not go alone; he probably went with many of his subordinates. So, Joseph was traveling in that chariot while people were bowing down and worshipping. In our modern terms, he was such a great person that a light of glory seemed to shine behind him.

 

And a significant word appears here: he went ahead and was waiting for Jacob. He was waiting for Jacob and his family. The word “appeared before him” (yēra’) is used here. This word is not the common see or show we use, meaning, “I showed myself to my father.” The English primarily translates this as present or appeared, but this word is used when God reveals His glory to His people.

 

So, how does God want to depict Joseph’s appearance in the Bible? In that scene, where he is leading his immense chariot and subordinates, and people are bowing down, when he “appears before” Jacob, it is as if a genuine light of glory shines behind him as he meets his father. His father is not just looking at Joseph but seeing his glory. If someone were to depict this scene in a movie, it would be the coolest scene in the story of Joseph. Joseph appears with a surge of immense charisma in that single moment.

 

The Embrace in the Lowest Form

But the reason this scene is truly magnificent is that when Joseph, with all this tremendous charisma, arrived with everything, we might think, “He must want to show his father how successful he has become!” However, he steps down from the chariot, approaches his father, and “threw his arms around his father” (al-ṣawwārayw). This accurately means that he lowered his head and rested it on his father’s neck. It means his father was standing, and he leaned his head on his father’s neck, holding him and weeping.

 

It is like a sudden drop from the most magnificent and charismatic appearance to the most vulnerable posture. That is why this scene is so powerful. Because this scene, in fact, shows the entirety of Joseph’s life, and it is actually a shadow of the image of Jesus Christ. Just like Jesus Christ, who possessed all the glory of heaven, met us by taking our form and becoming like us, sitting with us, weeping with us, and laughing with us—similarly, Joseph, the second-in-command who has everything, descends directly before this group who are nothing, carrying only seventy people from Canaan, a multitude like refugees whom no one would care about. He holds one man among them, and he lowers his head to his father’s neck and weeps.

 

If the Bible had recorded the countless thoughts that crossed Joseph’s mind at that moment, the Bible might now be sixty-seven books long. If the Bible had recorded all the emotions Jacob felt then, we might now be reading sixty-eight books. How many stories must have been contained within them as they embraced and wept?

 

The Word Is Fulfilled, and It Is Enough

Yet, the one who stops the weeping is not Joseph. Joseph met his father, but he did not say, “Father, calm down. I will take care of you comfortably now.” Instead, the first person to speak is Jacob. Jacob says, Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”

 

The phrase here, “Now I am ready to die” (môṯ ‘āz), is the expression that I mentioned at the beginning of the sermon, the Latin “Nunc Dimittis.” Nunc means “now,” and Dimittis means “to dismiss” (to let depart). This phrase also appears in another significant scene in the Korean Bible translation.

 

Jacob’s Confession and Simeon’s Song

In my view, this saying of Jacob is the Old Testament version of the New Testament. Where does it appear in the New Testament? This famous confession is known as the “Song of Simeon.” Simeon appears in Luke Chapter 2, with the background of Jesus’ birth. More accurately, Simeon is the name of the man who was waiting for Jesus when He was brought to the temple for circumcision on the eighth day. I will read the song Simeon sang while holding the infant Jesus:

 

“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.”

 

The Korean Bible translates this as “you may now dismiss your servant in peace,” but it is a rather difficult translation. More accurately, it means, “Now that Your will has been fulfilled, I am satisfied.”

 

This does not mean, “Now I am going to die.” It does carry a little bit of the meaning, “I have no regrets even if I die,” but in fact, it is not even that. The meaning of this saying is precisely, “Now that the event has been fulfilled before me, exactly as God spoke, I am finally satisfied.”

 

Jacob’s words now are similar. Jacob is not saying, “Ah, now that I have seen my son, I can die, so I will die!” No! He is saying, “I am truly satisfied now!” Why? Because “As God promised—as He promised Abraham, and as He promised me—God has led us here, and I know the Lord who is eternally with us will take us back to the Promised Land. God, Your will has been done!” That is his confession.

 

Who else knows this? Joseph also knows. What did Joseph say? He said, “God’s will is fulfilled.” Jacob is echoing Joseph’s words when he said, “It was not you who sent me here, but God.” Thus, looking at Joseph, the savior of his family, Jacob says, “Now we are satisfied. Truly, the word of God is being fulfilled. The will of God has been done.” Simeon’s song was even more amazing. It spoke of the coming of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of the prophecy of Christ, and the realization of God’s history of salvation.

 

Christ, the Glory of Israel

Friends, in Joseph’s dream, the sun and moon bowed down, didn’t they? Jacob did not bow down. But it is not Jacob bowing down; he is now saying this to Joseph: “The God who brings about our salvation is making you the glory of Israel.” How does Simeon say this in the New Testament?

 

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

 

This was said concerning Jesus, but it is also true for Joseph now. Jacob is now seeing Joseph’s glory. This demonstrates how highly Jacob regards Joseph, and it shows how Joseph’s dream is being fulfilled. No, it shows how the will of God is being fulfilled.

 

Jacob says, “I am satisfied now.” This is because he has met Jesus. Not because of anything else, but “I am satisfied now.” Even if my death, and everything I possess in my life, were to disappear, even if all my possessions and every moment of my life were to vanish, I can be satisfied. He says he is satisfied even if he dies. That is exactly what he is saying now. But what is written before that? He is satisfied because it is fulfilled “as you have promised.”

 

The Word Given to Us

Friends, was this Word given only to Joseph, Jacob, and Simeon? No. It is with you too. Is this Word that the Lord spoke truly only for other people?

 

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 

To whom was this Word given?

 

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

 

To whom was this said? Is it not said that the Word will be fulfilled? Is that not what you confess? Is the New Testament not enough for you? What does the Old Testament say?

 

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

 

Is your life lacking nothing according to the Word? Why do we fail to say Amen where we absolutely should say Amen? Isn’t this a part where you must do so? Not doing so is just like saying to me, the pastor, “Pastor, your sermon is very nice. But it is not a message for me.” This is your Word. This is the Lord’s message to you.

 

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

To whom did He say this? But Jacob is saying now, “The Word is fulfilled, so I have no more desires. I am satisfied.” Has the Lord’s promise to save you been fulfilled? Amen. Does the Lord break the promise that He will walk your life with you and accompany you? No, He does not, does He? He is clearly with you, isn’t He? We are experiencing this now because the power of the Word is accomplishing that work. We know that Word.

 

The Power of the Word and the Work of Life

Friends, there was a pastor’s son. Since there are quite a few sons of pastors in our church, and in case they think this is about them, I should say that this is a true story from England. But it has no connection to you.

 

This pastor’s son was going through a rebellious phase. On the last day of a certain year, December 31st, he was not at church or home but in a place where he shouldn't have been. He was drinking at a bar. Because he had been living such a sinful life for a long time, his father, the pastor, must have been very worried and heartbroken. Perhaps he felt humiliated and embarrassed. But the son was not drinking alone; he was naturally with friends, and as he and about ten friends were drinking, one friend suddenly opened the door and walked in. That friend was the most sarcastic among them.

 

The friend who entered said, “Hey, I passed by the church, and they were having a service.” It seems they were having a Watch Night Service since it was the last day of the year. “It looks like they’re having an all-night service. Hey, what should we do? Should we pray too?” He said this mockingly. Then another friend picked up on it and said, “Yeah, let’s pray too. And why just pray? Let’s sing hymns too.” While they were joking around, that friend noticed the pastor’s son and said, “Hey, then you should preach. You preach a sermon.” The son was flustered, saying, “I won’t do it, I won’t do it,” but the friends around him urged, “Hey, you’re the pastor’s son, you have to preach.” They even gave him the text: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Preach on this topic.”

 

The son took the verse and again refused, “No, I won’t.” But since many friends urged him, he finally said, “Alright,” and began to speak. “Hey, ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’—if we keep following the weak flesh, not listening to God’s Word and not living as God desires, won’t we eventually perish?!” He had heard things, hadn’t he? They say even a dog in a restaurant can learn to boil ramen in three years, so why couldn’t he do it? As he spoke a semblance of a sermon, his friends listened and said, “Oh, he’s talking quite seriously! Wow, I thought you were an idiot, but you’re amazing!” They mocked him further.

 

But as the son spoke, he started to remember parts of his father’s past sermons and some Bible verses his mother had taught him. Then, as he said, “Hey, if we live according to the flesh, we will die,” his words gained some weight. Since he was talking about death, the friends, who had been noisy, suddenly quieted down and listened to what he was saying.

 

The Word Began to Resound Within Himself

But the person listening was not just his friends. The pastor’s son, who kept repeating this verse, found that the message began to resound within himself. ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. If I follow this flesh, I am destined to die and perish, so why have I lived like this?’ As the Word began to speak to him more and more, he said, “Friends, if this Word is true, all of us will perish. Shouldn’t we beg God for forgiveness and mercy right now?” And he knelt down right there. And two of his many friends also knelt down and returned to the Lord that day.

 

And as he was leaving, he happened to run into his father, who was just returning from the all-night prayer service. The son told his father what had just happened. The father must have been amazed by God’s work in a moment he never imagined or expected, and he would have held his son and wept right there. The son also wept. What more needed to be said? God had worked. The history of the Word, the Word of God, had been fulfilled.

 

The Living Word That Gives Life

Friends, the Word you hear once a week, or sometimes read, or that you think of as “Yes, this is God’s Word,” is not just a dead word in a book. Sometimes it offers us wisdom and inspiration, and sometimes we think, “This writing is truly helpful for our lives. This is a good text for forming our character. If we follow this, we can live as cultured, decent, and good people!” It is not just a collection of such Bible verses, but it gives life! It saved a life! It saved a person! And how did that happen? It saved a person according to the Word.

 

So, they speak. And Jacob also speaks. According to the Word, the Lord satisfies me. The Lord will satisfy your life according to the Word.

 

Let Us Pray

Lord, You called us who had nothing but destruction awaiting us. And You gave us a precious name. You also held our names in Your heart and wrote them on the palm of Your hand. And You gave us the name of God on our forehead. You granted us the holy name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Lord, the Lord is my Shepherd; how can I lack anything? If we continue to feel a lack in our hearts, Lord, turn us back to hold onto You, the source of all satisfaction, again. Help us to hold onto You, who are our everything, again.

 

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.