Genesis 145 – Still a Blessing

Genesis 47:7-12

“Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, ‘How old are you?’ And Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning1.’ And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence. Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph supported his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.” Amen.

 

A Monumental Encounter: Jacob and Pharaoh

The passage we have read today records another monumental encounter in Jacob’s life. Could Jacob’s life ever be marked by just one or two such events? Though there were countless incidents, many first recall the wrestling at the ford of Jabbok, where he received the new name, ‘Israel.’ Yet, we know his entire journey: the moment he secured the birthright for a bowl of stew, the moment he deceived his father Isaac, and the time he was tricked by Laban into an unwanted marriage—these were all decisive, unforgettable events.

 

Now, in the latter half of his life, he experiences what might be called his grandest climax: his meeting with Pharaoh, the king who wielded the greatest power and authority of that age.

 

The Jacob standing before Pharaoh was an obscure, elderly foreigner, unknown to the king, though we are well acquainted with his history. Having sustained an injury at the Jabbok, he would have limped, leaning on a staff. Despite having traveled by chariot, the arduous journey meant he was likely covered in dust, presenting a modest and unremarkable appearance.

 

He stands now before a brilliant golden throne. Archaeological discoveries confirm that ancient Egypt was so wealthy it seemed gilded in gold. Gold, with its unchangeable quality, was the most valued material even then. It is a scene of stark contrast: a frail old man before a lavishly dressed king.

 

As we often see in historical dramas, in such a meeting, a subject should bow and wish the king “ten thousand years” of life, or offer a deep bow of gratitude for being granted land for their residence.

 

This was the common assumption, leading many scholars, even upon reading the text, to interpret Jacob’s act of “blessing” Pharaoh merely as a conventional greeting. They wondered how a humble, unfamiliar elder from a subject class could possibly bless the greatest authority of the time. However, such an interpretation regrettably dismisses the clear meaning of the word “blessed” as distinctly stated in the text.

 

The True Meaning of Blessing

The word for 'to bless' here is the Hebrew term ‘barak’ (בָרַךְ). When translated precisely, 'barak' in this context is used in a causative verbal form, signifying ‘to petition divine favor.’ It is not merely a wish for good fortune, but a form of prayer that petitions the divine being.

 

This blessing is not a statement made directly to the recipient, but a petition offered to God. The true meaning is: "O God, I pray that You grant this person blessing." This is the foundational concept.

 

If you read the Bible from beginning to end, you will find that the term "God blessed" is used, but never "God prayed for blessing (축복하셨다)." The reason is that if God were said to "bless" someone in the sense of barak, it would imply that God was petitioning a power higher than Himself. Therefore, Scripture always records: “God gave the blessing.”

 

Regrettably, the phrase "God blesses" has become so commonplace today that it has entered general usage. Yet, Christians must know its clear, original intent. God does not petition another deity on your behalf; He is the one who bestows the blessing. Therefore, Jacob's blessing upon Pharaoh was a prayer, an intercession to God on the king’s behalf.

 

The Greater Status of the One Who Blesses

This encounter also reveals another crucial biblical principle. There is the story of Jacob's grandfather, Abraham, meeting the mysterious figure Melchizedek. This encounter occurred long before Jacob's time. Abraham, upon meeting Melchizedek, whose name means 'King of Peace,' gave him a tithe, and Melchizedek, acting as a king, blessed Abraham. To the Israelites, Abraham was their ancestor and considered the most exalted figure.

 

However, the writer of Hebrews presents a clear biblical principle through this event. Hebrews 7:7 declares:

“It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.”

 

This verse clearly demonstrates that the one who blesses is greater than the one who receives the blessing. According to this principle, even though we might consider Abraham to be supreme, Melchizedek, who blessed him, was the greater figure. Scripture goes on to explain that Melchizedek is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.

 

The Bible testifies that, without exception, everything is connected to Christ. This is not our own interpretation but was stated directly by Jesus Himself. In John chapter 5, Jesus told the people, who were diligently searching the Old Testament expecting to find eternal life, that "these are they which testify of Me." Since the Scripture of Jesus' day was the Old Testament, we know that the story of Jacob and Joseph is, in some form, connected to Christ.

 

Why Jacob Was Greater Than Pharaoh

Through this biblical principle, we arrive at the second conclusion: Jacob, who blessed Pharaoh, was a greater figure than the King of Egypt. Therefore, based on the principle of Scripture, Jacob was superior to Pharaoh. But did Jacob himself truly hold this belief? Could he genuinely possess such confidence? As described earlier, Jacob was a 130-year-old man, still limping. It is natural to question whether this frail figure, standing before the golden throne of the supreme ruler, could have felt entitled to occupy the high position of bestowing a blessing upon the king.

 

The Church's Mission to the World

Therefore, it is profoundly important for us to examine why and for what reason Abraham, and then his grandson Jacob, could bless Pharaoh. You may have heard this story or sermon many times, but let me mention one more point lest it be missed. Jacob blessed Pharaoh not once, but twice. Because the contexts of the first and second blessings are different, we must examine this blessing again carefully.

 

The context of the first blessing is deeply related to Joseph. When Joseph presented his father to the king, Jacob blessed the king. This means Jacob had an underlying conviction.

 

Of course, we can easily understand this to mean that Jacob, who serves the one true God, intended to demonstrate that his God was superior by bestowing a blessing upon the Gentile, idol-like Pharaoh of Egypt—who, though a man, considered himself divine. This is a very natural inference, and it connects with the Book of Exodus.

 

Why Pharaoh Accepted Jacob’s Blessing

However, I believe there is something more we should focus on in this event. It is understandable that Jacob raised his hands to bless the king because he, as a servant of God and a man of the covenant, believed himself to be superior to the king.

 

But why did Pharaoh remain still? Is that not strange? Imagine someone who is clearly inferior to you comes and offers you a blessing. As I mentioned in the first part, we have homeless brothers near the church. They are sometimes hygienically challenging, and many people hesitate to approach them due to safety concerns, but generally, they are not threatening. I meet and talk with them several times a week. After we finish talking, when I ask them how they are doing and what their future plans are—they all have plans—do you know what they say to me at the end? “God bless you.”

 

When I hear that, while I am touched that they, too, are capable of blessing others, it also feels very strange and awkward. This is a person who doesn't even know how they will live the next day. A friend of ours named Jerry, who lives nearby, has a severely injured leg and must always use a wheelchair. But when he finishes talking to me, he says, "God bless you." He knows I'm a pastor. I sometimes ask him, "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" Such an exchange feels awkward. Yet, Jacob is offering such a blessing to Pharaoh.

 

You know from watching historical dramas: If a hot-tempered king like Taejong or Taejo were sitting on the throne and a subject suddenly approached and declared, "O King, I will give you a blessing," the king would cry, "Guards, seize him!" Is that not treason? Yet, this is what happened, and Pharaoh remains passive.

 

This means Pharaoh acquiesced to the blessing. What was he accepting? We can only understand this by recalling the whole story of Joseph. Listen to Pharaoh's words and consider what he knew.

 

Joseph had previously told Pharaoh, “O Pharaoh, God will reveal the dream to you.” After Joseph revealed the interpretation of the dream, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this.” The word ‘God’ came from Pharaoh's own lips. That is, Pharaoh knew that the God whom Joseph served had revealed this to Joseph, thereby saving Egypt.

 

Now, the father of that very Joseph has arrived. The God whom Joseph served saved Egypt, and perhaps Joseph's father is even more potent? When the father comes and blesses him, Pharaoh does not resist. This is because he assumes this man serves the God who saved Egypt.

 

Therefore, the first blessing offered by Jacob, Joseph’s father, contained Jacob’s message to Pharaoh: “In fact, the God who saved Egypt is the one who grants you blessing.” This is how Jacob and Pharaoh first meet. It is analogous to the encounter between the world and the people of God, the kingdom of God.

 

The Church's Role in Saving the World

And as you read this Scripture, there is a moment, which we often overlook, when the reason for Egypt’s salvation is revealed. Why was Egypt saved? It was saved to preserve Jacob and the descendants of the promise. The relationship between the world and the Kingdom of God, which is the Church, is complex and requires various considerations.

 

However, the undeniably clear truth in this text is that we do not live because of the world. Whether you work at Google, Apple, or in your own business or any workplace, we generally think we live on the salary earned from that job. But the reality is the opposite.

 

The reason this world has not yet been destroyed by God’s wrath is because of us. And it is because God desires His children to be saved on this earth through the Gospel being spread through us. Of course, God’s deep desire is for all humanity to know His great love and be saved. This is the profound purpose of God’s love, and we are called to be part of that work.

 

The Christian's Mission and Faithfulness

So, what we commonly call evangelism or mission is not an option for you and me as followers of Jesus. It is not, “If you believe in Jesus, you should also evangelize diligently.” Instead, you yourself are the evangelist. Evangelist is your very name. So, whisper to yourself: "I am an evangelist." Not just pastors or missionaries, but all of you are evangelists. Of course, some of you may have a spiritual gift and dedicate yourselves entirely to that work, and a pastor is one such person. But through your life, through those you meet, and through the testimony of your life, you are constantly proclaiming Christ.

 

That is why Scripture calls you the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Salt must be salty. How many things happen in the world? At that time, you have the duty to discern what is pleasing to God and seek His will. To choose or blindly follow something based on your conventional wisdom, your personal preferences, your temperament, or your inclination is to neglect the proper duty and responsibility of a Christian, and is, in a way, laziness. You must diligently search the Word.

 

It is slightly more likely that I know the Bible better than you do. (If I say that with great humility, you should nod your head and think, "Ah, the pastor is speaking humbly," and not glare at me!)

 

Yet, even I find that there are countless issues—whether political problems in Korea or America—that my biblical knowledge alone cannot completely resolve or provide absolute certainty on. Therefore, we must humbly seek to know God’s Word more deeply. Because we know the purpose for which we were called into this world, there is no reason for us to cling to worldly things or risk our very lives for them, to the point where our whole life is ruined.

 

However, because we rejoice when God's righteousness is implemented and His pleasing will is accomplished, we must pray for a discerning heart and seek God’s wisdom as we go forward. This does not mean simply asking, “God, I will pray, so what should I do?” Instead, it requires us to deeply meditate on God’s Word and His values, and how He instructs us through Scripture to view this world and how to respond to such events.

 

The Liberty of Conscience and Respect

Yet, at the same time, you have a great deal of freedom. While you sincerely study God’s Word and diligently rely on the Holy Spirit, you are free to make decisions according to the liberty of your conscience, and you act according to your measure of faith.

 

Therefore, it is not a good look for Christianity when Christians regard everything as having only one right direction, leading to divisions between one faction and another. We must learn to respect one another. As you know, there is no perfect theory or political ideology that contains all the answers in the world. We live in a capitalist society, but capitalism is only superior when compared to communism; if it truly solved all problems, this world would be heaven. But that is not the case.

 

Therefore, because we know all these weaknesses, we humbly examine them carefully and make decisions within our sincere conscience and the measure of faith God has given us. This is what God requires. The answer is not in how great your decision was or how absolutely right it is, but whether, in the process of making that decision, you are faithfully answering before God, and considering how you are fulfilling His will and the mission of this age. You must not be lazy.

 

My friends, merely attending a sermon once on Sunday and occasionally listening to a sermon or lecture on YouTube is absolutely insufficient to carry out the weighty mission God has given us on this earth. We cannot fulfill the mission of raising children, serving the church, and proclaiming this Word. Therefore, I urge you not to be lazy in learning the Word; do not settle for simple, superficial understanding, but commit your hearts to the belief, "I must sincerely, diligently, and deeply know and act upon the task God has given me."

 

What Is Required of Stewards Is Faithfulness

What will God ask of us? He will ask, “Were you faithful?” He will not ask, “How well did you do?” or “How much did you gain?” but “Were you faithful?”

 

Everyone possesses different gifts. Some are intelligent, some are warm-hearted, some are rational, and some are highly emotional. Since we are all different, God does not demand that everyone produce "five talents." He asks for different things from the person who has ten and the person who has five. And what does He ask? You know it as loyalty, but it is faithfulness. It is about how faithfully you responded according to your measure of faith.

 

We might respond incorrectly or fail. We all want to do well, but we can make mistakes. Yet, you know that with us, it is not a case of, "Because you made one mistake, your life is over."

 

Therefore, whether it be a social issue or a personal family matter, you have received a serious calling from God. Resolve to say, “I will not neglect God’s Word; I will take it seriously and do my utmost according to my conscience.” And not only for myself, but I will regard and respect all others who are striving to make such decisions as my brothers and sisters, and I will seek to find the good that allows us to unite within that diversity. It won't be easy.

 

When in the history of Christianity has it ever been easy? I may not have told you before, but there was the much-respected John Owen, whom we know as a Puritan and who was central to the Puritan Revolution. Although he was not one of the Westminster Divines, he was present at the Westminster Assembly. And there was Richard Baxter, whom you also know well—the author of The Reformed Pastor and many other devotional books. They lived in the same era and were both highly respected scholars and Puritans.

 

Did you know that they fought intensely? They quarreled to the very end. Looking back now, the issues seem trivial ("Why did they fight so hard over that?"), and their personalities and opinions were very different. But there was one thing they both consistently affirmed: “You and I are one body and one brother in Christ.” Because they never forgot this, they were able to become God's people, respected by many throughout history.

 

The Church's Essence: A Community That Blesses the World

Therefore, when you and I have differing opinions or thoughts, always remember: Are we truly faithful to God’s Word? Am I faithful to the conscience God has given me? Am I being swayed by other teachings, my own common sense, my surroundings, a favorite politician or scholar, or any other person—be it Calvin, Wesley, or a specific political figure—or am I reflecting on myself through the lens of God's Word? Please remember this.

 

The Church is the body of Jesus Christ that can never be divided by the world. This is what we must remember together. And as mentioned earlier, when Pharaoh met Jacob, who gave the blessing? The Church must be a community that can bestow blessing upon the world. We must be concerned for the world, pray for its blessing, intercede for its people, earnestly desire God's righteousness to arise and be fulfilled there, and strive with all our might to live accordingly. Do not forget this.

 

As South Korea is in such a turbulent state, you may have thought while listening to this message how much pain the churches and the people must be enduring. We must pray together for our homeland—for everyone who leaves their country becomes a patriot.

 

A Difficult Life and the Sojourner’s Journey

Now, if you have understood what we have discussed, we must move on to the next scene. Jacob’s blessing is complete, and it is time to focus on Pharaoh’s question.

 

What did Pharaoh ask? “How old are you?”

 

For people in Korea, this question is not strange at all. We usually ask a person’s age first. That way, we know how to address them and whether to speak casually or respectfully. The Korean language itself requires this, so even children sometimes ask, “Hey, let me see your ID first.”

 

However, in ancient societies, such a question was rarely asked. Have you ever seen a scene in the Bible where someone’s age is asked directly without them first volunteering the information? It is rare.

 

Therefore, this question is not merely an inquiry about a number. It should be interpreted precisely as the question: “What on earth has happened in your life?” Since the Bible does not explicitly state this, we employ a slight degree of imagination to aid our understanding. (Of course, we must remember that this is imaginative elaboration for understanding, not the Word of the Lord.)

 

“What Kind of Life Have You Lived?”

For example, imagine that a homeless man approached me and blessed me. His face is dirty and he looks a mess. I might ask, "Sir, what on earth have you been doing with your life until now?" You understand what I mean?

 

Jacob's appearance before Pharaoh was like that. Pharaoh knew he was blessed by Jacob, and that Jacob served God. But how powerful was this God? He was the God who saved Egypt! Yet, looking at Jacob, Pharaoh must have thought, “Is this really a person who believes in such a God? Why is he so shabby? Why couldn’t his God even heal his leg?” The question arises: Why did the God who saved countless people and rescued Egypt not heal your leg? That is why he asks, “What kind of life have you lived?” Pharaoh was curious about Jacob's life.

 

Upon hearing the age, since 110 was considered the maximum lifespan in Egypt at the time, Pharaoh must have felt considerable respect for Jacob upon hearing he was 130. Nevertheless, the question must have persisted: ‘What on earth happened to him?’

 

Perhaps Pharaoh looked at Jacob with respect, but if I were Jacob, I might have said, "Although I look shabby, I am a man who serves the true God. Let me tell you how God has loved me." He might have shared his testimony and, in our terms, said, "Pharaoh, believe in Jesus."

 

“The Years of My Sojourning”

Yet, Jacob’s answer is different. His words sound like this: “My life has been difficult, very hard, and, moreover, relatively short.” These are all negative statements. But was this truly all that Jacob intended to convey?

 

If we take these words at face value, there are difficult points to reconcile. First, Jacob had previously said upon meeting Joseph, “Now, God, let me go. Your will has been accomplished.” He even said, “Now I am content to die.”

 

Could the same Jacob now simply conclude with the statement, “I have lived a difficult life?” What is even stranger is that after saying this, he blesses Pharaoh again. If he suffered so much, lived such a rough life, and considered himself insignificant, how could he bless the king again?

 

It would not be strange for him to say, “I blessed you earlier, but this time, you bless me. It seems you have fared much better than I.” His clothing alone would suggest this. Yet, Jacob does not do this. Instead, it is Pharaoh who receives the blessing, not Jacob, who seems to be in need of one.

 

So, we need to examine this verse again. It is Genesis 47:9. Let us look at verse 9 once more:

“And Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning."

 

I have mentioned 130 years, a difficult life, and a short lifespan. But there is one thing I have not yet emphasized: the word “sojourning.”

 

Jacob describes his life as a “sojourner’s journey.” You know well what a sojourner means. Last week, when we discussed the land of Goshen, his brothers said, “We have come to sojourn in the land; we are not coming to live there. We are temporary residents.”

 

What does a sojourner look toward? The eternal Kingdom. Therefore, Jacob is saying this: "I have lived a difficult life, but I am living as a sojourner on this earth."

 

Putting this into clearer terms, Jacob is making this confession about his life: Due to my sin and greed, I tried to seize the birthright; I deceived my brother and my father. As a result, I nearly died and became a fugitive, fleeing far from the Promised Land.

 

But on that path of escape, where I could have died, God met me at Bethel. He told me, “I will be with you.”

 

After that difficult journey, I went to my uncle's house, and I, whose name literally means 'deceiver,' was deceived there myself. When is a professional con artist most distressed? When he himself is conned. Jacob was thoroughly deceived by Laban.

 

But it did not end there. In that place, he formed a family, had children, and God blessed him with wealth. Then, when he was leaving that land to return to Canaan, Esau, who might kill him, was waiting.

 

Amidst that fear, on his way to Canaan, God called him, and He gave the fearful man the name “Israel”—one who struggles with God and overcomes.

 

The Blessing of One Who Has Received Grace

I am briefly reviewing Jacob's life. Moreover, if he had one joy in his old age, it was raising Joseph, but then he lost him. He thought Joseph was dead, but now, finally, the famine came, and instead of dying from the famine, he met Joseph. The fact that God had prepared Joseph in advance—how astonishing is that, my friends!

 

Objectively, Jacob's life, (and I might be scolded by Jacob if he heard this,) was a life of falling into the very pit he dug for himself. He constantly sinned, coveted, strove for things by his own strength, used his cunning, and then fell into his own traps. When God rescued him slightly, he would take a breath and then immediately cause trouble again, falling back into the pit. Logically, his life should have ended with his bones left unburied in the wilderness.

 

But look! Am I not standing here now, blessing you? I am a person who knows the goodness of that God. God did not break His promise but protected me to the end, and I have received something wonderful that I truly do not deserve. We call receiving the undeserved grace. I am a man who has received grace. Therefore, I bless you.

 

I received grace, and because I know that grace, I bless you. In this regard, no one knows better than I do. Abraham and Isaac do not know this grace quite so well. They appeared to be quite obedient on the surface, did they not? But I, who resisted, rejected, fled, and lived according to my own will, was nevertheless preserved to the end by a God who kept me, though I was entirely undeserving of all of it. This is grace. That is why I can pronounce a blessing upon you.

 

The Reason for Blessing Despite Having Nothing

Although I have nothing superior to you, this is the second crucial reason for offering this blessing. But go one step further. The point is, I will bless you anyway. You are the king who rules this great land of Egypt. I am a person who must rely on a tiny patch of land in Egypt that you have permitted, a very small piece compared to the whole of Egypt. Furthermore, I am a foreigner. This land is not mine now, nor will it be in the future, and I have no nation.

 

There is nothing in my life to boast about. There is nothing to boast about among my children. I might point to Joseph, but truly, there is nothing. Comparing the two of us, who is the failure? Who wasted their life? One is a king seated on a throne who can grant land when needed, and the other is an unknown, insignificant man. Yet, I bless you.

 

I am a man who has nothing. I am one who must live by gaining a tiny plot in a corner of Egypt, a sojourner among sojourners. I am a person who will not even set foot on the Promised Land again. If there were a final reward after suffering, we could endure, couldn't we? If God had told me I would return to Canaan at the end and possess that land, I could humble myself and endure for a while.

 

But I will not return to the Promised Land. The opportunity to recover my life is not given again. I will not be re-established as the owner of the Promised Land. I will not return to a situation where I can enjoy everything again. Even taking all this away, I still remain the person who blesses you. Why? Because even if I lose all these things, I cannot deny the God who has never once denied my life.

 

My Testimony, My Song of Praise

Even if my life ends with nothing, I cannot deny that God. Even if I lose everything, I am still a blessed person. Since that God is with me, I can still be the one who blesses you. In the language of our hymns, "This is my testimony, this is my song of praise." "While I live, I will continually praise the Savior."

 

Who in this world can replace this God? What god in this world would walk this path with me, cling to me—the one who soiled his own life, dug his own pitfalls, boasted, and lived self-centeredly—the one who so shamelessly called upon God, but was never abandoned?

 

In New Testament terms, what God would come down to the lowest place and seek to wash my feet? How can I deny that God? How can I abandon that God? How can I deny the Jesus who will stand before the judgment seat, show His pierced hands, and say to God, “Father, I died with these pierced hands for him,” defending me? Since He is my life, O people of God, how can we not draw near to the Lord?

 

Today, even on this small, crowded planet, we are still squirming. Everyone is trying to survive, trying to climb a little higher than others—stepping on heads to get ahead, even though we are all in the same place. We try so hard to live a slightly better life, doing things others do not. When you think about it, life is truly hard and difficult.

 

But there is One who knows my heart and prays for me, who knows my pain and holds me, saying, “No, you are my precious son and daughter.” One who never passes us by, who knows my suffering, who truly knows why I shed tears, and who never denies me.

 

We who struggle, feeling like we will fall and lose our way daily in sin and desire—we who call upon God daily with our lips but deny Him countless times with our actions—yet He never denies us, never pretends not to know us, and never passes us by. That God, that Jesus Christ, how could I ever forget Him? Friends, how can we forget Him? How can we deny Him?

 

I am the son of that God, the daughter of that God, and that God is my Father. Therefore, my beloved ones, cry out confidently: “World, receive my blessing!” Receive this love that God gives to me! World, as I strive to live as salt and light in this decaying, foul-smelling place, World, receive the blessing of God!

 

Let us pray.

World, I bless you.

Lord, may we never lose the unspeakable love of God we have received by grace

because of my small problems today,

or my little complaints and dissatisfactions,

or my apathy.

Lord, help me not to miss the true treasure

by being so absorbed in my own struggling life today

that my eyes fail to see You and only see myself.

Lord, our eternal inheritance,

we confess again that drawing near to You is our blessing.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.