Series: Genesis May 8, 2005

Message: “The Great God of Jacob” Genesis 45:16-46:7

Big Idea: Change is never easy, but it is necessary. God is able to meet

all our needs as He brings us through the changes that come our way. HeHH

I. THE BACKGROUND TO THE STORY

A. Three important factors in the story:

1. The brothers have changed after 20 years of DISCIPLINE.

2. Joseph and the brothers have been RECONCILED after 20+

years of separation.

3. Jacob is 130 years old and is about to face the biggest

CHANGES of his life.

B. Three important plots in the story:

1. JOSEPH

2. BROTHERS

3. NATION

II. THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S CHARACTER

A. God’s WISDOM in moving Israel to Egypt

1. To PRESERVE them

2. To DISCIPLINE them

3. To ISOLATE them

4. To EDUCATE them

5. To DEVELOP them

B. God’s PROVIDENCE in moving Israel to Egypt

1. Joseph’s DISCERNMENT

2. Pharaoh’s INVITATION

a. Load up the WAGONS

b. Leave your MATERIAL things behind

3. Jacob’s RESPONSE

a. At first UNBELIEF

b. Then BELIEF

C. God’s PROMISES in moving Israel to Egypt

1. Jacob’s WORSHIP

a. The PLACE: Beersheba

b. The CHARACTER: Offering sacrifices

2. God’s ASSURANCES

a. I will make you a great NATION

b. I will go DOWN with you

c. I will bring you UP again

d. I will be with you in DEATH

III. APPLICATIONS

A. God provides ABUNDANTLY for all of our needs.

B. God provides for our needs in His TIMING not ours.

C. God provides in ways we would never EXPECT.

D. God provides for us on the basis of GRACE not our MERIT.

**Please be prayerful and quiet as we come to the end of our study.

Ask the Holy Spirit to bring life change in response to the Word. **