What if our funeral was an opportunity to deliver a message?

Intro

– “And if our funeral were an opportunity to deliver a message! »

Enabling Inheritance _ _

The last time we looked at Genesis chapters 47-48, we focused on Jacob’s inheritance to his sons. But an inheritance is not a reality until the one who prepared it dies. It will be reality when Jacob dies; what is related to us in the last verses of chapter 49 which we are going to read today. But this heritage is much more than a simple family heritage, it is part of the promises that God has in store for humanity who has rejected him. And these promises were specified to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Announced legacy

Promise to Abraham

Genesis 12:1-3 / NJEB21

1. The Lord said to Abram: “Leave your country, your fatherland and your family and go to the land that I will show you.

2. I will make you a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great and you will be a source of blessing.
3. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you, and *all the families of the earth will be blessed in you.”
   Genesis 18:18 / NIV 18. Abraham will become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.

In summary

A people (first descended from Abraham, from which will come a blessing for all peoples),
led by God,
in the territory that He intends for him (first Canaan).
God leads

This end of the book of Genesis shows us once again that God is in control of what He has promised:

be with those who follow Him,
either in spite of those who do not want to follow Him.
God is leading His people, even though at this point in history they are just one big family, but that family is going to become a population.

The patriarchs and their family,
the sons of Jacob who will become 12 tribes,
later a people=> the Hebrews.
Territory

But if God is leading His people, they are not yet in the promised territory; this realization will be done later by Joshua, then by David and Solomon.

First milestone of the promised territory

However, the tombs of the patriarchs and their wives are like an anticipatory artifact, because they are in the promised territory, Canaan.

Genesis 49. 28-32

Meaning of the end of Genesis

And the end of the book of Genesis ends in such a way as to show us:

“Egypt is really great” but it’s not the place God intended for us. It’s Canaan!

In Egypt they are there and will be there very well; it is only at the end, after 400 years, that it degenerates, with a blinded sovereign and the Eternal who shows that it is time to leave to join the territory which is planned for the Hebrews , Canaan.

Aside: Timing of God

Also at a revolutionary moment in the history of humanity when a new material has just been born in a region which seems to me to be called Byblos, the papyrus.

With a guy trained in one of the best schools in the world, Moïse!

But that’s not where I’m expecting you…

It is also very good Canaan

It is Canaan.

That’s not bad either.

It is a country flowing with milk and honey.

The last time, we saw the size of the bunches of grapes brought back by the Hebrew spies: two people were needed to carry them and there were no transgenics at the time!

Jacob and Canaan

Jacob understood that Canaan was the place reserved by God

This is why he gives instructions for his burial. She will be there, in Canaan.

Genesis 49:28-32 / NJEB21

28. These are all the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them, blessing them. He blesses them by attributing to each the blessing which was proper to him.
29. Then he gave them this order: “I will join mine. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
30. in the cave of the field of Machpelah, opposite Mamre in the land of Canaan. This is the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a burial property.
31. There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah.
32. The field and the cave in it were purchased from the Hittites.”
    Proverbs 29 / Bible Segond21 1. The man who deserves reproaches and who is refractory will be broken suddenly, without remedy.
33. When the righteous multiply, the people rejoice; when the wicked dominate, the people groan.
34. The man who loves wisdom delights his father, but he who associates with prostitutes squanders his wealth.
35. A king strengthens his country by law, but he who multiplies taxes ruins it.
36. The man who flatters his neighbor lays a snare under his feet.
37. The wicked man’s transgression lays a snare, but the righteous triumphs and rejoices.
38. The righteous know the cause of the weak, while the wicked do not understand knowledge.
39. Mockers inflame a city, while sages calm anger.
40. If a wise man goes to court with a madman, no matter how angry he gets or laughs, peace will never come.
41. Bloodthirsty men hate the honest man, while upright men protect his life.
42. The stupid man flaunts all his passion, while the wise puts a brake on it.
43. When the ruler pays heed to lying words, all his servants are wicked.
44. The poor and the oppressor meet: it is the Eternal who enlightens the sight of both.
45. A king who judges the weak in all truth will have his throne established forever.
46. The rod and the reproach bring wisdom, while the child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
47. When the wicked proliferate, sin proliferates, but the righteous will see their downfall.
48. Correct your son and he will leave you in peace, he will delight you.
49. When there is no revelation, the people know no restraint, but if they keep the law, they are happy.
50. It is not by words that one corrects a slave: even if he understands, he does not obey.
51. If you see a man talking without thinking, there is more to expect from a stupid man than from him.
52. If you spoil a slave from childhood, he ends up taking himself for a son.
53. The choleric leads to conflict, the man full of fury commits many transgressions.
54. A man’s pride will lead him to humiliation, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain glory.
55. He who shares with a thief hates himself; he hears the curse well, but he does not confess.
56. It is a snare to tremble before men, but trusting in the Lord provides security.
57. Many seek the favor of the one who rules, but it is the Eternal who gives justice to everyone.
58. The unjust man abhors the righteous, and he whose way is straight abhors the wicked.
    Instructions for future generations…

Genesis 48. 21

“I am going to die, but God will be with you and he will bring you back to the land of your ancestors. »

Joseph and Canaan

Joseph had also understood this well, in his role as 4th patriarch !

He couldn’t be buried in Egypt

His functions in Egypt did not allow him to be buried in Canaan, that would have been an affront.

As if we had a binational federal councilor who would be buried in France… Shame!

But he was already looking towards Canaan

However, through what he had lived with the Eternal, Joseph had also understood that Egypt was not the place of the promise; Joseph will also give instructions for his bones when the Hebrews return to the place of promise,

Canaan.

Text

Genesis 50:22-26 / NJEB21

22. Joseph dwelt in Egypt, together with his father’s family. He lived 110 years.
23. Joseph saw the sons of Ephraim up to the third generation and he even held the sons of Makir, the son of Manasseh, on his knees when they were born.
24. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am going to die, but God will intervene for you and bring you up from this land to the land which he swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
25. Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “When God intervenes for you, you will bring up my bones far from here.”
26. Joseph died at the age of 110. They embalmed him and put him in a coffin in Egypt.
    This realization is not an imagination of the mind but the Bible tells us

Text

Hebrews 11:22 / NJEB21 22. It was by faith that Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave orders concerning his bones.

Moses fulfills Joseph’s wish

And it is Moses, at the time of the Exodus from Egypt, who will organize the repatriation of Joseph’s bones so that they are in Canaan.

Exodus 13. 19

and Moses had taken the bones of Joseph with him, for the latter had made the children of Israel swear to it, saying, “When God intervenes for you, you will bring up my bones far from here with you.”

Jacob’s funeral “anticipates” the Exodus

The occasion of Jacob’s funeral is even “a dress rehearsal” of what the Exodus should be.

Permission request

Joseph asks the Pharaoh’s entourage for permission to go to Canaan to bury Jacob.
Moses will do the same to go and offer sacrifices ( Exodus 7. 16 & 26 and 8. 4 etc.).
Huge population displacement

Almost all of Egypt is empty (of Egyptians like Jacob’s family) to go there, only the children remain.
And with Moses, all the Hebrew people will come out but not the Egyptian people.
Difference

All return (the Egyptians and the family of Jacob).

We will read it together.

Genesis 49.33 – 50.26

Death of Jacob

33 When Jacob had finished giving his orders to his sons, he put his feet back in the bed, he expired and went to join his people.

Genesis – Chapter 50

Genesis 50:1-26 / NJEB21

1. Joseph threw himself on his father’s face, wept over him and kissed him.

2. He ordered the physicians who were in his service to embalm his father, and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3. It was 40 days which passed thus and were employed in embalming him. The Egyptians mourned him for 70 days.
4. When the days of mourning were over, Joseph addressed the members of Pharaoh’s entourage saying, “If I have found favor in your sight, tell Pharaoh what I tell you.
5. My dad made me take an oath saying, ‘I’m going to die. You will bury me in the tomb that I prepared for myself in the land of Canaan.’ So I would like to go up there to bury my father and come back.”
6. Pharaoh replied, “Go up there and bury your father according to the oath he made you swear.”
7. Joseph went up to bury his father. He was accompanied by all the Pharaoh’s servants, the officials of the palace, all the officials of Egypt,
8. all his own entourage, his brothers and his father’s family. Only the children and the small and large cattle were left in the Gosen region.
9. There were still chariots and horsemen with Joseph, so that the procession was very numerous.
10. When they came to the threshing floor of Athad which is on the other side of the Jordan, they uttered great and very deep lamentations. Joseph mourned for seven days in honor of his father.
11. The inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, witnessed this mourning in the threshing floor of Athad and they said: “What a great mourning for the Egyptians!” This is why we called Abel-Mitzraïm this threshing floor which is on the other side of the Jordan.
12. Thus the sons of Jacob obeyed the orders of their father.
13. They carried him into the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Macpelah, purchased as a burial property by Abraham from Ephron the Hittite and which is opposite Mamre.
14. After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all those who had gone up with him to bury his father.
15. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to themselves, “If Joseph hates us and repays us for all the evil that we have done to him!”
16. And they sent word to Joseph, “Your father gave the following command before he died:
17. ‘This is what you will say to Joseph: Oh! Forgive the crime of your brothers and their sin, for they have wronged you!’ Now forgive the crime of the servants of your father’s God!” Joseph wept as he listened to their message.
18. His brothers themselves came and fell at his feet and said, “We are your servants.”
19. Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I indeed in the place of God?
20. You planned to hurt me, God changed it for good to accomplish what is happening today, to save the lives of many people.
21. From now on, therefore, do not be afraid any longer: I will provide for you and for your children.” This is how he comforted them by speaking to their hearts.
22. Joseph lived in Egypt, together with his father’s family. He lived 110 years.
23. Joseph saw the sons of Ephraim up to the third generation and he even held the sons of Makir, the son of Manasseh, on his knees when they were born.
24. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am going to die, but God will intervene for you and bring you up from this land to the land which he swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
25. Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “When God intervenes for you, you will bring up my bones far from here.”
26. Joseph died at the age of 110. They embalmed him and put him in a coffin in Egypt.
    The end of Genesis shows us a bit more how God leads; the birth of His people and as this already points to the territory He reserves for them, through the burial places of Jacob and Joseph.

Jacob and Joseph deliver a message

Through their funerals, Jacob and Joseph take the opportunity to deliver a message that points to the fulfillment of God’s promises.

And U.S ?

And us, are our funerals reduced to a small egocentric question: cremation or burial?

What if our funeral was an opportunity to deliver a message?

small parenthesis

Either by burial or cremation; Besides, is it biblical?

Notice here, in today’s text, if we were misinterpreting the Bible, we would have to conclude that biblically, one must be embalmed… Since this is the case for Jacob and Joseph

Why did they do it?

Because it was the usage understood as respectful in Egypt at the time.

A little hindsight in the AT

In general, this is what the Old Testament shows us.

In common usage, burial was understood as respectful to the Hebrews.

If we wanted to deliver the opposite message, we exposed the corpses of the vanquished, we took their bones out of the graves to desecrate them ( 2 Kings 23. 16 ), it was a sign of judgment ( Leviticus 20. 14 & 21. 9).

There was also the idea of ​​not imitating the surrounding nations which, for some, cremated their dead, certainly so as not to slip into the idolatry that was linked to it.

In the NT

The New Testament does not give us a specific order, let’s keep the general idea of ​​respect understood in the culture where we are.

No biblical or unbiblical indication

So in this, there is nothing biblical or unbiblical about being buried or cremated, or even being embalmed (well, it takes 40 days!).

Interesting debate

But this subject which is debated from time to time is very interesting.

Because the basic subject comes back to the message that we want to convey through these gestures.

Example in Switzerland

At the time of the first cremations in Switzerland, a debate between cremation and burial was an ideological issue; those who were the first to be cremated in Switzerland were rather free thinkers, atheists who wanted to show by this: “Look, there is nothing after” or “I don’t have to go through the Church and Temple”.

And U.S ?

And what message can we leave?

The Mennonites in Montbéliard

French Association of Mennonite Anabaptist History

Montbéliard Archives Center
3 route de Grand-Charmont
25200 Montbéliard

Menno Simons

Friends, what a treat to walk in the alleys of these cemeteries and also in the old Protestant cemeteries.

On each tombstone wonderful verses testify of God and point to Eternity.

Job 19. 25

I know that he who redeems me lives and will rise last on earth

John 11. 25

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies;

And U.S ?

Maybe we have a card to play to keep witnessing for Christ. Whichever way we choose, we can leave a mark: small graves headstone for cremation or classic grave headstone for burial.

What verse I would like to leave to those who pass by?

We will also have a growing impact, since a large number of our contemporaries are being cremated.

We will be all the more readable.

What if our funeral was an opportunity to deliver a message?

What if our funerals were an opportunity to continue to worship God?

Does God owe me anything?

Duty

Did we pass our challenge? From a few days ago?

Did you catch yourself, in your prayers,

to intercede,
For rent,
to thank for
what God is resolutely unrolling for the restoration of all things

Or

did we just stop

on our daily life,
our reality,
our finitude?
Another thought today

Question

Does God owe me anything?

Christian response

For convenience we would say: “no”.

Reality

But in reality, 2 principles stick to our skin which, lurking deep inside us, certainly say the opposite…

1) The principle of retribution.

If my life is as fair as it can be, God owes me something.

Even unbelievers have this reflex when they look at each other: “I didn’t steal, I didn’t kill, so… God owes me paradise…”

But what happens

to Joseph and
to Job
proves that this is not necessarily the case.

They had many years of unfair hardships.

And the reverse is not always true either, the wicked are not always punished for their faults during their lifetime…

Just by observing, we can see that this principle is not reality.

But we are attached to it and it sticks to our skin!

2) The principles and laws of our county or country have a huge impact on our outlook on life and our expectations.

.

If I do right, I’m right and the right is with me

Generally true, but

if your country is bankrupt,
if your country is at war,
if your country has collapsed following an earthquake,
if other factors…
What I expect and demand is likely to wait a long time…

Influence in my expectations of God

Inevitably, these 2 parameters have an influence on my expectations vis-à-vis God.

Question

Does God owe me anything?

God’s answer

The answer is simple.

God owes himself to himself, to what he is

to his righteousness,
by his grace,
as a judge
to his benevolence
etc
God detached from our “jurisprudences”

God has no obligation to our conception,

Swiss normality,
of the normality that I made in my head,
as deemed fair,
of what, in my opinion, should come back to me,
of what is in my favor in law.
Everything is grace

God works by grace.

We live beyond our means because God pours out His grace on us superabundantly. We live much more than we deserve, and yet, we have often made this grace a normality for us, a due, so much this principle of right or retribution is anchored in us.

big test

A great test of whether we have integrated the reality of grace showered on our lives and are less in our due, our “right” is to observe how people react when there is a legacy and loss. also observe how we react when there is a legacy at stake.

Disappointed

I have often been flabbergasted to see the irrational and unreasonable appetite of certain brothers and sisters in the name of right (it goes without saying in their favor).

Encouraged

And been more seldom touched forever by others who have favored peace over law which strengthens the bank account.

Learn to take a step back

The book of Genesis teaches us to detach ourselves from the obligation to which it would be normal for…

The unexpected

It is often the unexpected who find grace or who are included in the path of grace that leads to Christ.

Abel is preferred to Cain the Elder.

Through Isaac passes the fulfillment of the promises, while it is Ishmael the eldest.

Through Jacob passes the fulfillment of the promises, while it is Esau the eldest.

Through Judah passes the fulfillment of the promises, while it is Reuben the eldest.

Ephraim is particularly blessed by Jacob, while it is Manasseh the eldest.

Moses leads the people, when he was younger than Aaron

David was the youngest of the family.

Solomon was not David’s oldest son.

Etc.

Doesn’t God tell us with his many examples that

God free from our conceptions

God’s blessings are not given following

human notarial laws,
natural laws,
our law does not come into play, even if we are indoctrinated and formatted since childhood in this sense.
Blessings are always the object of His grace.

God is free and in agreement with all that represents Him, in the eyes of grace.

Today’s text illustrates this principle well.

Genesis 48:1-6 / NJEB21

1. After that, they came and said to Joseph, “Your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.

2. They warn Jacob and say to him, “Here is your son Joseph coming to you.” Israel gathered his strength and sat down on his bed.
3. Jacob said to Joseph, “Almighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.
4. He said to me: ‘I will give you children, I will make your descendants numerous and I will bring out from you a whole group of peoples. I will give this land to your descendants after you to have it forever.’
5. From now on, the two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to you in Egypt will be mine: Ephraim and Manasseh will be my sons, just like Reuben and Simeon.
6. As for the children you had after them, they will remain yours. They will be associated with their brothers in their inheritance.
   Confusing for us

It seems super strange to us, this way of doing things…

But it is a strong and enormous gesture that Jacob decrees.

Manasseh and Ephraim born when Joseph and Jacob were separated become sons of Jacob!

Not a kidnapping but concerns the inheritance

So he did not steal them and presumably the 2 children continued to live in Joseph’s house, but this has consequences on the inheritance shares and much more:

Look at verse 3 (just before -Hermeneutics-), Jacob speaks of the people who come out of him, there is a stake in the constitution of the people.

Legacy Rank Shift

In fact, Jacob moves Joseph’s first children up one rank.

to put them on the same footing of inheritance as his other 10 sons.

Joseph becomes a patriarch

In fact, Joseph also goes up a rank in consideration, he is on the same level as Jacob himself.

Moreover, contrary to Christianity, the Jews consider Joseph as a patriarch. They may be right because there are special instructions regarding his burial (just like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) will be given so that eventually his remains will be in the land of promise.

Genesis 48:7-17 / NJEB21

7. On my return from Paddan, Rachel died on the road near me in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrata. That’s where I buried her, on the way to Ephrata, that is, Bethlehem.”
8. Then Israel looked at the sons of Joseph and asked, “Who are these?”
9. Joseph replied to his father, “They are my sons. God gave them to me here.” Israel said, “Bring them near to me to bless them.”
10. Israel’s eyesight had diminished due to old age, he could no longer see well. Joseph brought them near to him, and Israel kissed and embraced them tenderly.
11. Israel said to Joseph: “I did not expect to see your face again, and now God is showing me even your descendants!”
12. Joseph lifted them from his father’s lap and bowed down to the ground before him.
13. Then he took them both by the hand: he held Ephraim with his right hand, so that he was on the left of Israel, and Manasseh with his left hand, so that he was on the right of Israel, and he brought them near to him.
14. Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the youngest, and he laid his left hand on the head of Manasseh. It was intentionally that he put his hands like this, for Manasseh was the eldest.
15. He blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has taken care of me from my existence until today, 16.
    the angel who delivered from all evil, bless these boys! May my name and that of my fathers Abraham and Isaac survive through them and may they multiply abundantly within the land!”
16. Joseph saw with displeasure that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head. He took his father’s hand to turn it from Ephraim’s head and direct it to Manasseh’s.
    He took his father’s hand to turn it from Ephraim’s head and direct it to Manasseh’s. 18 Joseph said to his father,

” It’s not fair , my father, because he is the eldest. Put your right hand on his head!”

It’s not in the usual “notarial” order…

Genesis 48:19-22 / NJEB21

19. His father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will give birth to a people, he too will be great, but his younger brother will be greater than him and his offspring will fill the nations.”
20. He blesses them that day. He said, “It is through you that Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God treat you like Ephraim and like Manasseh!’” He placed Ephraim before Manasseh.
21. Israel said to Joseph, “I am going to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your ancestors.
22. I give you a portion more than your brothers: Shechem, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”
    Genesis 49:1-3 / NJEB21 1. Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together and I will tell you what will happen to you in the future.
23. Gather and listen, sons of Jacob! Listen Israel, your father!
24. “Reuben, you, my eldest, you who are my strength and the first of my children, superior in dignity and power,
    Not in “notarial” habits

This is not in the usual “notarial” habits.

Incest

Reuben discredited himself by forcibly taking over the leadership of Jacob’s clan, sleeping with Bilhah one of Jacob’s second-ranking wives.

Genesis 35. 22

His birthright is taken away from him in favor of the children of Joseph

In fact, the 2 eldest, Ruben and Simeon, are dispossessed of it.

Genesis 48 verse 5

Genesis 48:5 / NIV 5. From now on, the two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to you in Egypt will be mine: Ephraim and Manasseh will be my sons, just like Reuben and Simeon.

Not in “notarial” habits

This is not in the usual “notarial” habits.

Genocide

Simeon and Levi discredited themselves as heirs to the divine promises, avenging the rape of their sister Dina and planning a calculated genocide of all the men of Shechem and plundering the whole city and taking the women and their children as slaves.

Genesis 34

Genesis 49:8-12 / NJEB21

8. “Judah, it is you whom your brothers will praise. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9. Judah is a young lion. You come back from the carnage, my son! *He bends his knees, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness: who will make him get up?
10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the peoples obey him.
11. He ties his donkey to the vine and the colt of his donkey to the best vine. He washes his garment in wine and his coat in the blood of grapes.
12. He has wine red eyes and milk white teeth.
    Not in “notarial” habits

It’s not in the usual “notarial” habits, it’s the 4th

Genesis 49:13 / NJEB21 13. “Zabulun will reside on the sea coast, he will be on the coast of the ships and his border will extend to the side of Sidon.

The tribe is in the wrong place at Joshua’s division.

Very interesting, because Zebulun will not have possessions along the seashore in the time distribution of Joshua but later around the time of the time of Solomon’s kingdom.

It pulverizes the remarks of those who criticize the Bible by saying that these blessings were written long after Jacob and added to the biblical text to justify the identity of the territory of Israel:

the text is in a Hebrew from before the period of the Judges
and the realization for Zebulon is done afterwards.
The blessings quoted in the name of Joseph, if it had been a late writing, there would have been Ephraim and Manasseh
It could not be an identity make-up but a prophetic word realized in the course of the history of Israel.

Genesis 49:14-28 / NJEB21

14. “Issachar is a sturdy donkey who lies down in stables.
15. He sees that rest is pleasant and that the region is beautiful, and he bends his shoulder under the burden, he submits to slave labor.
16. “Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.
17. Dan will be a serpent in the way, a viper in the path, biting the horse’s heels so that the rider falls backwards.
18. “I hope in your help, O Lord!
19. Gad will be attacked by armed bands, but it is he who will attack and pursue them.
20. »Aser produces excellent food; it will provide the most refined dishes for kings.
21. “Naphtali is a doe on the loose. He speaks beautiful words.
22. “Joseph is the root of a fertile tree, the root of a fertile tree near a spring; its branches extend beyond the wall.
23. They provoked him, they threw arrows at him, the archers pursued him with their hatred,
24. but his bow remained steady and his arms were strengthened by the intervention of the mighty God of Jacob. He thus became the shepherd, the rock of Israel.
25. This is the work of the God of your father, and he will help you; it is the work of the Almighty, and he will bless you. He will grant you the blessings of heaven, the blessings of underground water, the blessings of the udder and the womb.
26. Your father’s blessings exceed those of his ancestors, they reach to the limits of the ancient hills. Let them rest on the head of Joseph, on the skull of him who is the consecrated prince of his brothers!
27. »Benjamin is a badass wolf. In the morning he devours his prey, and in the evening he divides the spoils.
28. These are all those who form the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them, blessing them. He blesses them by attributing to each the blessing which was proper to him.
    He blesses them by attributing to each the blessing which was proper to him.

Testament response to promises

Jacob’s testament closes the book of Genesis by showing how God restores in His grace the blessing lost by Adam and Eve.

Answer :

the people of God, under His leadership, in the territory of God, Hebrews, Canaan

By a people, those who shall be of the sons of Jacob; in the territory

reserved and promised by the Eternal, Canaan, under the direction of a particular and powerful royalty.

This trajectory runs through the entire Bible: the people of God, under the leadership of God, in the territory He has designated for them.

In the first phase, God leads His people, the Hebrews, into the territory of Canaan with leaders attached to God, like Moses, Joshua, David…

Answer :

the people of God, under His leadership, in the territory of God;

Christ, the Church, New Heavens and Earth

It is not an end in itself because from this people comes the One, Jesus Christ, who leads His people, those of all nations who put their trust in Him and whose territory is in the new heavens and the new earth.

Contours already hyper precise in the Genesis

Prophetically, the testament of Jacob gives us certain characteristics of this King announced and revealed in Jesus.

Genesis 49:8 / NJEB21 8. “Judah, it is you whom your brothers will praise. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down to you.

He is the object of praise and adoration of all his family (verse 8), He is triumphant, none resist him (verse 8).

Genesis 49:9 / NJEB21 9. Judah is a young lion. You come back from the carnage, my son! *He bends his knees, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness: who will make him get up?

Dynamic King. No one can stand in the way of His will (verse 9).

Genesis 49:10 / NJV21 10. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come and the peoples obey him.

The kingship will not be taken away from him for his lineage, until the moment when He appears to whom all peoples belong and to whom all peoples will render obedience to Him (verse 10) (see also Revelation 5. 5,9 ) .

Genesis 49:11 / NJV21 11. He tied his donkey to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the best vine. He washes his garment in wine and his coat in the blood of grapes.

This moment opens an era of plenty (verse 11).

He washes his garment in wine and his coat in the blood of grapes.

Genesis 49:12 / NJEB21 12. He has eyes red with wine and teeth white with milk.

But at the same time, this reign is not intended for all, because it is also a question of judgment. We understand that it is intended for his family. (Verse 11-12) (almost apocalyptic language in form) (see also Revelation 19. 11 , 13).

Taking a step back…

Attachment but not the right.

As the rest of the Old Testament shows us, the true people of God is made up of those who really attach themselves to the Eternal, otherwise they are

judged,
discarded,
dominated,
in defeat,
deported.
It’s not the merit,
it’s not nationality,
Canaanites, Moabites are part of it (Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth, for example),

it is not native law,
it’s not the sacrifices,
it is not circumcision (but that of the heart)
which would give rights to which the Eternal would be constrained.

But a heart that really cleaves to Him.

Same dynamic for after the cross

It is the same for His people made up of all those, of all nations who cling to Christ.

No human right which constrains God but the acceptance of the grace acquired by Christ through

Her arrival,
His death,
His resurrection,
His rise.
Grace, starting point and for the future

If the starting point of Life (through Christ) – I am not talking about existence (our birth) – is totally the work of the grace of God (this is also the case for existence), our Life journey must be understood as a grace.

Grace more generous than law

God owes me nothing and in His grace, He gave me and gives me much more than my imaginary claims.

To grace, the answer is gratitude (fidelity, testimony)

If I conduct my life with Christ at best, it’s not to have a secret return on investment, it’s out of gratitude and it’s out of identity as a child of God.

Relationship with the law

If I respect the law, the laws are only an extension of my testimony as a child of God, but my confidence is not in what the law is supposed to bring me; my energy, my expectations are not in the right.

(In parenthesis, the law condemned us and it is grace that makes us live).

Drift from legal attachment

Otherwise,

my energy,
my expectations,
my confidence
are in strict compliance with the law, this will be felt by my fellow human beings, by my expectations vis-à-vis God.

I will be in the principle of retribution and more in a process of life of grace.

In the text that we have read, everything is false at the level of notarial law

All is justice and grace.

And by this grace, we join the grace that makes us live in Christ.

Does God owe me anything? (Genesis 48)

1979 NEG Bible: Genesis 48

1. After these things, they came and said to Joseph, Behold, your father is sick. And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

2. They warned Jacob, and said to him, Behold, your son Joseph is coming to you. And Israel gathered his strength, and sat down on his bed.

3. Jacob said to Joseph: Almighty God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me.

4. He said to me, I will make you fruitful, I will multiply you, and I will make you a multitude of peoples; I will give this country to your posterity after you, to possess it forever.

5. Now the two sons who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt shall be mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, like Reuben and Simeon.

6. But the children you begot after them will be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

7. On my return from Paddan, Rachel died on the way with me, in the land of Canaan, at some distance from Ephrata; and that’s where I buried her, on the road to Ephrata, which is Bethlehem.

8. Israel looked at the sons of Joseph, and said, Who are these?

9. Joseph answered his father: These are my sons, whom God has given me here. Israel said: Bring them, I pray you, to come near to me, that I may bless them.

10. The eyes of Israel were heavy with old age; he could no longer see. Joseph brought them near to him; and Israel kissed them, and embraced them.

11. Israel said to Joseph: I did not expect to see your face again, and behold, God has shown me even your descendants.

12. Joseph lifted them from his father’s lap, and bowed himself to the ground before him.

13. Then Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand on the left of Israel, and Manasseh with his left hand on the right of Israel, and brought them near to him.

14. Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim who was the youngest, and he laid his left hand on the head of Manasseh: it was with intention that he laid his hands thus, for Manasseh was the first born.

15. He blessed Joseph, and said, May the God in whose presence my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, may the God who has guided me from my existence until this day,

16. May the angel who delivered me from all evil, bless these children! Let them be called by my name and by the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, and let them multiply in abundance in the midst of the land!

17. Joseph saw with displeasure that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head; he seized his father’s hand, to turn it from above the head of Ephraim, and to direct it to that of Manasseh.

18. And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.

19. His father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he too will become a people, he too will be great; but his younger brother will be greater than he, and his seed will become a multitude of nations.

20. He blessed them that day, and said, It is through you that Israel will bless, saying, May God treat you like Ephraim and like Manasseh! And he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

21. Israel said to Joseph: Behold, I am going to die! But God will be with you, and he will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

22. I give to you, more than to your brothers, a portion which I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.

Everything contributes to the good of those who love God! (Genesis 46 – 47)

Intro
Our worship will continue this morning considering the greatness of God with which we are involved.

God’s Framework
On the one hand, whatever happens, God puts in place what He has promised.
The whole history of mankind testifies to this.

Ours
And at the same time, God takes everyone’s decisions into account, He takes into account all my choices.

How to do in prayer?
So this has an implication in my prayers:

how do I do, what to ask?
If, in fine, God will put in place what He has planned.
We have an immense privilege, it is that God Himself by His Spirit inspires our prayers.
The two align

• God’s path and the responsibility God entrusts to us align in order to walk in the footsteps of the excellent things that God has foreseen; this is the meaning and context of a well-known verse.

What the Bible says:
Romans 8. 28
Besides, we know that everything works for the good of those who love God, of those who are called according to his plan.

God, in the Bible, does not say:

Romans 8. 28
Moreover, we know that everything contributes to the prosperity of those who love God, of those who are called according to his plan.

Romans 8. 28
Besides, we know that everything contributes to the comfort of those who love God, of those who are called according to his plan.

Romans 8.28
Besides, we know that everything contributes to the hedonism (the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain) of those who love God, of those who are called according to his plan.

The one-way man?
Indeed, if this were the case, it would mean that we humans are the only object, reason of the story, and that this story would end with our end.

Involvement in prayer
This would mean that our prayers have no divine inspiration, but which would be focused on our person, on our navel; that would be terrifying: a flash of existence without provenance and nothingness as an end!

Integration of 2 dimensions
But God integrates our story with a lowercase “h” into His Story with a capital “H”.

Example in Genesis 46 and 47
This is what we will see today in the reading of chapters 46 and 47 of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.

Background
Since chapter 37, God has wanted us to feast, to meditate on the great Story that God is developing in the line of Jacob, because there is a promise He has made that all the nations of the earth would be blessed by this line that leads to Christ!

And at the same time, on the personal history of several people who, by their decisions live the consequences of their choices.
And the consequences can sometimes be suffered or unfair.

Among these people:

Jacob:
His very strong preference for Joseph and other factors led to his believing, with evidence, for some twenty years that his son Joseph was dead.

Joseph,
by trumpeting the visions which showed that the whole clan would submit to him, exploded the hatred of his brothers who finally sold him as a slave and made him pass for dead in the eyes of their father Jacob.

Afterwards, his integrity and helpfulness earned him ten years in prison.

But the same God-enlightened helpfulness and wisdom made him the central figure of one of the greatest powers in the world at the time, saving an entire nation and civilization.

But also to save the line of Jacob, all this family by which the divine promise is realized and will be realized until Christ.

• But is it the fact of Joseph helped by God or is it the fact of God that implicated Joseph?
  Joseph has an idea of ​​it since he said:

For it is to save your life that God sent me here before you
Genesis 45. 5

God sent me here before you to enable you to subsist in the land and to make you live by granting you a great deliverance.
So it wasn’t you who sent me here, it was God.
Genesis 45. 7-8

Judah
A “beautiful scumbag” who has the brilliant idea of ​​changing the course of her brother Joseph’s life by selling him into slavery.

Other “famous” decisions: he moves away from his family to make a living with very “rotten” consequences: two of his sons die leaving a widow whom Judah no longer takes care of.

In the depths of the consequences of these catastrophic decisions, God, through his daughter-in-law, leads him to recognize that he is on the wrong track.

Since then, his leadership qualities will be put to better use
until he offers his freedom in place of his brother Benjamin, caught red-handed and sentenced to slavery.

So let me stay in the boy’s place as my lord’s slave and let the boy go back with his brothers!
Genesis 44. 33

Substituting himself for his doomed brother, Judah, unknowingly, was proposing what someone in his family was going to do perfectly for mankind, which God was preparing in this Great Story through Jesus.

Observation of the two overlapping plots
I therefore suggest that you read chapters 46 and 47, considering how closely these two aspects of life are intertwined,

• the History that God unfolds
• and the involvement of people – history and the decisions of men.

Context

• Joseph has revealed himself to his other brothers and sends them to seek his father Jacob;
• Jacob finally decides to leave when he sees the splendor of the chariots that Joseph sent him to make the journey.

Genesis Reading
– Chapter 46

1 So Israel departed with all that belonged to him. When he reached Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

Even if we don’t fully grasp this pivotal place of Beer-sheba, we do understand that there is continuity between Israel – Jacob and his father Isaac; indeed, one of the counterparts of the Great History passes through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Abraham, Genesis 21. 33 :
Abraham planted tamarisk trees at Beer-sheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God.

Isaac, Genesis 26. 33 :
He called the well Shiba. This is why the name of the city was given to Beer-sheba, until today.

2 God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night. He said, “Jacob! Jacob!” Israel replied, “Here I am!” 3 God said, “I am God, the God of your father.
Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.

In the Great Story, God had promised Jacob’s grandfather,
Genesis 15. 5
After leading him outside, he said, “Look up to the sky and count the stars, if you can count them.” He affirmed to him: “Such will be your offspring.”

4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt and bring you up myself. It is Joseph who will close your eyes.”

More personal story
God, Himself, guarantees him His presence at his side and that Joseph is alive!

5 Jacob left Beer-sheba. The sons of Israel installed their father Jacob with their children and their wives on the chariots that Pharaoh had sent to carry them.
6 They also took their flocks and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan.
This is how Jacob went to Egypt with all his family.
7 He took with him to Egypt his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters and all his family.
8 These are the names of the descendants of Israel who came to Egypt. There was Jacob and his sons.
Jacob’s eldest son: Reuben. 9 Sons of Reuben: Enoch, Pallu, Hetzron and Carmi. 10 Sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin and Zochar, and Saul the son of the Canaanite woman. 11 Sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; however, Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perets were Hetzron and Hamul. 13 Sons of Issachar: Thola, Puva, Job and Shimron. 14 Sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel. 15 These were the descendants that Leah had given to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. His descendants and descendants were 33 in total.
16 Sons of Gad: Ziphjon, Haggi, Shuni, Etsbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. 17 Sons of Asher: Jimnah, Jishva, Jishvi and Beriah and Serah their sister. Sons of Beria: Heber and Malkiel. 18 These were the descendants of Zilpah, the servant whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah; she gave these children to Jacob, 16 people in all.
19 Sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 In Egypt Joseph had Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath the daughter of Poti-phera the priest of On bore him. 21 Sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. 22 These are the descendants that Jacob had by Rachel, 14 people in all.
23 Son of Dan: Hushim. 24 Sons of Naphtali: Jahtseel, Guni, Jetser and Shillem. 25 These are the descendants of Bilhah, the servant whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel; she gave these children to Jacob, 7 people in all.
26 The total number of those who accompanied Jacob to Egypt and who were descendants of him was 66, not counting the wives of Jacob’s sons. 27 Joseph had two sons who were born to him in Egypt. The total number of people from Jacob’s family who came to Egypt was 70.

Great History
There is an aside here to answer what was pointed out earlier, where God guarantees that out of Jacob will come a great nation.

Here there is a numbering, a census of the line of Jacob, when they enter Egypt and when they come out, it will be the Hebrew people under the leadership of Moses.
God is telling us: “I made a promise, remember, you will see the result!” »

Clearly this is an aside because the details of the arrival in Egypt are actually explained to us now in verse 28.

Take a good look at who Jacob sent ahead to prepare for their arrival in Egypt:

28 Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to prepare the way for him in Goshen, and they came to the region of Goshen.

29 Joseph hitched up his chariot and got into it to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as he saw him, he threw himself on his neck and wept for a long time on his shoulder. 30 Israel said to Joseph,
“I can die now, since you are still alive and I have seen your face.”

31 Joseph said to his brothers and his father’s family,
“I will warn Pharaoh and say to him,
‘My brothers and my father’s family who were in the land of Canaan have come to me. 32 These men are shepherds because they raise cattle. They have brought their sheep, their oxen and all that belongs to them.’
33 When Pharaoh calls you and asks,
‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you will answer,
‘Your servants have raised cattle from their youth until now, just like their ancestors.’
In this way you will be able to live in the region of Gosen, since all the shepherds abhor the Egyptians.”

The effects in everyday life in human history:
The effect
of • substitution,

• reconciliation,
• forgiveness.
  Reunion between Joseph and Jacob after 20 years.
  Tips and tricks for settling in, just like we would for someone in our family!

Genesis – Chapter 47

1 Joseph went to tell Pharaoh and said to him,
“My brothers and my father have come from the land of Canaan with their sheep and their oxen and all that belongs to them; they are in the Gosen region.”
2 He took five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.
3 Pharaoh said to them,
“What is your occupation?”
They replied to Pharaoh,
“Your servants are shepherds, just as their ancestors were.”
4 Again they said to Pharaoh,
“We, your servants, have come to sojourn in the land because there is no more pasture for our cattle.
Indeed, famine weighs heavily on the land of Canaan.
So please allow your servants to settle in the Gosen region!”

5 Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Your father and your brothers have come to you.
6 Egypt is before you. Install your father and your brothers in the best part of the country. Let them dwell in the Gosen region.
And if you know that there are capable men among them, put them in charge of my flocks.”

7 Joseph summoned his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh.
Jacob blesses the pharaoh.
8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” 9 Jacob answered Pharaoh,
“My wandering life has lasted 130 years. It was short and bad, and it did not reach the span of the wandering life of my ancestors.
10 Jacob again blessed Pharaoh and withdrew from his presence.

11 Joseph settled his father and his brothers, he gave them a property in Egypt in the best part of the country, in the region of Ramses, according to the orders of Pharaoh.
12 Joseph provided bread for his father and his brothers and for all his father’s family, taking into account the number of children.

Personal and family history where finally, Jacob and all the family are settled in the best part of Egypt of the time. God also leads these excellent times!

13 There was no more bread in all the land, because the famine was very great.
Egypt and the land of Canaan were wasting away from famine.
14 Joseph collected all the money that was available in Egypt and in the land of Canaan and paid it out in exchange for wheat, and brought it into Pharaoh’s house.

15 When the money from Egypt and the land of Canaan was exhausted, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, saying,
“Give us bread! Why would we die before your eyes? In fact, there is no more money.”
16 Joseph said,
“Give your cattle, and I will give you bread for your cattle, if there is no more money.”
17 They brought their flocks to Joseph, and he gave them bread in exchange for horses, flocks of sheep and oxen, and donkeys. He thus provided them with bread that year in exchange for all their herds.

18 When that year was over, the following year they came to Joseph and said to him,
“We will not hide it from you, sir, that the money has run out and our herds of cattle are already in your possession, sir. There is nothing left before you, lord, but our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, we and our lands?
Buy us with our lands in exchange for bread and we will serve the Pharaoh, us and our lands.
Give us what to sow so that we stay alive and do not die, and our lands are not devastated.”
20 Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh.
Indeed, the Egyptians each sold their field because the famine pressed them. This is how the country became the property of the pharaoh.

21 As for the people, he moved them into the cities from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other.
22 Only the lands of the priests he did not buy, because there was a prescription from Pharaoh for them: they lived on the income that Pharaoh gave them, so they did not sell not their land.
23 Joseph said to the people,
“Today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is seed for you and you can sow the ground. 24 – Give Pharaoh A Fifth Of The Crop And The Other Four Parts You Will Use To Sow The Fields And To Feed Yourselves, Your Children, And The Members Of Your Household.”
25 They said:
“You save our lives! If we find favor in your eyes, Lord, we will be slaves to Pharaoh.”
26 Joseph made this a ordinance, still in force today, that one-fifth of the revenue from the land of Egypt belongs to Pharaoh. Only the lands of the priests do not belong to the pharaoh.

Joseph’s Professional History
God gave Joseph extraordinary wisdom.
From the beginning, at Potiphar,

Genesis 39.2
The Lord was with Joseph, and success followed him.

Not only did God enlighten Joseph to guarantee the survival of all the people, but He made Pharaoh immensely rich. All the people’s money in the coffers of the pharaoh, all the lands of Egypt become the property of the pharaoh!

And the people are grateful for the fair balance for the following

• Concept of 1/5
• and the priests of other laws.
  To see if we find equivalent things for the Hebrew people. Normal, the two managements are inspired by the same God!

27 As for Israel, they settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen.
They acquired properties, had children and became very numerous.
28 Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt, and his life span was 147 years.
29 When Israel approached the time of his death, he called his son Joseph and said to him,
“If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and swear that you will show me kindness and faithfulness by not burying me in Egypt. 30 When I lie with my ancestors, you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in the family tomb.”
Joseph replied,
“I will do according to your word.”
31 Jacob said, “Swear to me!” And Joseph swore it to him. Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.

Jacob’s funeral
Twice, we have had indications, in the text of the day, relating to the death and funeral of Jacob which, here are settled, and will take place in accordance with Jacob’s wishes, in the following chapter.

Two intertwined destinies
But you have seen, like me, how the great story of God – which will first lead to salvation – subsequently mingles with the story of people like us, with the story of a country, of a civilization…

Capital perception for our lives
And it is important that we always have these two dimensions in mind, to consider the greatness of God, so that we have a right perception of the original meaning of life (originally created without end) and which
exceeds just functional existence.

Joseph had this perception
Joseph, after what he had gone through with God, had grasped this other dimension

• which went beyond the outrages he had suffered,
• which went beyond the opulence and the aura he enjoyed afterwards.
  1) God had sent him forward to save his family, beyond the machinations of his brothers.
  2) Hebrews 11:22 gives us an interesting indication of this perception.
  Note that it is imperative to look at the texts of the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament!

And Hebrews 11:22 tells us this:
It was by faith that Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.

Beyond the circumstances of this life
Joseph had obviously not grasped everything as the rest of the Bible reveals to us, but he had grasped this dimension which went beyond his sumptuous life, which went beyond the preservation of his family.
But he had a bigger dimension!

And for us?

Identical to Joseph
Our life has the same value as that of Joseph, it is involved in daily life, in short, medium and long term projections.
But it has a dimension that is linked to the great plot that God is unfolding and this is what we saw at the beginning with the verse in the Epistle to the Romans.

Romans 8

Reminder of salvation:
24 Indeed, it is in hope that we have been saved. Now the hope that we see is no longer hope: what we see, can we still hope? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with perseverance.

Faced with this greatness of what God does and the reality of our lives, what do we ask of God in our prayers?

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness. Indeed, we do not know what to ask for in our prayers, but the Spirit himself intercedes [for us] with groans that words cannot express. 27 And God who examines hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because it is in agreement with him that he intercedes in behalf of the saints.

God-Spirit helps us in our prayers, He sets our daily existence on the great plot that God unfolds, which is “Good”.

28 Moreover, we know that everything contributes to the good of those who love God, of those who are called according to his plan.

Just like Joseph, at that time, prayer, the goal of life has a different dimension of “metro, work, sleep”, bobo, comfort, leisure, hedonism, it aims to adjust to Christ, to be in the same conformity.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn of many brethren. 30 Those whom he predestined he also called; those whom he called he also declared righteous; and those whom he declared righteous, he also granted glory.

That in this we can:

Greatness of God unfolds its plan
Be amazed by the greatness of God which does not stop only at the circumstantial but which has an eternal ambition which He puts in place in a resolute way.

Makes us part of it
Who integrates us into this framework, so that we can give Him an echo of it in our thoughts, our projects, our lives.

Revealing
The best clue that this is in us is seen in the tenor of our prayers:
Are they just races of needs, protection, health concerns or do they take a few steps in this way of eternity?
Do we project ourselves on the “Good” of God?

Challenge: Let’s reflect when we pray, if we focus only on ourselves or if we have also projected ourselves on what God is putting in place forever.