How to be fruitful and faithful in a corrupt world.
- The Context of Fruitfulness (19–26).
- The Context of Worldliness (27).
- The Context of Faithfulness (28–33).
I. The Context of Fruitfulness (19–26)
- Gad: Attacked, but revenge. “Expert in war” (1 Chron. 5:18–19). Settled on the other side of the Jordan (Josh. 1:12–15).
- Asher: Food, provides delicacies. Fertile and productive (Deut. 33:24–25).
- Naphtali: Doe set free (bears fawns/gives beautiful words). Barak only prominent Naphtalite (Judg. 5:18).
- Joseph: Joseph’s blessing is the longest in word count. Other than Jacob’s prayer for deliverance in v.18, all of the references to God occur here.
- Prosperity (22)
- Protection (23–24) Attacked with hostility, but able to defend because of God. Blessed by God.
- Blessings (25–26) He receives abundant blessings from the Lord.
- Future:
- Ephraim’s tribe brought victory to Israel under Joshua, Deborah, and Samuel.
- Manasseh brought forth Gideon and Jephthah. Settled on the other side of the Jordan (Josh. 1:12–15).
- Several weeks ago: Pass on our faith—family > nations (promise to Abraham). Goal = Glorify God as example of His faithfulness.
- June in Acts. Spread of gospel beyond immediate family (Jews + Gentiles). Believers scatter throughout region. We sent to fulfill the great commission. Home > Community > Region > World. The mission of the early church remains the mission of the modern church.
- Joseph > God brings fruitfulness out of persecution.
- Those who hear > believe.
- Those who see > go.
- Those who believe > tell.
- Fear causes us to shrink back, but God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control.
- Context: Paul is calling Timothy (product of a passed on faith grandmother Lois and mother Eunice), to be unashamed of the testimony about our Lord.
- When the gospel proclaimed with boldness > people are redeemed > nurtured within the church > equipped to go and do likewise.
- Problem: When we focus solely on one step.
Fruitfulness can spring out of a context of persecution, but what characterizes those who live in…
- Problem: When we focus solely on one step.
II. The Context of Worldliness (27)
- Benjamin: Devours and plunders. Saul. Ehud. Benjamites renown for their skill as left-handed marksmen (Judg. 20:15–16; 1 Chron. 12:2) and for their bravery (1 Chron. 8:40). Paul is testimony of one rescued from the corrupted destiny of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Darkest passage in Scripture: A Levite and his Concubine (Judg. 19:1–30).
- The decline magnified, specifically the men of Gibeah, like Sodom (Gen. 19). Ends in the tortuous death of concubine. And the gruesome description of the Levite dividing her body into 12 pieces (19:29).
- “There was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes,” (17:6; 21:25; cf. 18:1; 19:1).
- Purpose = Benjamites acting like Sodomites.
- Israel vs. Benjamin (20:1–21:25)
- Civil war resulting in the deaths of over 25,000 Benjamites and at least 40,000 Israelites (20:1–48).
- The Benjamites were nearly wiped out so more chaos ensues in ch. 21.
- Namelessness highlights:
- Deterioration of human identity.
- Universalization of the characters.
- Beware of the Canaanization of the people of God.
- Levite and the concubine:
- A husband who fails to love. When he should’ve protected her, he protected himself. When the crowd called for him, he threw his bride outside in his place.
- When he should’ve been one with her, he was separating her.
- Look to Christ:
- Rather than sending his bride outside, Christ willingly endured the shame and torture.
- In his death he united all nations to himself.
Worldliness results from compromise. But we close with hope in…
III. The Context of Faithfulness (28–33)
- Patriarchs buried in Promised Land even though haven’t seen fulfillment (Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah). Now Jacob desires to be buried there.
- Joseph has already sworn by oath (47:29–31). Subject on Jacob’s mind again as nears final breath.
- Jacob doesn’t ask to be buried by Rachel (romantic), but with fathers as testimony of God’s faithfulness.
- Jacob gathers up his feet confident of another land in the future—an everlasting one.
- Not always so confident. Often pessimistic.
- Reminds me of Naomi:
- Naomi left Promised Land (Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion).
- Settled in Moab > husband died.
- Her sons married Moabite wives > w/in 10yrs, sons died.
- 3 graves > 0 grandchildren > left without hope.
- Naomi’s Pessimism:
- Israel once again has food. Returns to the Promised Land.
- Daughters follow (just as lost and hopeless).
- Naomi accuses God of making her life bitter > encourages them to return to their homes (possibly accepted).
- Orpah reluctantly agrees
- But Ruth clings to Naomi. Why?
- Naomi’s Fear:
- Humbling return. Moabite daughters-in-law.
- Ostracized by her own people.
- Unable to care for her daughters-in-law.
- Detaching herself from the pain of Moab.
- Naomi’s Faith:
- Considers herself to be as good as dead.
- Seems on verge of abandoning faith forever.
- Naomi’s faith—though hanging by a thread—led to Ruth’s conversion.
- Naomi bitter, complaining, resentment, doubt.
- Never abandoned faith > showed Ruth a sincere faith.
- Ruth witnessed Naomi’s raw faith, and it was inspiring.
- The weakest point of Naomi’s faith in God was the greatest witness to Ruth.
- Naomi left Promised Land (Elimelech, Mahlon, Chilion).
- “What matters is not the quality of your faith, but the object of your faith.”
- Jacob’s faith wasn’t always prominent, but it was consistent. And as we come to the end of his life he is content and filled with a deep sense of gratitude. The very thing God demands from us, He supplies! Fruitfulness and faithfulness are the byproducts of gratefulness. Our good words are in response to grace. They aren’t an attempt to earn grace.
Perseverance can take many different forms, but it always points us back to Jesus Christ
Conclusion
- Maybe you think:
- Persecution > compromise.
- Pressure from world > conform.
- Just not yet! There’s just this thing at work, or home, or with my kids. Once we get past this season I will be ready to focus on my relationship with God.
- All prone at different times/degrees.
- But wrong:
- Persecution > True faith is forged in the furnace of persecution.
- Fruit of the Spirit >
- Not compromise our faith
- Our faith influences everything we do.
- You will never get your act together before you come to God. It’s not about bringing your best efforts to God. The gospel annihilates that way of thinking!
- When we come to Christ:
- Obedience looks less like effort and more like gratitude.
- Our strivings cease and we begin to enjoy true rest!
- Christ becomes your comfort in life and death!