Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 6 May 2023

Scripture Text: Genesis 15:12-21; Exodus 1:1-7

Message: “The children of Israel were fruitful” Exodus 1:1-7

INTRODUCTION

1. There is a close connection between Genesis and Exodus

2. Exodus may be called the historical sequel to Genesis

THE DREAM GIVEN TO ABRAM

12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
17 And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.
18 On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying:
“To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates— 19 the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Genesis 15:12-21

1. His descendants would be strangers in a foreign land

2. They would be afflicted for 400 years

3. But the nation that enslaved them would be judged

4. His descendants would go to a land that God would give to them

THE FIRST PART OF THE FULFILMENT OF THAT DREAM

1. The first part of the dream is to live in a foreign land (Egypt)

a) Joseph would go to Egypt and rise to great power

b) Jacob and his family would be invited to live in Goshen, Egypt

2. They would be provided for and protected by the Lord

a) Joseph would be there to look after the descendants of Abram

b) The first part of Abram’s dream was not difficult

THE DESCENDANTS OF JACOB

1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5 All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).

Exodus 1:1-5

1. Eleven sons were formally named

2. Joseph was already in Egypt

3. There were 70 people who lived in Egypt

4. They were certainly not ready to go and possess Canaan

A SMALL CHALLENGE TO THE FULFILMENT OF ABRAM’S DREAM

And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation.

Exodus 1:6

1. Joseph:

a) The Governor of Egypt

b) The Benefactor of Jacob’s family

c) He had died

2. The Brothers of Joseph

a) They too died

b) This was to be expected

3. How would the next generation fare?

GROWTH OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AS ANOTHER PART OF THE FULFILMENT OF ABRAM’S DREAM

But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Exodus 1:7

1. The death of Joseph and his brothers did not adversely affect the children of Israel

2. The facts are:

a) They were fruitful

b) They increased abundantly

c) They grew exceedingly mighty

d) The land was filled with them

3. What do these things mean?

a) It is God who had blessed their families

b) They needed to grow to become a nation

c) They need to be strong if they hoped to conquer Canaan one day

d) Fruitfulness was part of God’s plan of blessing

e) This was all part and parcel of God’s dream given to Abram

CONCLUSION

1. God’s plan

a) It may sometimes span many generations

b) Each generation is a part of God’s great plan

2. Vital lessons

a) What God has promised, He would fulfil

b) God’s Word is inviolable

c) God’s power would be there to ensure His Plan is fulfilled

d) God’s Plan covered Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants

3. Our Challenge

a) To cultivate knowledge

b) To build our faith

c) To understand God’s plans

d) To seek to fulfil what God had planned