Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 1 April 2023

Scripture Text: Genesis 49:22-28

Message: “Joseph and Benjamin” Genesis 49:22-28

INTRODUCTION

1. Every son of Jacob was mentioned (Genesis 49)

2. There was no particular order in which the sons were named

a) But Reuben was mentioned first (first son)

b) And Benjamin was mentioned last of all (last son)

A WORD TO JOSEPH

22 “Joseph is a fruitful bough,
A fruitful bough by a well;
His branches run over the wall.

23 The archers have bitterly grieved him,
Shot at him and hated him.

24 But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),

25 By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you
With blessings of heaven above,
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

26 The blessings of your father
Have excelled the blessings of my ancestors,
Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills.
They shall be on the head of Joseph,
And on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.

Genesis 49:22-26

1. The fruitfulness of Joseph

a) This was obvious

b) It was given significant mention

i) A mere bough (branch)

ii) To branches that go beyond the wall (boundaries)

2. A Review of Joseph’s past

a) His enemies were his own brothers

b) They were described as “archers”

c) Joseph was wounded by them

3. The God of Joseph

a) His bow remained strong

b) The mighty God of Jacob made him strong

c) Two other titles were given to describe God

i) The Shepherd

ii) The Stone (Rock) of Israel

4. The Blessing of the LORD pronounced on Joseph

a) The LORD is the One who will bless Joseph

i) He is the God of Jacob

ii) He is The Almighty

b) Joseph will have Fullness of Blessings

i) From God above
With blessings of heaven above,

ii) From beneath (the sea)
Blessings of the deep that lies beneath,

iii) Human (Family)
Blessings of the breasts and of the womb

c) From Jacob

i) The excelling blessings of Jacob will be upon Joseph

ii) Blessings of ancestors to the everlasting hills

iii) These blessings will fall upon Joseph

iv) His blessings are “separate” (a class of its own)

A WORD TO BENJAMIN

“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
In the morning he shall devour the prey,
And at night he shall divide the spoil.”

Genesis 49:27

1. Benjamin was the second and last son of Rachel Genesis 35:17-18

2. He was compared to a ravenous wolf

a) In the morning he will devour the prey

b) In the evening, he will divide the spoil

c) Benjamin would become warlike

COMMENT ABOUT THE LAST WORDS OF JACOB

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father spoke to them. And he blessed them; he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

Genesis 49:28

1. These words were spoken to the Twelve sons of Jacob

2. They would apply when the sons become the Twelve Tribes of Israel

CONCLUSION

1. These words meant as “Blessings”

a) Forewarning

b) Foretelling

2. The challenge

a) To fathom the meanings intended

b) To find the Faith to help them

i) To avoid disaster

ii) To accomplish success