We end the Dreamer series on the life of Joseph today. In this message, we spend the majority of our time in vv. 15-21 and verse 20 in particular. There we dive into the topic of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility and consider how the evil act of Joseph's brothers was at the same time a good act of God.

We are coming down the backstretch in our Dreamer series on the life of Joseph. Over the last couple of chapters, however, we’ve actually spent most of our time with his old and dying father Jacob. And what he’s been up to is a lot of blessings. Two Sundays ago he blessed Pharaoh and last Sunday he blessed his two half-Egyptian grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. His blessing work continues today with his twelve sons.

Hebrews 11:21 says: "By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff." This expression of faith began at the end of chapter 47 but is fully shown in chapter 48.

In this message, we take time to look at the blessing of Jacob on Joseph's two sons and end by highlighting three attributes of God revealed in this chapter.

This week's passage is a study of contrasts, three specifically: the contrast between Jacob and Pharaoh, Israel and Egypt, and land and the promised land. In this we discover a handful of elements true then that are true for the church today.

In this week's message Jacob is finally reunited with Joseph, the son he thought was dead is alive! In seeing his son face to face Jacob declares that he can now die in peace.

In this message we key in on five things: God's "far more." The growth of Jacob. The land of Goshen. The mediation of Joseph. And the hatred of shepherds.

In last week's passage, it was revealed to Jacob by his sons that Joseph was alive and in Egypt. Jacob decided to go to Egypt but he was fearful.

This week's message looks at why Jacob was fearful, what God promised to him to alleviate his fear and how the same promises are ours today.

Genesis 45 is all about the reveal. Up to this point, Joseph had concealed his identity by playing the part of an Egyptian ruler. But now, overcome with emotion, he makes himself known to his brothers. But that's not the only reveal this chapter contains which culminates with the reviving of Jacob's heart when he learns that his son is not dead.

This is a series on the life of Joseph and yet, it's so much more than that.

In this message Judah is again prominent and serves as an example of what a heart change looks like. And it's beautiful. In contrast to what it looked like in his past, Judah's heart now is full of humility, compassion and a tender concern for others. All coming because of God's mercy.

In this passage the sons of Israel, all eleven this time, return to Egypt. But this time they return with fear and ongoing guilt but will surprisingly be met with grace, kindness and peace.

This message considers what kind of grace and peace the Bible speaks of and how this passage reminds us of the beauty of the gospel.

Last week the calamity of the family took the brothers to Egypt. After being released from prison and in their conviction, they confess their guilt and are set free - paid in full, with provisions for the journey.

Fantastic, but what if God calls us to more? What if God wants more for us than simply our freedom? What if God doesn’t want salvation for us on our terms but His? What if God is as interested in our journeys as He is in setting us free? What if God is more dedicated to His call on our life than we are? What if God didn’t only save us from something but for something?

Here’s the overarching question this message will seek to answer: what can we expect after being set free, paid in full, and given provisions for the journey?