Remain Faithful - Genesis 47:27 - 50:26

When I retired as Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joe Scruggs was my Sunday school teacher and I had served several years as his assistant. The class was simply referred to as Dr. Scruggs’ Class. At the time of his death, I became the teacher and without any thought the name simply changed to Dr. Vandivers Class until about ten years ago when I ask the class to choose another name for the class that would appropriately suggest what we were really about. I was very proud when someone suggested that we change the class name to FAITH BUILDERS CLASS. The best I can remember, there was a discussion that centered on the fact that older people seek the presence and consolation of greater faith; and some felt that consistent attendance in this class was a sure way to grow in faith. The regular sharing of our personal experiences in serving the Lord served to build the faith of those who might be prone to pray—“God, strengthen my little faith.”

We had over forty enrolled at our peak and still have twenty-two, and most of these members were there when I started teaching. At our age, with all of our aches and pains we still have an average of sixteen to eighteen present each Sunday. We have lost as many to the death angel as we now have enrolled. Search the world over and you will not find a group of men anywhere who have REMAINED MORE FAITHFUL than these, my brethren have.

I am proud and feel supremely honored to have been the teacher all of these last few years. All praise and thanks go to the Almighty for allowing teachers to gain more than many are able to give. Teaching God’s Word is a challenge and very scary business because of the warning that—“False teachers will be held accountable for any who are misled.” I must constantly remind all of you that read or hear my attempt to ‘rightly divide’ the word should always make sure that it is based on Bible truths. You should always be weary of the Vandiverism that appears.

Should I ask you to write a list of forty names of men that have impressed you most during the last twenty years I dare say that I can tell you many of the names that you would include, and even more of their fields of service or vocations. There would be a couple of Presidents, one or two Secretaries of State, maybe a congressman, Billy Graham, and maybe another preacher of choice, several names would come from the role of great athletes, and then you would top the list off with Bill Gates, and another billionaire or two, and finally a few of businesses’ top moguls like Ford and Rockefeller.
No doubt some of you would include your favorite actor and actresses. Only a very few of these would make my list. The men in my class have REMAINED FAITHFUL and they would top my list because I believe so strongly that commitment to Jesus Christ is the first and foremost necessity in proving any right we have to honor and fame.

Born again believers will usually agree that remaining faithful to our Lord and Savior involves a spiritual struggle. One of the greatest disappointments is watching the productive years of our lives come slowly and disappear with the speed of lightening before many of our expectations have been realized. We have developed some of our greatest ambitions and then watched them fade into oblivion without being fulfilled. God has never promised that we would not experience heartaches and disappointments and we have had our share that left deep scars. Most of us have questioned the results we have experienced from faithfully following the straight and narrow way…Satan uses this trap to lead us to doubt our faith. It is absolutely necessary for us to use God’s Word as our convincing proof that we are always winners so long as we remain faithful.

Christ saved us by his grace—and God then calls on us to remain faithful to him until death. These last chapters in Genesis give us examples of men of faith that were triumphant; and these examples are designed to help each one of us to meet His expectations. A NOTE OF IMPORTANCE: Any time my faith grows weak and I really need a lift I turn to Hebrews in the New Testament; and I feel that you should turn right now to the 10th chapter of Hebrews and the 19th verse and read the rest of the book. Success & happiness comes only by FAITH.

As I look back over my life many times in all honesty [but in ignorance] I have wished someone good-luck. Yes, Christians as well as unbelievers have cultivated this bad habit of wishing another person to have good-luck in whatever they were attempting to do. People either prosper or fail according to the sovereign plan of Jesus Christ—and absolutely nothing is left to luck. Look at the following example of false thinking.

Soon after I married Juanita Uncle Sam inducted me into the infantry and I was shipped overseas. Soon after I returned from WWII an injured back caused hospitalization for over six months but Juanita remained by my side. She stood by me when I was fired. She has remained faithful and cared for me through several serious operations on bad hips, a replaced knee, and back operations. She is still resolute and caring even through this third hip replacement. I AM CONVIENCED THAT SHE IS NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK. Well, the point is that none of these problems arose because of bad luck on any-bodies part. These things happened because they were in God’s plan for my life and as I look back over some of my problems I believe that I understand how many of them occurred in order to guide me into the field of education and into a stronger relationship with Jesus Christ.

Both Jacob and Joseph had more setbacks than any of us have had but they had a different theological interpretation of the events of life. There is no incidence given where God spoke directly to Joseph. [The nearest thing to it is that God helped him to interpret certain dreams.] However, through all of his problems with his brothers, being made a slave, being falsely accused and in prison—he never lost faith in the God of his fathers. When he finally was accepted by pharaoh, was brilliant and a hard worker some may say that his luck finally caught up with him. No, these were all a part of God’s plan to feed the world during the period of a seven year famine. Joseph understood this and when he reconciled with his bad brothers, he encouraged them to see and understand that they did not make a mistake in selling him, but that they had actually helped God carry out his plan for His people.
Listen now, if you are having a bad time, problems with your health, financial difficulties, family problems…God may be trying to get your attention; these misfortunes may be for a reason—and your reaction should be one of interrogatory prayer; pray and seek God’s will for the rest of your life. He does answer prayer! NOTE: If you do not believe that God intervenes in the lives of men; if you do not believe that he wants the best for his children, then your only hope is that some day in Heaven he will take the time to tell you what he was trying to reveal to you while here on earth.


The Egyptian Pharaoh invited Jacob’s family to move to Goshen; and Joseph insisted that they leave the land of Canaan and move to Egypt. Pharaoh enthusiastically supported the move and even furnished the horses and wagons as their moving vans. He permitted them to settle in the land of Goshen, a fertile area in the northeastern part of Egypt that was suited for raising sheep and cattle which was their trade. It was the custom of the Egyptian people to look down on all foreigners that moved into their land—and this was an exception only because of God’s plan for Jacob and his family.

We should never feel that our ‘little faith’ is a fault that others have not experienced. Jacob is one of those listed as having great faith but there were times when his faith faltered. When Joseph disappeared, he thought his son was dead and now that he has been re-united with him in Egypt, he is overcome with the goodness of God. Not only did he find his long lost son, but he found that he had two new grand-sons. When it was time for him to start blessing all his family before he died, he started with these two new boys in the family, Ephraim the younger and Manasseh, Joseph’s first child. Joseph bowed before his father holding the boys. David placed his right hand on Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh. This is another indication where the younger son is receiving the first blessing, and the older son the lesser blessing. Joseph did not understand and tried to correct his father, but Jacob followed what he knew to be God’s will. Both would be blessed, but the younger would be first in the kingdom work. Their father Joseph would forever remain the leader over all of his other brothers—that was his blessing.

In chapter 49 Jacob continued to call each of his 12 sons who were to be the heads of the 12 tribes, and made known to them what God had planned for their future. The way each one had lived played a part in the way they would be remembered. This is an open sermon to each of us today. By the time the sun rises tomorrow our actions of today will have become history, past, and unchangeable, but definitely already beginning to shape what our future will be. We should constantly be aware that what we are doing today will effect our future. It is much easier to do right today than it is to have to seek forgiveness before we can move on toward the tomorrows of our life.

Reuben, the oldest, lost his special blessing because of his being untrustworthy in his youth; he even defiled his father’s bed by sleeping with one of his concubines. Evidently he never did show a repentant spirit.

We do not fully understand why Judah was so richly blessed. He was the one responsible for selling Joseph into slavery but God had chosen him as the one that would be the father of Israel’s kings that is what is meant by saying his scepter will not depart from Judah. It would be out of Judah that the Messiah would come. It is believed that his character had probably changed for the better. I believe that he asked for forgiveness and it was granted. Why? Just because the bible has told us…New Testament Christians…that all of us have sinned—but if we will repent and confess our sins that he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins. God has not changed. The Book tells us that he is the same yesterday, today and will always be the same loving God.Z

Vandiver Confession: I have read all of chapter 49 that singles out each of Jacob’s sons and how he blessed, or admonished each one. Some of the things he predicted are straight forward and easy to understand—while a majority of it is beyond my understanding. You know…I am not a seminary trained bible scholar…and I have to take advice from others that seem to know more. However, too often, when I don’t understand a verse…very often it is difficult to find any writer that has explained it in their commentary. For example: The commentaries that I have completely skip verses 13-15, and that includes the two brothers, Zebulun and Issachar. Verse 13 seems to be self explanatory. However, verses 14-15 are beyond my understanding. Note: I think that one who has really studied the bible, and can remember, will be able to tell you that this is fully explained somewhere in God’s Word.

As expected, Joseph was the one that Jacob blessed most, and praised highly—a fruitful vine near a spring, which indicated that he would continue to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Indeed, his life has already been fruitful and will continue. He has some memorable descendants; among them is Joshua, who would lead the Israelites into the Promised Land and Deborah, Gideon and Jephthah who were later some of the judges of Israel. Joseph was able to draw closer to God as adversity mounted in his life. His constant dependence on the Lord showed his great faith and it leads to the final time we must be reminded that our dependence on God during our lowest moments is the one thing that proves our faith. When others see us placing our dependence in Jesus it serves as our light that is placed high on a hill where all can see. Exercising faith is not a light that can be hidden under a bushel; therefore it cannot be faked.

Can you? Do you trust him when injury or persecution is directed at you? Remember you can not trust completely on your own! Spiritual battles of this life require teamwork between courageous and faithful people and the all powerful and loving Lord of our life. So, we must always remember when the dark clouds gather and the destructive winds of evil begin to blow, we are never alone. He is here, there, and everywhere that his people are and it is solely for their protection. He will not force himself upon anyone, and he expects us to call upon him for his help in our need.

As we bid Genesis goodbye, let us thank God for a great beginning and please allow this one admonishment—TRUST AND BELIEVE IN ALMIGHTY GOD AND HIS SON JESUS CHRIST AND THEN— R E M A I N F A I T H F U L. The reward here will be a happier life…and the award to come is indescribable. AMEN!