Genesis

[0:00] As the Lord may be pleased to help me again this afternoon, I would direct you to Genesis chapter 42 and the last clause of verse 36.

[0:14] Genesis chapter 42, the last clause of verse 36. All these things are against me.

[0:25] Genesis 42 and the last part of verse 36. All these things are against me.

[0:40] Those of you that were here this morning know we tried to speak a few things from these words this morning. We just briefly noticed, first of all, that the Lord's children are solemnly aware, often, that they feel that things are against them.

[1:16] There are so many trials and tribulations that come upon the children of God. And as they consider it at times and look at their pathway and their evidences and consider the darkness of the path often and the fact that often God hides his taste and that things are going contrary.

[1:49] And all many things seem to be going wrong. And we cry out sometimes with, dear old Jacob, all these things are against me.

[2:08] And we cry out sometimes with, dear old Jacob, all these things are against me.

[2:38] I'm saying, dear old Jacob, all these things are against him. And as we cry out sometimes, we cry out sometimes. Not a divided heart. That's why he took Joseph away from Jacob because Joseph was Jacob's idol.

[2:55] You say, well, there's nothing wrong in the father, the parent loving his son. no, nothing wrong in loving him he mustn't worship him he mustn't put him before everything else God must be first and so Jacob had to walk in some very trying pathways for 13 years his idol was taken away for 13 years he had no idea that Joseph was alive he thought he was dead you remember Joseph's brethren took his coat of many colours off of him they slew an animal and they dipped his coat in the blood and they returned it to their father Jacob is this thy son's coat or not well of course he knew it was his son's coat he had made them the coat of many colours he said without doubt my son is dead rent in pieces but he wasn't was he you see friends how active the enemy is and the enemy doesn't mind who he uses he doesn't mind whether it's the world or the children or the people of God or even our own brothers or sisters or anyone he'll use anyone to bring us low to deceive us to sink us down into the depths to make us think hard things about God you see Jacob he said all these things are against me he was a child of God how could they be against him against his flesh yes his flesh didn't like it but his God wasn't against him his God loved him his God was teaching him he was leading him in his paths he was correcting him he was preparing him for God's will and so Joseph we mentioned this morning also he had to be led forth in God's pathway

[5:59] God had appointed that he should be raised up to be a ruler a governor in the land of Egypt he was to have great power and authority and it didn't look much like coming about did it over those 13 years prior to being made ruler that was God's way God moved in a mysterious way his wonders to perform he plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm and so it was with Joseph he was falsely accused he was condemned he was condemned as guilty falsely accused he wasn't guilty but he was condemned and he was cast into prison but friends how the Lord went before him the Lord prospered him the Lord used him to interpret the dreams that the butler and the baker dreamt and in due course this was the means in the Lord's hands to bring him deliverance because the king dreamed also in due course and then it was brought to his notice that this

[7:48] Joseph the Hebrew was in the prison and he was an interpretator of dreams and he was sent forth and so friends he was given the interpretation of the king's dream and he gave his God the honor he said that God was the interpretator of dreams that God revealed it to Joseph and this was the means that brought him out out of the prison house to the second governor ruler in the land of Egypt all the mysteries of it but he felt these things were against him

[8:50] Joseph did he couldn't understand it the word of the Lord tried him over those years and friends no doubt there are those of you here that are walking in strange mysterious pathways pathways you have not walked in before hard paths painful paths paths that you wouldn't walk in if you could have possibly avoided but you have no choice you're in that pathway you can't escape it and everything seems to be against you condemnation and perhaps you've uttered these words perhaps many times all these things are against me how can God be in it he doesn't deliver me he doesn't help me

[9:53] I cry upon him I beseech of him to appear to make the crooked things straight to deliver to cast out and many many things but still it grinds on and the poor soul says all these things are against me but friend I believe if you're a child of God that you'll prove they're not all against you you'll prove in due time that they are working together for good we said this morning that all things work together for good to them that love God now don't cut yourself off immediately and say well I've got no love for God so it won't work together for my good why haven't you got any love for God why you say it's because of the trial and the trouble and the pain that I'm going through at the moment

[10:58] I'm hard and rebellious against God I wouldn't be surprised if you are many of the Lord's children have been there but friends that's not to say you've never loved God can you go back has there been a spot and a place where you have loved him where he has appeared for you where he has blessed you where he has delivered you your heart has gone out to him you've loved him all things work together for good to them that love God I don't believe that you have got to it's not possible to always love God not in this time state we're carnally minded and left to ourselves we mind the things of time we're dependent upon the

[12:08] Lord and the blessed spirit to keep our souls alive we're dependent upon the Lord to draw us after himself and so friends I believe that if you have loved God you'll prove that this deep trial this trouble this tribulation it will work together for good you perhaps cannot see how it can possibly end right how there can possibly be any deliverance is there anything too hard for the Lord anything but you say it's everything and the evidence it's all pointed to condemnation friends the Lord is able to deliver out of the hands of the devil

[13:12] God ah you say but it's my guilt it's my sin I am guilty I am condemned is there no hope then friend the Lord came to seek and save that which was lost Jonah was guilty of denying his God he sinned against his God and he had to go into the belly of hell in the fish's belly but he found deliverance the Lord delivered him it wasn't the end of the world it wasn't despair it came very close but the Lord brought him out then there are others there's

[14:18] Paul and Silas they wasn't guilty of a particular offence but they were cast into prison they were beaten cast into prison they had to go in there that the jailer might be delivered and blessed and the Lord brought them out but they had to go in there was a purpose they had a job to do they had a message to deliver from God when that was done then they were delivered they were brought out they were released and dear friends I believe you and I will come we will be led we will be brought into various pathways which are hard that's why Jonah had to go into the belly of hell in that fish's belly it was to humble him and when he was humbled then he was brought out oh the mercy of God and so friends though we like Jacob sometimes we say all these things are against us yet friends I believe we shall prove as dear

[16:28] Jacob did they wasn't against him they wasn't against him it was God's way of dealing with Jacob Jacob was brought to that blessed day where he saw his son Joseph he saw him with his own eyes and he heard his voice and I believe it was a very different Joseph to what he knew he was now a grown mature man he'd been through many things oh friends are you saying that all these things are against me I don't doubt that it looks as if they are you can't see any light sometimes whatever and it may go on and on and you may think well will I ever be delivered friends

[17:47] Paul Paul had to have a thorn in the flesh he wanted deliverance from that but he never found it until his dying dying then it was gone forever but he had to live the rest of his life with that thorn in the flesh now friends you and I may have a thorn in the flesh we may have a trouble a burden it may not be God's will to remove it all the days of our life now I don't want to discourage anybody but the will of the Lord will be done whatever it is

[18:49] I have a thorn in the flesh it's been there now for many years and I can't really see it ever being removed but the Lord knows but I believe at times it will be sanctified to us and I believe it will be made profitable to us it will be the means in the Lord's hand often to humble us to keep us from pride and self-righteousness our friends the Lord knows how to deal with his children he knows how to bring them to his footstool but the flesh doesn't like it it rebels all these things are against me they're all against they was all against Jacob's flesh he didn't want to walk in that pathway he didn't want to suffer those things he didn't want to lose his Joseph he didn't want to lose

[20:02] Simeon he earned the one that was left in the prison shorty he didn't want to lose his Benjamin but he had to be tried and he came to that place where he had to leave everything in the Lord's hands everything because it was life and death they were starving there was a famine they needed food it was in Egypt if he didn't comply comply with the ruler of Egypt which was Joseph though they didn't know it if they didn't comply with his suggestions with his demands then there would be no food he came to that place where he had to give in so did Queen Esther her life was threatened along with all the Jews and she came to that place where which was not recognised one was not allowed to go in under the king just as they wanted to but she took it in her hands she must go she must see the king it's a question of life and death if the king holds out the golden scepter all will be well he will hear her she will she will live so she came to that point where she said she would go in under the king and if I perish

[22:10] I perish and she went in and the king held out the golden scepter she lived she would deliver the evil man Haman that was going to put Mordecai on the gallows and hang him instead of Mordecai being hanged Haman was hanged you see friends all these things are against me were they it looked as if the Jews were dying but you see how the Lord can reverse these things he can reverse them he can bring good out of seemingly evil those that have power and condemn can find themselves condemned

[23:16] I believe the child of God has to watch very carefully very closely when they are brought into these various trials and troubles they are very dark paths but behind it all the Lord is working the Lord is working oh friends it's a wonderful thing when we can see those I was going to say little you know what I mean when I say a little evidence just a little evidence yet it is a it is a great thing if it's the Lord's doing it's a great thing but he will work and who shall let him ah friends

[24:25] I believe his children prove this over and over again they're brought into impossible circumstances and places where there are there is none to help and they fall down they fall before their God Lord help or I perish save or I perish oh friends don't be surprised if you come into pathways where the most distressing things take place sometimes when it seems so utterly impossible that things can ever be put right again I believe the

[25:28] Lord has a purpose in these things he knows what he will do he knows what he's going to do in your pathway and mine and there may well be those of you here that are in a pathway you can't see the end you look with much apprehension forward wonder what's going to happen what it all means what will come out of it you may find and you will don't I don't doubt you will find many discouragements many that will point the finger many that will condemn but oh friends if the Lord is in it it'll work together for good oh the

[26:35] Lord knows all about your pathway and mine and what a mercy it is what a mercy it is there are times when our pathway seems to get so complicated and in such a tangle we don't know ourselves of which way to turn or how the matter will turn or which way to go but our eyes are up upon him the Lord knows what he will do oh friends I often think about that word the Lord knows what he will do he knows what he will do with your tangle your trouble your problem he knows how he will supply our needs yes he does they're all in his hands all these things are against me are you seeking the Lord regarding eternity regarding your sins are you a seeker seeking mercy for mercy as the

[28:18] Lord touched your heart as he brought you to confession so that you have to confess your sins before God and acknowledge some of the things that you've been guilty of and perhaps you've forgotten all about some of them they've come back they've come back what a mercy they do come back friends or you say why I don't like remembering sins friends if they didn't come back and we were never felt our guilt of them there would be no cry for mercy for them where would we be without repentance there's no remission and so friends we are reminded they're brought back to our notice but when we walk in these paths sometimes we feel that all these things are against us that we're wrong our religion isn't right we read or hear of the

[29:33] Lord's people and how the Lord blesses them how he goes before them we look at them in their pathways outwardly and we think well what a different pathway to mine how they seem to prosper how they seem to be happy and contented how everything seems to go right for them but everything seems to be crossed in my pathway oh friends we don't know what goes on behind the scenes or in the heart the thing is friends that we are individuals before our God we have a pathway to walk in and it doesn't matter about the joneses what they are going in or what they are suffering what is that to thee the Lord says follow their me follow their me ah the flesh says but all these things are against me they're all against me

[30:39] I don't prosper there's no blessing there's no comfort the Lord eyes his face does the word mock you the word of God does it mock you all the word of God sometimes mocks that is Satan are using seekers shall be find you say I seek the Lord I read his word I pray unto him and there is nothing ah friend all these things are against me are you going to give up then are you going to turn your back upon God are going to turn your back upon religion and the denomination because you don't get what you want when you want it there's many that do but a true child of

[31:57] God friends cannot give up it has to come back again and again suing for mercy he knows he knows he knows he knows that he is condemned before a holy God but he is seeking for mercy he has to come again and again to his God Lord have mercy upon me remember me remember me with the favour thou bearest unto thy people I'm sure some of you young ones must have pleaded that before your God I'm sure there must be times when there's a desire put in your heart that the Lord that you might know the

[32:57] Lord and that the Lord would bless you in your souls oh it's a great mercy friends to have a desire because I don't believe it's of the flesh the flesh wants none of these things the flesh says I will not have this man to reign over me I want to go my own way I don't want any burdens I don't want any ties I want to be free I want to be like the world that I can go where I like and when I like with no cares that's the flesh what a mercy friends that the Lord doesn't leave his children in that condition he calls them by grace he renews their heart he renews their will so that they are brought with a desire and an exercise how do you come into the house of

[34:05] God do you ever have the language of the word of God sirs we would see Jesus we would see Jesus I want to see him I want to hear his voice I want him to come where I am I want to know him for myself we read of him in the word of God we hear of him but we want to know him ah friends if the Lord puts it in your heart and mind a desire to know him it's a great blessing a great mercy but I say don't be surprised even when you're seeking after these things if your pathway is rough and rugged many things which seem to be going wrong all these things are against me but they're the very things often in the

[35:15] Lord's hands to draw us to make us sick of self sick of self these things friends are personal they're personal we each have a pathway to walk in and every one of our pathways will be different but they all lead to the same way the same the same pathway those of us that are called by grace they'll lead us to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the pathway will be a pathway that will wean us from this world and from self but I say

[36:18] Jacob he had the old man of sin Jacob was a deceiver and I said this morning and I say it again this afternoon you often find that things follow on in families a parent will often find the sin that they committed is done by their son or daughters and so it was friends Jacob was a deceiver he deceived his old father he had Esau's blessing and later on in his life what did he find his old sons deceived him they took away

[37:29] Joseph and sold him and took his coat dipped it in blood and returned it to Jacob they deceived him oh how solemn these things are but they're here they're recorded in the word of God and they are to be a voice to the people of God may they be a voice to you and I Jacob said all these things are against me but they were not and he had to prove it in due time that all things did work together for good for him and I believe you and I will prove the same you may be at this time in the very same rut that Jacob was saying and believing all these things are against me they're crooked things but friend

[38:34] I believe one day they'll be straightened the Lord will appear they're not all against you they're for your good they're for our teaching oh may we then be given that grace and faith that we might be enabled to endure unto the end Amen service service service service service that's the last more story bad you didn't doubt you didn't know it about

[39:35] God willing to accept the good Our credit for this service is 335.

[39:48] Four hundred thousand dollars. This is a contentment of the service of the government. 335.

[40:11] 4400. Hawks Richard found in hail. Turned porking to your Andersen. Four hundred thousand dollars.

[40:28] 5300. 5400. 0000. CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS

[41:36] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS

[42:38] CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS CHOIR SINGS Let heaven take us astray With us shall be astray who has sailed May be and of its days let оガ Bob now be

[43:57] Gyroakus absolument o'er the most anancer.

[44:17] The End The End The End

[45:47] O Lord, O that thou wouldst bless thy word to us, and forgive what thou hast seen amidst.

[45:59] O that thou wouldst go before us each, and make all things work together for our good. And now may the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with us each, now and forevermore. Amen.

[46:22] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[46:36] Amen. Amen. Amen.