Looking Four Ways Before You Go

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Looking Four Ways Before You Go

Genesis 48

Speaker: Pastor
Series:

Four Ways to Look Before You Go: Lessons from Jacob’s Final Days

Have you ever been told to “look both ways before you cross”? While that’s sound advice for crossing the street, when it comes to navigating life and faith, we need an even broader perspective. As we examine Jacob’s final days in Genesis 48, we discover four crucial ways we should look as we journey through life.

Looking Upward in Faith

As Jacob lay on his deathbed at 147 years old, weak and frail, he demonstrated remarkable faith. Despite his circumstances, Jacob chose to focus on God’s power and promises. He recalled God’s appearance to him decades earlier, saying:

“God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.'” (Genesis 48:3-4)

Jacob’s unwavering trust in God’s promises, even 70 years after they were given, challenges us to stand firm in our faith. Are we still believing God’s promises after 5, 10, or even 50 years? We must remember to “not doubt in the dark what God has revealed in the light.” 

When we look upward in faith, we trust in:

  1. God’s power (El Shaddai – the Almighty One)
  2. God’s promises (even when fulfillment takes time)

Looking Back with Gratitude

As Jacob neared the end of his life, he looked back not with regret, but with gratitude. Despite the hardships he had faced (many self-inflicted), Jacob chose to focus on God’s goodness and grace.

He expressed profound gratitude for God’s surprising goodness, saying to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also” (Genesis 48:11). After years of believing Joseph was dead, Jacob not only reunited with his son but got to meet his grandchildren as well.

Jacob also thanked God for His sustaining grace, declaring, “The God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys” (Genesis 48:15-16). This is actually the first time the word “shepherd” appears in Scripture, painting a beautiful picture of God’s guidance, protection, and provision throughout Jacob’s life.

Looking Outward in Love

Even in his final moments, Jacob chose to look outward in love, blessing others intentionally. He took special care to bless Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, adopting them as his own and elevating them to the status of tribes in Israel.

Jacob’s actions remind us of the importance of pouring into the next generation. As I often say, “When we stop pouring into the next generation, we will die as a church.” Whether you’re a grandparent, a senior adult, or simply someone with life experience to share, find ways to intentionally bless and invest in those younger than you.

Interestingly, Jacob prioritized God’s plan over cultural norms, blessing the younger son Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh. This teaches us that sometimes we need to set aside our preferences and expectations to align with God’s purposes.

Looking Onward in Hope

Finally, even as Jacob faced death, he looked onward with hope. He declared to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers” (Genesis 48:21). 

Jacob’s faith in his final moments was so significant that it’s specifically mentioned in Hebrews 11, the great “Hall of Faith.” When we can no longer rely on our own strength or cleverness, our faith shines brightest.

As followers of Christ, we too can face death with hope, knowing that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Our confidence is not in our own abilities, but in God’s faithfulness and the promise of eternity with Him.

Life Application: Four Ways to Look

  1. Look Upward in Faith: Cultivate trust in God’s power and promises. Memorize Scripture to stand firm even in difficult times.
  2. Look Back with Gratitude: Regularly reflect on God’s goodness in your life. Keep a gratitude journal to remind yourself of His blessings.
  3. Look Outward in Love: Intentionally invest in others, especially the next generation. Find someone to mentor or encourage in their faith journey.
  4. Look Onward in Hope: Live with eternal perspective. Let the hope of eternity shape your priorities and decisions today.

As we navigate life’s journey, may we, like Jacob, learn to look in these four crucial directions. By doing so, we’ll cultivate a faith that stands firm, a heart full of gratitude, a life of impact, and a future filled with hope.

We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!

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