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(Genesis) Genesis 47:7-9
J. Vernon McGee

John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.
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In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the transformation of Jacob and his encounter with Pharaoh. Jacob, who was known for his deceitful nature, has now become a witness for God. When Pharaoh asks Jacob about his age, instead of boasting about his accomplishments, Jacob humbly acknowledges that his life has been filled with few and evil days. He also recognizes that he has not attained the same level of spiritual maturity as his fathers. Despite being near death, Jacob spends 17 more years in Egypt after reuniting with his son Joseph.
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Now, we find that Joseph presents his own father. And I want you to notice this. Jacob now stands in the best light that we've seen him in in the entire course of our study here of him. And Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Notice that. Jacob now is in the place of blessing Pharaoh. He's beginning to live up to his name. You see, he's a witness for God. And the less is always blessed to the greater. And he blesses him in the place, you see, as a witness for God. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? Now here is the very place that if Jacob was asserting that old nature that he had at the beginning, here would be the place to say, Well, I tell you, I'm 130 years old, and I want to tell you, Pharaoh, I have really seen things. I'd like to tell you about the time I put one over on my brother Esau. I'd like to tell you about how I did this, and how I accumulated a great deal in the land of Haran, and how I finally made a deal with my father-in-law, and then how I met Esau. Oh, he could just go on and on and on. And he could brag about his family. I got 12 sons. But listen to him now. He's a different man. Listen to Jacob, friends. And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years. Now, that's how old he was when he came down to the land of Egypt, friends. He was 130 years old. We'll find when he died, he's 147. He spent 17 years down at the land of Egypt, and seeing Joseph, and coming down to Egypt at this time, this man who was right on the verge of death. I think he had one foot in the grave, the other foot in a banana peeling when he came down there. He was about ready to die. But now he lives 17 more years, having found out Joseph is alive. Now listen to him. Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years. Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and I have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. Here was an opportunity for the old man to boast. My, he could really tell a few tall tales at this point. And if he'd been the same man that ran away from his home up yonder in the land of Canaan, he probably would have. But now all he can say is, I'm 130 years old and my life is not anything to brag about. Few and evil have been the days of my life. And now another thing. I put one over on my father. Is that what he says? No. He says, I have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. I don't measure up to my fathers. Does this sound like the same old Jacob that we knew at the beginning? No. It's a different man now. He's changed. He's giving God the glory for his life, and he's making no appeal that he has accomplished a great deal.
(Genesis) Genesis 47:7-9
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John Vernon McGee (1904 - 1988). American Presbyterian pastor, radio teacher, and author born in Hillsboro, Texas. Converted at 14, he earned a bachelor’s from Southwestern University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from Columbia Seminary. Ordained in 1933, he pastored in Georgia, Tennessee, and California, notably at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles from 1949 to 1970, growing it to 3,000 members. In 1967, he launched Thru the Bible, a radio program teaching the entire Bible verse-by-verse over five years, now airing in 100 languages across 160 countries. McGee authored over 200 books, including Genesis to Revelation commentaries. Known for his folksy, Southern style, he reached millions with dispensationalist teachings. Married to Ruth Inez Jordan in 1936, they had one daughter. Despite throat cancer limiting his later years, he recorded thousands of broadcasts. His program and writings continue to shape evangelical Bible study globally.