Genesis 48
Joseph’s Sons Get Blessed
V.1-2 “He took his two sons”
Matthew Henry, “The sick bed is a proper place both for giving comfort and counsel to others and receiving instruction ourselves.”
Lessons from a funeral
V.3 Jacob essentially says, “The only reason I’m able to bless your boys today is because God has blessed me.”
Jacob remembers not his own personal merit but how faithful God has been
V.5-6 “They will be mine” -in the sense that they will inherit land and receive a portion of the promise
“Any children born after them” will receive only what Joseph gives but no land of promise
V.7 “Joseph I loved your mom and I miss her.”
This is the one thing kids need to see from their dads
V.8 “Who are these?” -Jacob suffers one of the effects of old age
Although Jacob’s natural eye is clouded his eye of faith is very clear
V.9 These are the kids God gave me.
Tell your kids they are a blessing from God.
V.10-11 A last meeting with his son and grandsons
V.12 Joseph bows down-
Though Joseph had exceeded his father in power and glory and wisdom he doesn’t fail to show proper respect
V.13-14
Jacob appears to be replacing Ruben and Simeon with Manasseh and Ephraim as the sons of the birthright
· Ruben slept with one of Jacob’s wives Bilhah (35:22)
· Simeon, along with Levi, was responsible for the slaughter at Shechem after their sister Dinah was raped. (34:25)
V.15-16 Shepherd- First time.
· Protects
· Provides
Ps 23
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
V.17-20 Ephraim was not the first born but he is given preeminence
Jer 31:9 I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
Was Ephraim the firstborn?
This shows how the idea of "firstborn" in the Bible is often a position of pre-eminence, not necessarily meaning "first out of the womb."
This is important especially if you’re speaking with a Jehovah’s Witness
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
By God’s providential hand Jacob gives Ephraim a place of preeminence.
· Ephraim became the predominant tribes of the northern kingdom (Judah S.)
· Ephraim actually becomes synonymous with Israel (Isa 7:8,17; 11:13).
· Ephraim was more numerous than Manasseh
V.21 What a word of encouragement.
Charles Spurgeon, "If Abraham dies, there is Isaac; and if Isaac dies, there is Jacob; and if Jacob dies, there is Joseph; and if Joseph dies, Ephraim and Manasseh survive. The Lord shall never lack a champion to bear his standard high among the sons of men.”
V.22 This land was first bought
Josh 24:32 And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants.
· Same land that’s mentioned in John 4
John 4:4 Now he had to go through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
1. Receiving God’s blessing does not rest with one’s status in the world.
On the contrary, God’s blessing is by grace.
1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at.
What does man look at?
· Looks
· Strength
· Wealth
· Education
· Experience
Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
2. What did Jacob actually take with him?
1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
3. Everything that Jacob is doing here is by faith
Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
He wouldn’t live to see any of God’s promises but he believed.