Genesis 48:1-22
48:1 Joseph is told of his father's illness and immediately he brings his two sons to visit their grandfather.
48:2 Jacob is told of Joseph's coming and he sits up straighter in his bed; he prepares himself for an important and blessed moment. He gathers all of the strength that he has to pass his faith, his oath from God onto his posterity.
48:3-4 Jacob tells Joseph of the visions and promises and blessings of God that he received throughout his life. God promised Jacob that He would be with him and ensure his survival and success. He promised Jacob that his family would continually increase.
48:5 Ephraim and Manasseh are with Joseph and Jacob and here Jacob claims them as sons. Although they are grandsons, Jacob plans to bless them by passing down to them the oath of God.
48:6 Jacob promises Joseph that his future children will also receive blessings from God but just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob become patriarchs and prophets, so would Joseph one of these sons of Joseph.
48:7 As Jacob expresses his final thoughts, the love of his love comes to mind: Rachel. Rachel inspired his faith and work-ethic. Jacob remained with God in trust and faith and part of that was due to his love for Rachel. God helps us to accomplish our dreams and joys.
48:8-9 It then occurs to Jacob/Israel that Joseph's sons are with them. He asks Jacob to bring them near to him so that he can bless them.
48:10-11 Jacob lost his ability to see but gathers Ephraim and Manasseh to him in an embrace. It is an emotional moment for him to be with the son he thought he lost but he's also with his grandchildren. It is a luminous moment, Jacob is surrounded by the exuberance of God's blessings. God bless with emphasis. He does not just deliver want we want; He delivers what we want and need in abundance.
48:12 Joseph encourages his young children to not be shy in front of their grandfather and then bows down in thanks and appreciation for God and all that he has done.
48:13 Joseph leads his sons to Jacob: Ephraim to Jacob's right hand and Manasseh to Jacob's left hand (placing his eldest child on the dominant side).
48:14 But instead, Jacob purposely places his right hand on Ephraim, the younger brother.
48:15-16 First Jacob blesses Joseph; he passes down the promise from God that Abraham and Isaac received:
48:2 Jacob is told of Joseph's coming and he sits up straighter in his bed; he prepares himself for an important and blessed moment. He gathers all of the strength that he has to pass his faith, his oath from God onto his posterity.
48:3-4 Jacob tells Joseph of the visions and promises and blessings of God that he received throughout his life. God promised Jacob that He would be with him and ensure his survival and success. He promised Jacob that his family would continually increase.
48:5 Ephraim and Manasseh are with Joseph and Jacob and here Jacob claims them as sons. Although they are grandsons, Jacob plans to bless them by passing down to them the oath of God.
48:6 Jacob promises Joseph that his future children will also receive blessings from God but just as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob become patriarchs and prophets, so would Joseph one of these sons of Joseph.
48:7 As Jacob expresses his final thoughts, the love of his love comes to mind: Rachel. Rachel inspired his faith and work-ethic. Jacob remained with God in trust and faith and part of that was due to his love for Rachel. God helps us to accomplish our dreams and joys.
48:8-9 It then occurs to Jacob/Israel that Joseph's sons are with them. He asks Jacob to bring them near to him so that he can bless them.
48:10-11 Jacob lost his ability to see but gathers Ephraim and Manasseh to him in an embrace. It is an emotional moment for him to be with the son he thought he lost but he's also with his grandchildren. It is a luminous moment, Jacob is surrounded by the exuberance of God's blessings. God bless with emphasis. He does not just deliver want we want; He delivers what we want and need in abundance.
48:12 Joseph encourages his young children to not be shy in front of their grandfather and then bows down in thanks and appreciation for God and all that he has done.
48:13 Joseph leads his sons to Jacob: Ephraim to Jacob's right hand and Manasseh to Jacob's left hand (placing his eldest child on the dominant side).
48:14 But instead, Jacob purposely places his right hand on Ephraim, the younger brother.
48:15-16 First Jacob blesses Joseph; he passes down the promise from God that Abraham and Isaac received:
“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
48:17-18 Jacob tries to change Jacob's plan: he believes that the elder child, Manasseh should receive the blessing. Custom was for the eldest child to receive inheritance. (Jacob knows this, for he was the younger child but traded with Esau for inheritance).
48:19 The story comes full circle: Jacob is willing to bless the right child with inheritance instead of the customary choice. For had Esau received the blessing, it would have been squandered away. Jacob wants to bless the son who with carry and cherish God's word, the son who will live and lead by Him.
48:20 Jacob promises Joseph that both of his sons will be taken care of by God. God reassured and prepared Jacob all of his life, surely He also intervened to show Jacob which of Joseph's sons should receive the blessing.
48:21 With that spiritual business taken care of, Jacob tells Joseph that he is dying. He tells Joseph that God will be with him in his journey home.
48:22 In distributing his possessions, Jacob gave Joseph a bit more than his other brothers. Likely this was because Jacob was unable to love and provide for this particular son for so long; now that he has the opportunity, he wants to make up for it.
