Genesis 48 - History Repeating Itself

 

After making the promise to his father that he wouldn't bury him in Egypt, it so happened that Joseph was told that his father was sick. He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to see him. This is speculation on my part, but this indicates to me that Joseph may not have spent a lot of time in Goshen with his family on a regular basis. He may have still been very busy handling the affairs of Pharaoh. When the famine was over, Joseph still held a very important position in Egypt that could have kept him away from his family in Goshen. Could this be a case of putting "job" before family? Have you ever put your job or career ahead of spending time with your family? Jacob was told that his son, Joseph was coming to see him. Upon hearing this, Jacob strengthened himself and sat up on his bed. Jacob tells Joseph that God Almighty appeared to him in Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed him. God told him that He would make Jacob fruitful and multiply him by making him (his descendants) a multitude of people. God also promised to give the land to his descendants as an everlasting possession. This is God repeating His promises throughout the generations, first to Abraham, then to Isaac and then to Jacob.

Jacob told Joseph that he was treating his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own sons, not as grandsons. He even said that they are his, just like Reuben and Simeon are his. The great significance of this declaration puts Joseph's sons on the same level as Jacob's twelve sons to receive Jacob's blessings and inheritance. Jacob told him that the children born to him after the first two sons will be considered Joseph's offspring. In the matters of inheritance, Joseph's other children would come after their brothers. Then Jacob recounts Rachel's death and burial. Israel (Jacob) then saw Joseph's sons and asked, "Who are these?" Joseph told his father that they were the sons God had given him in Egypt. Israel told him to bring them to him so that he could bless them. Due to his old age, Israel's eyes were so dim that he could not see. When Joseph brought the two sons near his father, Israel kissed and embraced them. Israel told Joseph that he didn't think he would see his face again, but God has blessed him to see him and not only him, but his offspring too. God is amazing in that he blessed Jacob to live long enough to see Joseph and Joseph's children after all those years of thinking Joseph was dead. Has God ever blessed you far beyond what you could ever dream? Joseph positioned his sons for the blessing from his father and he also bowed before him in respect. Joseph took Ephraim with his right hand and led him toward Israel's left hand and took Manasseh with his left hand and led him toward Israel's right hand. Israel purposefully reached out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's (second born) head and put his left hand on Manasseh's (firstborn) head. Israel blessed Joseph and said, "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." (NKJV) Joseph was displeased to see that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim's head. So, he took Israel's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph told his father that it shouldn't be that way because Manasseh is the firstborn and his right hand should be on Manasseh's head. Israel refused to switch up the hand/head combination and he let Joseph know that he knew what he was doing. Israel said that Manasseh will also become a people and be great, but the younger brother would be greater and his descendants would become a multitude of nations. In Genesis 25:23, God told Rebekah that she was carrying two nations in her womb and that one people will be stronger than the other with the older brother serving the younger brother. We know, of course, that the younger brother was Jacob, who tricked his father Isaac, who also had poor eyesight, into giving him the blessing of the firstborn in Genesis 27. Is there any situation in your family that seems like history repeating itself, whether positive or negative? Israel blessed them on that day saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!'" Thus, he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Israel told Joseph that he was dying, but God would be with Joseph and bring him back to the land of his fathers. He also said that he gave Joseph one portion above his brothers, which he took from the hand of the Amorite with his sword and bow.

Our next stop is Genesis 49.

To God Be The Glory!

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