Genesis 48 (The Lord’s Will Prevails)

V1 – When word reaches Joseph that his father is failing and is essentially about to die, He goes together with his sons to see his father and be beside Him.

This signifies care. Joseph cared and loved his father and is careful to be by his side even in the last days. At one point, most of us will find ourselves at this point where we have a loved whose health is failing and is close to their time to leave the earth. Its critical to be by their side. You may not do anything much to improve their health, but you will be by their side.

For our parents, this is part of obeying the command to honor them. Even in their last days and on the death bed. As the Bible says:

Ephesians 6:2-3 New Living Translation (NLT)

“Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

V2 – Jacob responds to the honor given him by Joseph by strengthening himself and sitting up on his bed in order to speak to Joseph, giving him instruction and blessing him.

Parents always know which children honor them. And there is a special blessing that flows from them onto that child.

V3 – Jacob has not and does not ever forget God’s word to Him. It’s clear that this word has been in his heart and that He has been trusting in the Lord that it will be fulfilled exactly how God said it. He keeps the faith in God’s word.

Don’t fall into a place of doubting God’s word. The Lord is faithful to his word.

Psalms 33:4 – NLT

For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does.

V3 – God’s sovereign divine plan is amazing. Jacob takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his sons and gives them an inheritance equal to his other sons. Later we learn that Israel had twelve territories: The tribe of Levi did not have an inheritance because their inheritance was the Lord. When counting, Joseph is counted twice: under Ephraim and Manasseh. This was God’s plan and design.

V8-14 – We see the continuation of God’s plan here. Jacob being a man of great faith and led by the holy spirit crosses his hand and puts his right hand on the younger boy, Ephraim instead of Manasseh who was the actual firstborn.

It’s clear that God had set Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. What this teaches me is that God does not always follow the default of what we think. Sometimes He does but other times, He does not. His purposed will always be established.

One of the most important things that we always need to ask the Lord is that his sovereign will be done. It’s an important part of the prayer that Jesus teaches us to pray:

Matthew 6:10 NLT

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth,  as it is in heaven.

V15 – Jacob’s blessing to the two sons of Joseph is actually a prayer. He exalts the Lord who has been with him and prays that the Lord bless and multiply them.

When blessing, make it about the Lord. May He be the one that you bless people through. Look at this verse:

Numbers 6:24-26 NLT

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

V17 -20 – Joseph feels the father is making a mistake but No, Jacob knows what He is doing. It was by God’s design.

V21 – As we saw above, Jacob always remembers God’s word and keeps it in his heart. He clearly tells Joseph that God will take the people of Israel back to the promised land.

It is therefore very clear that even as the nation of Israel grows in Egypt, they know that Egypt is not their home. They have a promised land and this blessed hope keeps the nation of Israel even when they started getting oppressed later on.

God’s promise and his word creates and continually renews our hope. Be reminded dear friend that we are just sojourners in the world. We look forward to a greater hope of being with the LORD forever. This is my prayer for you and me:

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

 V22 – Jacob gives the special blessing, an additional portion to Joseph. He acknowledges that indeed God used Joseph to save him and his family from famine.

As we said before, when God uses someone in your life to help you or save you, bless them. Of course, give glory to God because it’s his awesome and amazing doing, Glory be to his name! but also remember that the person is God’s servant.