Final Moments

We have come to the final moments… of Jacob’s (also known as Israel) life.

Final moments are not things we like to think of or ponder about. They are typically moments that lead us up to the departure or passing on of a friend or loved one.

In the case of Genesis 47 and 48, these moments are shared with a father, his thought to be dead son, his grandsons, and his other sons.

They have walked through a lot to get where they are in this moment. The journey has been extensive, emotional, stressful, and so on.

Family “issues” are never fun or easy to walk through. In this case, this family has been through a lot of issues!

I’m not sure if Jacob is ever told the truth about what happened to Joseph. We could speculate on both sides of the argument… I find it hard to believe in the 17 years that Jacob lived in Egypt, that he never asked Joseph, “So, what happened all those years ago?”

As a dad myself, I would want to know those details! But the Word makes no mention of said revelation.

Regardless, these guys had some rough history… But all of that aside, the final moments Jacob spends with his family are really remarkable.

No doubt, Jacob has witnessed and discerned the favor of God working in and through the life of his son, Joseph.

I can only imagine in the days of famine, Jacob may have considered where they would be if not for the efforts and successes of the son he once thought to be lost.

But after 17 years, the days of famine are over.

I find it interesting in Biblical writing, that one verse transitions the reader from the severity of the famine… to the final moments of Jacob.

Genesis 47:26 NIV

26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.

This verse simply indicates that the plan that Joseph placed into motion… worked. Egypt was saved. And… it worked so well that the “law” remained in effect in the day that Genesis was written.

This again speaks of God’s favor that was with Joseph!

And… in light of that favor, Jacob does three things in his final moments that Scripture makes note of.

It is the closing of a major chapter… in fact, it is the beginning of the conclusion to the book of Genesis.

But as I just mentioned, Jacob has some important business to take care of and that business begins with…

A Promise

Genesis 47:27–31 NIV

27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. 28 Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.” “I will do as you say,” he said. 31 “Swear to me,” he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Jacob makes a final request…

We are familiar with the idea of final requests. These are the final wishes… the last desires… a family works to fulfill on behalf of a loved one.

In the case of Jacob, his desire involves what happens to him… after he passes away. Jacob… does not desire to be buried in Egypt. Although this was the place they found refuge… this was the place that he was reunited with his lost son, Egypt was not his home.

So with his desire made clear, why do you suppose Jacob asked Joseph to carry out this last wish?

In those seventeen years, one would assume that Joseph’s trust and authority within Egypt was only further solidified. Again, I derive this from the longevity of the law he implemented during the famine.

Although the emergency was over, the system remained in place.

Joseph continually operated in the favor of God. He was known as a man who got things done… and he did those things well.

THIS WAS BECAUSE JOSEPH WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD, FIRST. Not to Egypt, not to himself, and not to his family! Joseph found favor with God because of his unwavering faithfulness!

So look at how Jacob opens his request with the words, “If I have found favor in your eyes.”

Jacob is hoping for… Joseph’s favor. Jacob is hoping for Joseph to act upon the request he is about to give him.

Jacob knows that if Joseph approves of the request, IT WILL BE DONE. Why? Because Joseph’s success was not based off what he could do alone, it was based off the favor of God in operation in his life!

So why not Egypt? Why would Jacob desire to be buried elsewhere?

Egypt is to Jacob what the ark was to Noah. Egypt was a lifeboat… but not a final destination.

Noah knew his final resting place was not the ark. Jacob did not want his final resting place to be Egypt. He wanted to return to the land and be buried with his ancestors. Again… WHY?

Jacob knew that there would be no permanent residence in Egypt for his people.God had promised… something else.

So Jacob asked Joseph to make an oath… a promise… to cement his final request. Jacob knows if Joseph says, “yes,” it will be done.

Secondly, we see Jacob make...

A Reckoning.

Genesis 48:1–7 NIV

1 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’ 5 “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

In this passage, we see Jacob do two things.

One, he reprises the promise spoken to him by God. He shares with Joseph the details.

He shares with Joseph the details of God’s promise.

God blessed him.

God promised him an increase in numbers.

God promised him the land “as an everlasting possession” to his descendants after him.

I believe Jacob does this to set the stage for what happens next.

Secondly, in light of what Jacob just shared, Jacob RECKONS Joseph’s two sons as his own.

What does this word reckon or reckoned mean?

It means to consider or regard in a specified way. In this case, the Joseph’s sons are now considered as Jacob’s sons.

To make sure he is not misunderstood, Jacob compares Joseph’s sons to two of his own sons. “Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.”

Why would Jacob make this move?

This moment guarantees Joseph a double portion of the inheritance. Ephraim and Manasseh were given the same rights and status as Jacob’s other sons. In fact, the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh each become a full tribe in the nation of Israel.

I believe that Jacob sees God’s favor on Joseph and desires to see that favor continue among his offspring. BUT… also do not forget that in the beginning of this entire story, Jacob favored Joseph!

Genesis 37:3–4 NIV

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Jacob’s end of life is coming soon… it could be that this was his plan all along… it could be a result of the observable favor of God on Joseph’s life. It could be Jacob’s way of trying to secure the promise God had spoken to him. Whatever the case, Joseph’s boys are now elevated to a new status by their grandfather.

And… there is one more action taken by Jacob in Genesis 48...

A Blessing

Genesis 48:8–22 NIV

8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” 9 “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.” 10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.” 17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day and said, “In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’ ” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”

Now… I find something to be VERY INTERESTING HERE. Who is it that Jacob places his right hand upon? Ephraim! Why is this significant? Because Ephraim is the younger of the two brothers!

Joseph interprets this move as an error! Dad didn’t really mean to bless the younger boy… he did that because of his bad eyesight!

So he gives a correction… to which Jacob gives clarity.

Speaking of Manasseh, Jacob says, “his younger brother will be greater than he.”

Now… is Jacob being a bit silly in this moment? Is he trying to relive the past when Joseph revealed his dream to the family?

Not at all. Jacob is moving under the direction of the Lord. How do we know this?

Many times in OT history God chose the younger son over the older.

He chose Isaac over Ishmael.

Jacob instead of Esau

Joseph instead of Reuben

Ephraim instead of Manasseh

Gideon over his brothers

David over his brothers.

This emphasizes that what is first among people is not necessarily first with God. God chooses people on their sincerity, purity and love, not their family position or status.

For me… this is a learned lesson. Jacob finally got it.

Remember, he initially rejected Joseph’s dream… but in this moment, he accepted God’s direction.

HE PLACED GOD’S LEADING OVER TRADITION. He gave the blessing to the younger brother!

Closing

These final moments with Jacob really show us the completion of God’s work within this family,

Jacob knew Egypt was not his promised home.

Jacob elevated Joseph’s sons - I believe for the favor of God that was with Joseph

Jacob learned to follow God’s lead.

This makes me stop and ask a serious question: I wonder what would have happened if… instead of ridiculing Joseph for his dream, they would have embraced the given vision instead?

It is one of the many questions that will remain a mystery on this side of heaven… but I plan to ask the Lord one day!

But in Jacob’s final moments… I see him saying to the Lord… I finally got it. I see the way. You’re lead us home.