20240414 Genesis 48: The Prophecies of Jacob, part 1
Genesis: Looking Back in Order to Move Ahead Spiritually • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Call to Worship - Psalm 144
There is a hint of Genesis in this Psalm. It speaks of the Lord’s protection, the Lord’s providence, it pleads for the Lord’s prosperity, and it ends with a pronouncement of the Lord’s blessing
1 Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, My fingers for battle; 2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. 3 O Yahweh, what is man, that You know him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? 4 Man is like a breath; His days are like a passing shadow. 5 O Yahweh, bow Your heavens, and come down; Touch the mountains, that they may smoke. 6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Send out Your arrows and confuse them. 7 Send forth Your hand from on high; Set me free and deliver me out of many waters, Out of the hand of foreigners 8 Whose mouth speaks worthlessness, And whose right hand is a right hand of lying.
9 O God, I will sing a new song to You; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, 10 Who gives salvation to kings, Who sets David His servant free from the evil sword. 11 Set me free and deliver me out of the hand of the sons of a foreigner, Whose mouth speaks worthlessness And whose right hand is a right hand of lying. 12 That our sons would be as grown-up plants in their youth, And our daughters as corner pillars fashioned as for a palace; 13 That our granaries would be full, furnishing every kind of produce, And our flocks would bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields outside; 14 That our cattle would bear Without mishap and without loss, And without outcry in our streets! 15 How blessed are the people for whom this is so; How blessed are the people for whom God is Yahweh!
Scripture Reading - Genesis 48
1 Now it happened after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2 Then it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” so Israel strengthened himself and sat up in the bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply, and I will make you an assembly of peoples, and I will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 “So now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 “But your kin that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance.
7 “Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” 8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons and said, “Who are these?” 9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your seed as well.” 12 Then Joseph took them from his knees and bowed with his face to the ground.
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd throughout my life to this day, 16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless these boys; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
17 But Joseph saw that his father set his right hand on Ephraim’s head, and it was displeasing in his sight; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become the fullness of nations.” 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 “And I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
Prayer
Introduction:
Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary (Steinmann) (B. Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons (48:1–22))
This historic story from the life of Jacob is told in three parts. Verses 1–12 portray Joseph’s visit to his father and their conversation, a conversation which is largely dominated by Jacob’s statement that he is adopting Ephraim and Manasseh as his heirs. Verses 13–20 describe Jacob’s blessing on Joseph’s sons. Finally, verses 21–22 depict Jacob’s grant of land in Canaan to Joseph.
(1) The 12 “ish” Tribes of Israel
A key feature of this chapter is the formation of the twelve tribes. Jacob had 12 sons from 4 different women. In order of their birth: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Genesis 48 serves to explain the prominence of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in Israel and to also clarify why there were two Joseph tribes while each of the other sons of Jacob accounted for only one tribe. The counting of twelve tribes of Israel (not thirteen, with the expansion of Joseph into two tribes) will come at the expense of Jacob’s two disgraced sons, Simeon and Levi. For instance, the Blessing of Moses (Deut. 33:1–29) omits the tribe of Simeon (which was apparently placed under Judah, who Moses mentioned second—the spot that should have been Simeon’s, Deut. 33:7). In the division of the land envisioned by Ezekiel, Palestine is divided into twelve areas (Ezek. 48:1–7, 21–29), with a thirteenth area given to Yahweh (Ezek. 48:8–20). However, no land is given to the tribe of Levi (Ezek. 44:28).
Then in Revelation 7:5-8
Revelation 7:5–8 (LSB)
5 from the tribe of Judah-3, 12,000 having been sealed, from the tribe of Reuben-1 12,000, from the tribe of Gad-7 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher-8 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali-5 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh-7 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon-2 12,000, from the tribe of Levi-3 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar-9 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun-10 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph-7 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin-12 12,000 having been sealed.
There is always in Scripture the sometimes subtle and sometimes shouting reminder that there is the wages of sin are indeed deadly but the grace and forgiveness of the Lord and the gift of eternal life through Christ is always present.
(2) Joseph Visits Jacob: It is the Lord who Blesses
It ought to be noted that Joseph’s sons were not young lads at this time, but had grown to maturity. Since Jacob had been in Egypt for seventeen years (47:28), having come during the third year of the seven-year famine (45:6), and since Joseph’s sons were born before the famine began (41:50–52), Ephraim would have been at least twenty years old at this time, and Manasseh would have been at least twenty-one. However, since they were born sometime during the seven years of bountiful harvest, Manasseh could not have been older than twenty-eight, nor Ephraim older than twenty-seven.
1 Now it happened after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2 Then it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” so Israel strengthened himself and sat up in the bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply, and I will make you an assembly of peoples, and I will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 “So now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 “But your kin that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 “Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” 8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons and said, “Who are these?” 9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your seed as well.” 12 Then Joseph took them from his knees and bowed with his face to the ground.
v3 - the Lord blessed me
v4 - fruitful and multiply - God’s blessing produces an everlasting kingdom
Jacob claims Joseph’s sons in v 5
v6 Joseph has other children
v12 they were older but still sat on Jacob’s knee, a sign of affection. Just like Isaac, Jacob was going blind and probably smelled them and held them and blessed them(9).
God appeared, God said to me, God has given me, God has let me see your seed.
The sovereignty and providence of God, the compassionate and loving God who perfectly controls all things according to His will.
(3) Jacob chooses the younger: It is the Lord who determines the Blessing
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd throughout my life to this day, 16 The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless these boys; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 17 But Joseph saw that his father set his right hand on Ephraim’s head, and it was displeasing in his sight; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become the fullness of nations.” 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons
Just as Jacob manipulated the flocks, and Laban manipulated the the brides, Joseph places his sons in the order of their birth.
But Jacob… crosses his hands.
Jacob blesses Joseph - the God who is my shepherd, the angel who redeems, may name live on in them
Joseph tries to correct Jacob v17
I know, I know - the perfect knowledge of God,
The pre-determined blessing of God
(4) Jacob gives Joseph a double portion: The Lord blesses exceedingly and abundantly
21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 “And I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”
The double blessing of the believer...
Jacob was victorious with the sword and the bow.
Jesus was victorious with meekness and submission upon the cross.
For Jacob, Bethlehem was the place where Rachel’s life ended
For Jesus, Bethlehem is where is life of perfect of obedience began
Jacob blessed Joseph an earthly inheritance.
How does Jesus bless those who are in Christ?
In the Beatitudes Jesus blesses and gives us the kingdom of heaven
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the lowly, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The Lord gives us the kingdom of heaven, He comforts, He satisfies, He gives mercy, He is present, the Lord adopts us
The Lord blesses exceedingly and abundantly
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or understand, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
May we never forget the the blessings we have in Christ, and the promises we can claim through prayer
Numbers 6:23–27 (LSB)
23 “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: 24 Yahweh bless you, and keep you; 25 Yahweh make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 Yahweh lift up His face on you, And give you peace.’ 27 “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”
May the Lord hide you in His shelter in the day of trouble, conceal you under the cover of His tent, may He set you high upon a rock. Amen.
