Leaving a Godly Legacy

Introduction

I married a person who likes things neat and tidy. And that’s wonderful. The problem is, my wife married someone who is not neat or tidy. And, half of her children are not neat or tidy.

In fact, when we were dating, we had an experience surrounding the dishes...

Fast forward to today; we can always tell where Elizabeth has been because there are piles of toys and clothes and various other clutter left in her wake. And I try to discipline her, but I know why she’s like that: because you can always know where her dad has been by the piles of my stuff!

Today we are talking about legacies. But not legacies of our bad habits. No, we are talking about leaving a godly legacy.

For that, let’s turn back to Genesis 47...

Body: Genesis 47:28-48:22

Verses 28-31

The narrative now moves forward seventeen years, after the famine and to the end of Jacob’s life.

Interestingly, Joseph had seventeen years with his father in Hebron and seventeen years with his father in Egypt, with a long estrangement in between.

Jacob doesn’t want to be buried in Egypt, but back in to Promised Land in his family’s burial place, the cave of Machpelah.

Jacob is so passionate about this that he makes Joseph take an oath, done in an ancient way.

The idea being that Joseph was to touch Jacob in an intimate place, showing a strong connection and thus obligating him to fulfill his promise.

The most interesting part of these first verses of this section come when it says, “Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed”.

At first this may seem to point to Jacob’s fragility because of his age. However, the writer of Hebrews sheds light on the importance of this.

Hebrews 11:21 ESV

By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

By the way, the Hebrew words for “bed” and “staff” are similar and the LXX says “staff” not bed.

So, what’s happening here is far more profound than simply a tired and weak old man.

In fact, it was reverent worship. Jacob worships God because of God’s abundant blessing on his life.

This is important because he was also the deceiver for part of his life.

I praise God that he can take a sinner and turn him into a worshiper! Anyone else with me on that?

Verses 1-7

Joseph, knowing that his father wouldn’t be alive for long goes to his father, with his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.

When Jacob hears the news of Joseph’s arrival, he sits up, determined to give his final blessing to his family at this point.

This might seem like more reviewing in Genesis, but what’s going on here is vital for the religious heritage of the family.

The one who now has to position of the oldest son (Joseph) is told of what God has done in his father’s life so he can pass it down to his children and children’s-children. But it’s also a passing down of the relationship to God to his closest heir.

In essence, he is saying: “This is your heritage. Follow God into the future, because God has promised us an everlasting possession.”

Jacob then “adopts” Manasseh and Ephraim as his own.

Jacob is giving Ephraim and Manasseh the blessing that should have gone to Reuben and Simeon as the oldest and second oldest son. Because Reuben and Simeon dishonored their father, they will not receive the blessing that would normally go to them.

Remember, Reuben slept with Bilhah (his mother’s handmaiden and mother to Reuben’s brother’s Dan and Naphtali) and Simeon led the slaughter at Shechem.

Israel is here giving a double portion to his son Joseph by making both of Joseph’s sons his “sons.”

There seems to be an odd turn here, as Jacob focuses on his loss of Rachel. Why does he mention this here?

Actually, this reveals part of the reason for this double blessing. Not only had Joseph proved himself worthy, but Joseph was the son of his beloved Rachel, whom he feels died prematurely.

In essence, these are the children Rachel would have had if she hadn’t died.

Verses 8-14

Why didn’t Jacob know who Joseph’s sons were?

Could be he couldn’t see them because of his failing eyesight.

Could be that he hadn’t yet met them.

However, Jacob had lived in Egypt for 17 years, it is doubtful he wouldn’t have met his favorite son’s children in that time.

Jacob, at the end of his life, is finally completely trusting in God and giving Him the praise the He alone deserves.

Does removing Manasseh and Ephraim from Joseph’s knees suggests that they were still quite young?

Not necessarily. In fact, they were probably somewhere between 18 and 20 at the time…so sitting on their dad was not advisable.

In the ancient Near East, the knee was symbolic of parental care and also of adoption.

It’s likely that Jacob had brought the boys close to his knees because of the symbolism it carried.

Then, by touching the boy’s heads, Jacob is transferring the blessing passed down to him to the next generation. (Again, he was blessed and now is being a conduit of blessing to others.)

Joseph attempts to put Manasseh (the older) by Israel’s right hand and Ephraim near the left (because the right hand was the place of greater honor). However, Israel crosses his arms, giving Ephraim the right hand blessing (the greater blessing, that is) and Manasseh the left hand blessing.

More on that shortly.

Verses 15-16

Why does it look like he’s blessing the boys, but it says a blessing for Joseph?

Because his sons would ultimately be the benefactors of that blessing.

But it was Joseph’s blessing, nonetheless.

Breaking down the blessing for Joseph:

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked…”

Though it took him a good portion of his life, Jacob finally understands the great worth of his spiritual heritage.

“…the God who was been my shepherd all my life long to this day…”

For Jacob, this spiritual heritage isn’t just one passed down from his ancestors, but one personally experienced.

“..the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys…”

He is likely referring to Jacob’s wrestling match with God at Peniel.

This was his constant picture of God, which stayed with him throughout his life.

“…and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac…”

Carrying on the family name was important, especially in a shame/honor society.

“…and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Basically, he’s asking that they can continue in the blessing promised so long ago to Abraham.

Verses 17-20

Joseph is not happy that the younger son is being blessed over the older, and because he assumes his aged father is making a mistake, he attempts to “fix” things.

However, Israel knows full well what he is doing.

Though Manasseh would indeed be blessed, Ephraim would be greater and would become a multitude of nations.

In fact, in later history the tribe of Ephraim would be so populous and strong that the entire Northern Kingdom was often just called Ephraim.

Additionally, it’s fascinating that this is similar to Jacob’s own situation in that he was the younger brother but received a greater blessing than his older brother, Esau.

Israel’s blessing was that these two would be so blessed that later people would desire to be blessed like Ephraim and Manasseh.

Verses 21-22

Israel knows he is about to die, but encourages Joseph with the words that their family will once again possess God’s promised inheritance, the land of Canaan.

What is Israel talking about when he says he’s going to give Joseph one mountain slope?

Likely Shechem, where Joseph would eventually be buried.

Interestingly, we don’t find Jacob fighting with the Amorites in Scripture for the piece of land in Canaan.

So What?

The greatest thing we can leave for our family and our church family is a godly legacy.

Jacob, for much of his life, had been like so many today: he had a surface-level at-best relationship to God. He paid Him lip service from time-to-time, but wasn’t truly walking with God. However, God was walking with him! Jacob would eventually turn things around and now is passing on the knowledge of God to those who would come later.

We all want to leave something of value to our children and/or grandchildren, but the only thing that really matters is that which has eternal value, our spiritual heritage.

It’s more than just claiming Christianity, it’s living that authentic Christian life for all to see. Making determined choices to honor God, especially in our “secret” places, because in a family secrets don’t remain secret.

Steve Green: “May all who come behind us find us faithful. May the fire of our devotion light their way. May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe; And the lives we live inspire them to obey. Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.”

If you can give one final word to your children and grandchildren before you died, what would that be?

For all believers, I want to encourage you to write out your personal testimony to leave with your family members when you die...

I’ve found that for many people, the most powerful words they will hear outside the Bible are those left for them by deceased family members...

Additionally, live a godly life that is worthy of emulating.

I think about my own parents:

My father was only a believer in the final days of his life, but despite that, he was the most honest man I’ve ever known...

My mother, who is still alive and doing well, is the most generous and loyal person I’ve even known...

But, when it comes to my faith and faithful service to the Lord, I have been blessed to be part of four churches of some of the most godly men and women, who have modeled Christ-likeness to me through the years...

Neil Mayberry, Marianne Hocket, Omer & Alice Irby, Jerry & Rita Wainscott, Don Reeves, Mark & Marsha Lincoln, Cecil & Vi Stark, Lorene Garrett, Marge Garrison, Rich Hamley Jeannie Lotz, Mike & Diana Lerma, Virla Walston, and I could go on and on.

But my point is, as the church, we have a unique opportunity to impact people through our faith and faithful service in ways that can have eternal impact. But we have to be involved!

Jacob’s story starts rough, but the ending is so beautiful.

Notice that Jacob’s great focus now is to give praise to God.

Not the good or the bad he had done, but the blessings God has given him and the ways that God showed Himself faithful again and again.

The healthiest thing we can ever do is praise our God!

This should be an encouragement for those of us that have walked a crooked path. And those who are still struggling on a crooked path. God can still take sinners and turn us into worshipers.

I don’t know about you, but I want to have a beautiful ending. That can start today...