Genesis 48
Pastor Mark Hudson
We are nearing the end of Genesis. Jacob dominates the book of Genesis covering 25 chapters – just for one patriarch! Joseph is told that his father is dying. Were the other brothers told this news? I’m afraid the favoritism lasts until the end. No other grand-children were included. We really don’t know if anything happened later with the other children and grandchildren. But Joseph brings his two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Remember this order since Joseph bring the oldest Manasseh and then Ephraim to his father.
Jacob musters his strength and as a part of his blessing to these boys he recounts how God repeats the blessing God first gave to Abraham, then Isaac and now to Jacob. Jacob takes these as his own so Ephraim and Manasseh (yes, the order changes) are both are called ½ tribes.
We know Jacob is nearing the end of his life. Whether he can’t see (v. 10) or his question in v. 8 is part of the formula for the blessing is unclear. The narrator slows down and describes how these (probably) late teens were near Jacob. Joseph then carefully placed Manasseh so Jacob could give Manasseh the elder brother’s blessing and Ephraim the younger (v. 13). But Jacob places Ephraim first.
Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons. He includes this wonderful phrase that David picks up in the Psalms, “God who has been my Shepherd all my life long to this day.” Jacob is looking back on his life and reflecting on God’s love and faithfulness. Jacob also looks ahead in v. 16 to their future blessing which does eventually see fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
It would be hard to overestimate the significance of a blessing from God. The most important thing in our lives is to receive God’s blessing. God does not bless us with new cars, nice homes or vacations, or property. His blessing is His nearness, the fellowship of His Son, the forgiveness of our sins, suffering, and sanctification. God is not enamored with the wealth of this world because He knows what limited and little value money is for His kingdom. But humility, faith, compassion, truth, sanctification, repentance are all valued in God’s eyes. This is what Jacob wants for his grandsons. This is what the Triune God does for us in Christ. His blessings are deep, eternal, life changing and to be sought after. His blessing is much more important than the job you choose, the school you attend, or the community where you live. Jacob, in this blessing, puts Ephraim first.
Now Joseph does not like this at all. He tries to get Jacob to bless the “right” one first – Manasseh. When Jacob says in verse 19, “I know, my son, I know.” I imagine Jacob not just saying he knows who the older son is. I wonder if he is saying to Joseph, “I know what you are feeling and struggling with Joseph. But I have learned that God’s choice does not follow society’s conventions. I received God’s blessing and not my older brother. Judah received God’s blessing and not Rueben or not you, Joseph. I know how hard it must be for you to accept God’s choice of Ephraim over the older Manasseh. God’s choice is His choice alone. So, it is better to accept that He knows far better than we do. Our vision, like you see in me, is and will always be limited and imperfect. Just accept His choice and rest in His wisdom.”
Jacob ends this section by giving Joseph a mountain slope he took from the Amorites. Not to harp on Jacob’s favoritism but it doesn’t seem to end. Is Joseph the only son to receive land? Though, to balance that observation about Jacob, he does bless Judah with the Messianic blessing as God willed.
Jacob reminds us that God uses sinners because those are the only people God has. Jacob was still a man of faith but like any believer Jacob is a saint and a sinner at the same time as Luther reminded us. There is more grace in God than sin in us. He forgives sinners who humbly repent and trust in His Messiah. Jacob had a sincere, genuine, and life-long faith. But his sin clung to him and muddied the waters of his life. Sounds a lot like you and me. We can have a vibrant faith but still struggle with remaining sin.
Saying that we have sincere faith but still sin can lead to complacency. Which would be the wrong conclusion. A statement like this should not harden our hearts but soften them. We should fight against our pride, anger, self-centeredness, favoritism, critical spirit, and lack of compassion through constant repentance and going back to believing in the gospel again. Every time we repent about another sin (or the same one) we believe in the gospel in a deeper more profound way. We experience the forgiveness and the glory of the gospel from a different perspective – a believer who knows better. We see ourselves as believers who need the forgiveness of Christ as much as the nonbeliever does. We see God’s grace for repeat offenders.
Lord Jesus, Jacob perplexes and confuses us. But so do most of the believers we know. In fact, we perplex and confuse others. But You understand our love of sin and the way we refuse to admit it. Forgive us when we truly repent. Remind us that it never turns out well for us or others when we sin. Break that love of sinning for a greater desire to please You which always satisfies our souls with joy inexpressible and full of glory. Stir up our passion for the Kingdom of God. Bring unbelievers into a saving faith in Christ by our love for each other and words of gospel truth. In Christ’s most glorious name, Amen.