INTRODUCTION: Although this lesson may seem anticlimactic, God is still fulfilling His blessings on Joseph and rewarding him for his faithfulness. Our final reward comes in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). Yet, we can be sure that our God will make all things work out to the good of those who love Him.
- JACOB PREPARES FOR HIS BURIAL (Genesis 47:27-31)
- Jacobs Family Prospers in Goshen (Genesis 47:27).
- Jacob Lives Seventeen Years in Egypt (Genesis 47:28).
- Jacob would have been 130 years old when he arrived in Egypt.
- Jacob died at 147 years of age.
- Jacob probably lost out on 22 years of the life of Joseph, but the Lord was gracious and gave him 17 years with Joseph before he died.
- Joseph Promises to Bury Jacob in Canaan (Genesis 47:29-31; Genesis 24:1-3, 9).
- Jacob entrusts Joseph with his funeral arrangements (Genesis 47:29).
- Jacob asks Joseph to bury him with his fathers (Genesis 47:30).
- Joseph swares unto Jacob that he will do as he has asked (Genesis 47:31).
- NOTE: The Thigh
- The portion of the leg between the knee and the hip
- A place of strength (Psalm 45:3). This is probably the reason that the oath was made with the hand under the thigh.
- A place of nakedness (Exodus 28:42; Isaiah 47:2-3)
- A place of special importance to Jacob (Genesis 32:24-25, 30-32)
- JACOB REMEMBERS GODS PROMISES (Genesis 48:1-4)
- Joseph Goes to His Father (Genesis 48:1).
- News came to Joseph that his father was sick.
- Joseph went to see his father and took his two sons.
- Jacob Rises to Meet His Son (Genesis 48:2; Hebrews 11:21).
- Someone told Jacob of Josephs desire to see him (Genesis 48:2).
- Jacob strengthened himself enough to sit up upon the bed (Genesis 48:2).
- Apparently Jacob leaned upon his staff (Hebrews 11:21).
- Jacob Speaks of Gods Appearance to Him (Genesis 48:3-4).
- The promise of blessing (Genesis 48:3)
- The promise of a seed (Genesis 48:4)
- The promise of the land (Genesis 48:4)
- JACOB EXALTS JOSEPHS SONS (Genesis 48:5-7)
- The Grandsons Elevated to Sons (Genesis 48:5)
- Josephs two sons were born in Egypt.
- They are now elevated to the same level as the sons of Jacob.
- The two sons mentioned by name are Reuben and Simeon which are the oldest sons.
- Their Names Equal to Josephs Brethren (Genesis 48:6)
- A Special Remembrance to Rachel (Genesis 48:7)
- Rachel died by Jacob in the land of Canaan.
- Rachel was buried in the way of Ephrath which is Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19).
- JACOB RECEIVES JOSEPHS SONS (Genesis 48:8-14)
- Joseph Presents His Sons to Jacob (Genesis 48:8-9).
- Jacob asks Joseph who is with him (Genesis 48:8).
- Jacob had already met Ephraim and Manasseh.
- Jacobs eyes were so blinded that he could not recognize them (Genesis 48:10).
- Joseph identifies his sons (Genesis 48:9).
- Jacob calls them to come closer (Genesis 48:9).
- Jacob Embraces Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:10-11).
- Jacob kisses and embraces the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:10).
- Jacob expresses gratitude for not only seeing Joseph but also seeing the seed of Joseph (Genesis 48:11).
- Jacob Worships God on His Staff (Genesis 48:12; Hebrews 11:21).
- Joseph brings his sons from between the knees of Jacob.
- Jacob bows himself with his face toward the earth and worships (Hebrews 11:21).
- Jacob Places His Hands on Their Heads (Genesis 48:13-14).
- Correctly guided by Joseph (Genesis 48:13)
- Ephraim was placed close to the left hand of Jacob.
- Manasseh was placed close to the right hand of Jacob.
- This was done so that the right hand would bless the firstborn Manasseh.
- Wittingly voided by Jacob (Genesis 48:14)
- He touched Ephraim with his right hand.
- He touched Manasseh with his left hand.
- JACOB BLESSES JOSEPHS SONS (Genesis 48:15-22)
- Jacob Glorifies God (Genesis 48:15-16).
- The God of his fathers (Genesis 48:15a)
- The God who fed him (Genesis 48:15b)
- The Angel who redeemed him (Genesis 48:16)
- This blessing is threefold and could very well be connected to God the Father and God the Son. Blessings similar to this are used in Pauls epistles (1 Corinthians 1:3), in Peters epistles (2 Peter 1:2), and in Johns epistles (2 John 1:3).
- Jacob Confirms the Placement of His Hands (Genesis 48:17-19).
- Joseph tries to correct his fathers hands (Genesis 48:17-18).
- Jacob confirms to Joseph that he knows what he is doing with the blessing (Genesis 48:19).
- Jacob Blesses the Sons of Joseph (Genesis 48:20-22).
- Placing Ephraim before Manasseh (Genesis 48:20)
- Promising a return to Canaan (Genesis 48:21); notice the plural you in speaking to Joseph. Joseph only returned as bones but the children of Israel returned in mass to inherit the land.
- Providing a double portion to Joseph (Genesis 48:22)
CONCLUSION: We cannot give more to the Lord than He gives back to us in return (Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38). We can rest assured that if we give our lives and possessions to the Lord that He will make it worth it all in the end.