Today’s Reading: Genesis 48-50
GENESIS 48 begins with Joseph being told that Israel, his father, was sick. He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him to see his father. When he got there, Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in bed. He told Joseph about God appearing to him and blessing him at Luz in Canaan. He also told him of the promise to make his family numerous and to give the land of Canaan to his descendants for an everlasting possession. Jacob (Israel) told Jacob Ephraim and Manasseh will be counted as his, just as Reuben and Simeon are. Any offspring he has after this would be counted as Joseph’s and have the inheritance of their brothers. He told Joseph of Rachel dying in the land of Canaan and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (Bethlehem.)
When he saw Joseph’s sons he asked who they were. Joseph told them they were his sons. Jacob asked for them to come near so he could bless them. He kissed them and embraced them. He told Joseph he never expected to see him, and behold God had allowed him to see Joseph’s children, as well. Joseph placed them with Ephraim toward Jacob’s left and Manasseh toward Jacob’s right. When Jacob reached out to bless them, he crossed his arms and laid his right hand on the younger Ephraim’s head and his left on the elder Manasseh’s head
Israel blessed Joseph and the lads. When Joseph saw his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased. He removed his hand from Ephraim and placed it on Manasseh. He told Jacob, Manasseh was the firstborn and to place his right hand on him. Jacob refused and told him he knew. He told him they will both be great, but hte younger brother and his descendants would become greater with a multitude of nations. In his blessings, he put Ephraim before Manasseh. He then told Joseph he was about to die but God would be with him and take him back to the land of his fathers. He also told Joseph he gave him one portion more than his brothers.
In GENESIS 49, we see Jacob calling his sons together so he could prophecy to them.
He told Reuben, the firstborn, he was uncontrolled and he would not be distinguished because he defiled his father’s bed.
To Simeon and Levi he said they were violent and their anger would be cursed and they would be scattered.
He told Judah his brothers would praise him. Look verses 8-12. You will notice items meaning royalty: Lion, scepter, ruler’s staff, robes in wine. As we journey on through the Bible, we will see that King David comes from the line of Judah and the Messiah from David.
Zebulun will live by the seashore.
Issachar will be strong ad bear burdens and become a slave.
Dan will be a judge for the tribes of Israel and will overthrow his foes.
Gad will have to watch for raiders.
Asher will have rich food.
Naphtali will give beautiful words.
Joseph will be fruitful and God’s help will be on him, blessed by the Almighty.
Benjamin will be one to devour others ad divide the spoil.
These are the twelve tribes of Israel and the words that Jacob spoke to them when he blessed them. He told them when he died to bury him in the field Abraham purchased, Where Abraham, Sarah, Isaach, Rebekah, and Leah were buried. When he finished, he put his feet back on the bed and died.
GENESIS 50 begins with Joseph falling on the face of his father and weeping over him. He commanded his servants who were physicians to embalm his father, and they did. The embalming process required 40 days. The Egyptians mourned for him for seventy days. After the time of mourning, Joseph asked Pharaoh permission to carry out his last promise to his father and take his body to Canaan to bury him. Pharaoh granted permission.
Traveling with Joseph, were all of Pharaoh’s servants, the elders of his own household, the elders of the land of Egypt, all the household of Joseph and his brothers, and his father’s household. Only the little ones and their livestock were left in Goshen. Chariots and horsemen also went. It was a large crowd. At the threshing floor of Atad, they stopped ad had seven days of mourning for Jacob. When the local Canaanites saw the mourning, they commented on the grievous mourning for the Egyptians. The place was named Abel-mizraim meaning, Valley of Egypt.
The sons of Jacob did as he charged, and they buried him in the cave Abraham bought from Ephron, the Hittite. After the burial, Joseph and all who came with him returned to Egypt.
After their father died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid the would hold a grudge against them for the wrong they did to him and want revenge. They sent a message to him that before Jacob died he told them to ask Joseph to forgive their transgressions against him. Joseph wept when they spoke to him. This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture. Verses 19-21:
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with his father’s household. He lived 110 years. He saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons and his grandsons from Manasseh. Joseph told him brothers that he was about to die, but God would take care of them and bring them from Egypt to the land God had promised to Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob. He made the sons of Israel swear to carry his bones up from Egypt. Joseph died and his body was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
This ends the book of Genesis. Tomorrow, we will continue our journey into the book of Exodus. If you are reading along, we will read Exodus 1-3.
Be sure and visitWB Moore’s Biblical Insightfor Walter’s thoughts on today’s reading.
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