Genesis 78

 

 

BLESSING OF THE COVENANT PEOPLE

(Genesis 48:1-22)

 

 

“Some time later” refers to what happened after Joseph swore and Jacob worshiped God at the head of his bed, as Jacob’s time to die was approaching,

and his will to Joseph was to bury him not in Egypt, but in a grave in the land of Canaan. When Joseph heard the news of Jacob's illness, he took his two

sons and went to Jacob. Jacob refers to the appearance of Almighty God in Luz (Bethel) in the land of Canaan, blessed Jacob, made him fruitful and

multiplying, giving birth to many people, and gave him the land of Canaan as an “eternal inheritance.”. And Jacob declared that Joseph’s sons were

a member of Jacob's family by saying that Manasseh and Ephraim, which Joseph had from his marriage to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera,

the priest of On, were Jacob's. Joseph's sons Manasseh and Ephraim became members of Jacob's other sons participating in the blessings of the covenant.

This later resulted in Joseph receiving a double portion of the inheritance through his two sons (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). And Ephraim and Manasseh formed

the two largest tribes of Israel. And the two tribes became the names of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

 

 

1. The blessings of the covenant people and their size, depth, and extent

  1) Meaning of Israel

  2) The secret within the Messiah

  3) Blessings of the country in charge of the Word

  4) The suffering of those who do not understand

 

 

2. The important lessons from the text

  1) Jacob’s wish (Genesis 48:1-7)

    (1) He wishes that Joseph does not forget the land of Canaan (Genesis 48:3)

    (2) Jacob wished that his descendants to go to the promised land (Genesis 48:4)

    (3) His an earnest wish to place Joseph's two sons in the ranks of Israel rather than among the nobles of Egypt. (Genesis 48:5)

    (4) He wishes that Bethlehem will not be forgotten, even he reminds him of Rachel’s death (Genesis 48:7)

 

  2) Joseph’s wish

    (1) He wishes that the children born in Egypt and who are nobles will be included in the tribe of Israel. (Genesis 48:12)

    (2) He wishes to receive God’s blessings

    (3) Joseph knows Jacob’s right of blessing of prayer(parent, king, prophet, priest)  

 

  3) Jacob’s blessing prayer

    (1) Like Reuben and Simeon (Genesis 48:5-6)

    v. 5. "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine,

           just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

    v. 6. Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers.  

    (2) God’s blessing on Abraham, Isaac, and the guidance of God

to this day (Genesis 48:15-16)

v. 16. the Angel who has delivered me from all harm --may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham

       and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."

    (3) Jacob's hand to bless Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:19-21, 41:51-52)

    v. 19. But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger

           brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations."

    v. 20. He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' "

           So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

    (4) Joseph taking over twice as much land (Genesis 48:21-22)

 

 

 

Conclution:

In the words of Jacob, an Israelite, to Joseph, there is a strong belief that God will accompany Jacob and guide his descendants into the land of their ancestors, the promised land of Canaan. It is not Jacob's own faith or confidence, but he believes it because God promised, a promise made to his grandfather Abraham

and father Isaac, a promise given to Jacob, and the same promise and faith given to his sons and descendants.

This is the same principle of faith for Christians who believe in Jesus Christ. Salvation is given by God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, it is in the hands of God, who works together with God's total grace and chosen sovereignty to achieve good, rather than through our acts, merits,

or self-directed causality. That is why we do not gain righteousness through works,

but through faith and become heirs of faith. It is the principle of grace and the principle of faith. Christians are not beings who result in ‘Being’ through ‘Doing’, but ‘Being’ determines and directs ‘Doing’. The difference between this is the difference between heaven and earth. The patriarch Jacob is approaching death

after completing an eventful journey in life, but the blessings that Isaac blessed Jacob and the blessings that God promised in the covenant at Bethel are

passed on to his sons. What Jacob blessed Manasseh and Ephraim was the continuity of God's blessing and the blessing through Jacob's family.

So this world receives salvation and blessings through God’s salvation work.

The same goes for the New Testament saints. Salvation and blessings come through Jesus Christ, and when those who have received salvation

and blessings spread the gospel, believers become children of God, people, and members of God's household. Therefore, salvation, blessings,

and eternal life through Jesus Christ are passed down from generation to generation, and those to whom God has decided to give eternal life participate

in the salvation of the kingdom of God.