To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you would inherit a blessing. - 1 Peter 3:8-9
What is a blessing? The dictionary defines a blessing as “God’s favor and protection.” When we pray or speak blessings upon others, we are asking God to pour out His gracious kindness upon them. We are invoking His loving care. This is a fairly common practice within the church, the family, and elsewhere. As Christians, we are called to bless one another just as Israel was chosen to be a blessing for all the world.
Today’s sermon covers 2 chapters, both of which detail Jacob’s final blessings. These are Jacob’s last words, thoughtfully spoken to his sons and grandsons. In some cases they invoke God’s favor, in others they convey Jacob’s disappointment, and in all instances they predict what lies ahead for the Hebrew people.
I. JACOB MEETS HIS GRANDSONS (Gen. 48:1-7)
Jacob spent the final 17 years of his life in Egypt. Therefore, a significant amount of time had passed between his arrival in Goshen and the illness that led to his death. Nevertheless, one day Joseph received news that his elderly father was very sick. He and his 2 sons hurried to go visit Jacob. When Jacob saw them, he gathered his strength and sat up in the bed. He began to speak to his son and grandsons.
Jacob reminded Joseph of God’s promise, which was given at Luz, to bless him and his descendants, to multiply them into a great nation, and to give them the land of Canaan as an eternal possession (Genesis 35:6-15). Jacob then adopted Joseph’s 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own thereby entitling them to his inheritance. Lastly, he explained why he had buried Joseph’s mother Rachel - the love of Jacob’s life - on the road to Bethlehem.
Though Jacob was deathly sick and bedridden, he was delighted to see Joseph - and especially his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. Most grandparents seem to have a special place in their heart for their grandchildren. Grandparents are free to spoil their grandchildren rotten without fear of having to discipline them later. Some of my sweetest childhood memories took place at my grandparents’ house. There is a undeniably special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
II. JACOB BLESSES HIS GRANDSONS (Gen. 48:8-22)
Jacob’s eyesight was bad, due to age and sickness, and he didn’t immediately recognize his grandsons. When Joseph brought them closer, he realized who they were and hugged and kissed them. Then Jacob prepared to speak a blessing over them. Though he was the prince of Egypt, still Joseph humbly bowed in deference before his father and set his sons before him. Manasseh, the oldest, stood on Jacob’s right and Ephraim, the youngest, was on Jacob’s left.
The blessing of the right hand was traditionally reserved for the eldest son. Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to place his hands on the heads of his grandsons. In so doing, he placed his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh. Then he began giving his blessing. When Joseph realized what was happening, he interrupted. Joseph believed that his father was making a mistake. However, Jacob responded that he was fully aware of what he was doing. He told Joseph that Ephraim, though younger, would become a greater people than Manasseh. Therefore, Jacob purposefully gave the greater blessing to Ephraim.
After blessing his grandsons, Jacob turned his attention to Joseph. Knowing that his death was near, he reassured Joseph that God would continue to be with even after he was gone. Jacob also prophesied that one day Joseph would return to Canaan, the land of his ancestors. This prophecy ended up having a duel fulfillment in that Joseph’s body was eventually brought back and buried in Canaan and Joseph’s descendants eventually returned to and settled in Canaan. Finally, Jacob explained that Joseph would receive a double portion of his inheritance in the Promised Land through Ephraim and Manasseh.
There is a recurring theme that runs through the stories of Genesis. God repeatedly chose a younger son to rule over or become greater than the older. Isaac was chosen over Ishmael, Jacob was chosen over Esau, Joseph (though not the youngest) was chosen over Reuben, and now Ephraim was chosen over Manasseh. I can’t say with certainty why God did this, but it does show us that God’s ways are different than man’s ways. It also reflects to some degree on Jesus’ teaching that “The first shall be last and the last shall be first” (Matthew 20:16).
III. JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS (Gen. 49:1-28)
After blessing his 2 grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob summoned and assembled all 12 of his own sons. He began to bless them and foretell what would happen to their families in the generations to come. He began with Reuben and continued according to their birth order concluding with Benjamin.
Jacob rebuked Reuben for sleeping with his concubine Bilhah. He revoked his privileges as the firstborn due to his lack of self-control. Jacob reprimanded Simeon and Levi for violently and angrily murdering all of the men of Shechem after their sister Dinah was raped. Jacob blessed Judah, comparing him to a lion, and promised that he would perpetually rule over his brothers. This, in fact, came to pass as King David and later Jesus Christ would come from the line of Judah. Jacob stated that Zebulun’s descendants would be a coastal and sea faring people. He described Issachar as a strong donkey bearing heavy burdens and enduring forced labor. He pictured Dan as a serpent in the pathway biting at the horse’s heels.
Jacob interjected with a shout to God and then continued. He described Gad as someone who drove his enemies away, Asher as enjoying rich food and royal delicacies, and Naphtali as a loosed doe speaking beautiful words. Jacob pronounced his greatest blessing on Joseph, describing him as a fruitful branch who remained strong even when provoked. Finally, he stated that Benjamin was like a ravenous wolf who devoured his prey and divided his spoils. With this, Jacob’s blessings, rebukes, and prophetic utterances ended.
CONCLUSION
In the generations to follow Jacob’s sons would multiply and develop into the 12 tribes of Israel. These tribes would become characterized by the blessings and descriptions that Jacob spoke over them. Though distinct from one another, as kinsmen these tribes would collectively form the nation of Israel. Following the conquest of Canaan, which was still almost 400 years away, each would receive a portion of the Promised Land in keeping with God’s covenant promise to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.
The 12 tribes of Israel are: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Ephraim and Manasseh were both adopted by Jacob so as to give Joseph's family a double portion of the inheritance. Levi was designated as the priestly line and therefore didn’t receive an allotment of land, which explains their absence from the list. They were, of course, still a unique tribe.
In closing, Jacob blessed his sons. Following his example, we should bless others.
What is a blessing? The dictionary defines a blessing as “God’s favor and protection.” When we pray or speak blessings upon others, we are asking God to pour out His gracious kindness upon them. We are invoking His loving care. This is a fairly common practice within the church, the family, and elsewhere. As Christians, we are called to bless one another just as Israel was chosen to be a blessing for all the world.
Today’s sermon covers 2 chapters, both of which detail Jacob’s final blessings. These are Jacob’s last words, thoughtfully spoken to his sons and grandsons. In some cases they invoke God’s favor, in others they convey Jacob’s disappointment, and in all instances they predict what lies ahead for the Hebrew people.
I. JACOB MEETS HIS GRANDSONS (Gen. 48:1-7)
Jacob spent the final 17 years of his life in Egypt. Therefore, a significant amount of time had passed between his arrival in Goshen and the illness that led to his death. Nevertheless, one day Joseph received news that his elderly father was very sick. He and his 2 sons hurried to go visit Jacob. When Jacob saw them, he gathered his strength and sat up in the bed. He began to speak to his son and grandsons.
Jacob reminded Joseph of God’s promise, which was given at Luz, to bless him and his descendants, to multiply them into a great nation, and to give them the land of Canaan as an eternal possession (Genesis 35:6-15). Jacob then adopted Joseph’s 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own thereby entitling them to his inheritance. Lastly, he explained why he had buried Joseph’s mother Rachel - the love of Jacob’s life - on the road to Bethlehem.
Though Jacob was deathly sick and bedridden, he was delighted to see Joseph - and especially his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. Most grandparents seem to have a special place in their heart for their grandchildren. Grandparents are free to spoil their grandchildren rotten without fear of having to discipline them later. Some of my sweetest childhood memories took place at my grandparents’ house. There is a undeniably special bond between grandparents and grandchildren.
II. JACOB BLESSES HIS GRANDSONS (Gen. 48:8-22)
Jacob’s eyesight was bad, due to age and sickness, and he didn’t immediately recognize his grandsons. When Joseph brought them closer, he realized who they were and hugged and kissed them. Then Jacob prepared to speak a blessing over them. Though he was the prince of Egypt, still Joseph humbly bowed in deference before his father and set his sons before him. Manasseh, the oldest, stood on Jacob’s right and Ephraim, the youngest, was on Jacob’s left.
The blessing of the right hand was traditionally reserved for the eldest son. Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to place his hands on the heads of his grandsons. In so doing, he placed his right hand on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh. Then he began giving his blessing. When Joseph realized what was happening, he interrupted. Joseph believed that his father was making a mistake. However, Jacob responded that he was fully aware of what he was doing. He told Joseph that Ephraim, though younger, would become a greater people than Manasseh. Therefore, Jacob purposefully gave the greater blessing to Ephraim.
After blessing his grandsons, Jacob turned his attention to Joseph. Knowing that his death was near, he reassured Joseph that God would continue to be with even after he was gone. Jacob also prophesied that one day Joseph would return to Canaan, the land of his ancestors. This prophecy ended up having a duel fulfillment in that Joseph’s body was eventually brought back and buried in Canaan and Joseph’s descendants eventually returned to and settled in Canaan. Finally, Jacob explained that Joseph would receive a double portion of his inheritance in the Promised Land through Ephraim and Manasseh.
There is a recurring theme that runs through the stories of Genesis. God repeatedly chose a younger son to rule over or become greater than the older. Isaac was chosen over Ishmael, Jacob was chosen over Esau, Joseph (though not the youngest) was chosen over Reuben, and now Ephraim was chosen over Manasseh. I can’t say with certainty why God did this, but it does show us that God’s ways are different than man’s ways. It also reflects to some degree on Jesus’ teaching that “The first shall be last and the last shall be first” (Matthew 20:16).
III. JACOB BLESSES HIS SONS (Gen. 49:1-28)
After blessing his 2 grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob summoned and assembled all 12 of his own sons. He began to bless them and foretell what would happen to their families in the generations to come. He began with Reuben and continued according to their birth order concluding with Benjamin.
Jacob rebuked Reuben for sleeping with his concubine Bilhah. He revoked his privileges as the firstborn due to his lack of self-control. Jacob reprimanded Simeon and Levi for violently and angrily murdering all of the men of Shechem after their sister Dinah was raped. Jacob blessed Judah, comparing him to a lion, and promised that he would perpetually rule over his brothers. This, in fact, came to pass as King David and later Jesus Christ would come from the line of Judah. Jacob stated that Zebulun’s descendants would be a coastal and sea faring people. He described Issachar as a strong donkey bearing heavy burdens and enduring forced labor. He pictured Dan as a serpent in the pathway biting at the horse’s heels.
Jacob interjected with a shout to God and then continued. He described Gad as someone who drove his enemies away, Asher as enjoying rich food and royal delicacies, and Naphtali as a loosed doe speaking beautiful words. Jacob pronounced his greatest blessing on Joseph, describing him as a fruitful branch who remained strong even when provoked. Finally, he stated that Benjamin was like a ravenous wolf who devoured his prey and divided his spoils. With this, Jacob’s blessings, rebukes, and prophetic utterances ended.
CONCLUSION
In the generations to follow Jacob’s sons would multiply and develop into the 12 tribes of Israel. These tribes would become characterized by the blessings and descriptions that Jacob spoke over them. Though distinct from one another, as kinsmen these tribes would collectively form the nation of Israel. Following the conquest of Canaan, which was still almost 400 years away, each would receive a portion of the Promised Land in keeping with God’s covenant promise to Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.
The 12 tribes of Israel are: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Ephraim and Manasseh were both adopted by Jacob so as to give Joseph's family a double portion of the inheritance. Levi was designated as the priestly line and therefore didn’t receive an allotment of land, which explains their absence from the list. They were, of course, still a unique tribe.
In closing, Jacob blessed his sons. Following his example, we should bless others.