Today's Scripture
Jacob’s blessing – Genesis 48
Today’s Reading Schedule: Genesis 48-50(CEB)- Click to read
After this happened, Joseph was told, “Your father is getting weaker,” so he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2 When Jacob was informed, “Your son Joseph is here now,” he pulled himself together and sat up in bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me in Luz in the land of Canaan. He blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am about to give you many children, to increase your numbers, and to make you a large group of peoples. I will give this land to your descendants following you as an enduring possession.’ 5 Now, your two sons born to you in the land of Egypt before I arrived in Egypt are my own. Ephraim and Manasseh are just like Reuben and Simeon to me. 6 Your family who is born to you after them are yours, but their inheritance will be determined under their brothers’ names. 7 When I came back from Paddan-aram, Rachel died, to my sorrow, on the road in the land of Canaan, with some distance yet to go to Ephrathah, so I buried her there near the road to Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem.”
8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”
9 Joseph told his father, “They’re my sons, whom God gave me here.”
Israel said, “Bring them to me and I will bless them.” 10 Because Israel’s eyesight had failed from old age and he wasn’t able to see, Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed and embraced them.
11 Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t expect I’d see your face, but now God has shown me your children too.”12 Then Joseph took them from Israel’s knees, and he bowed low with his face to the ground. 13 Joseph took both of them, Ephraim in his right hand at Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand at Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel put out his right hand and placed it on the head of Ephraim, the younger one, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands because Manasseh was the oldest son. 15 He blessed them and said,
“May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked,
may the God who was my shepherd
from the beginning until this day,
16 may the divine messenger who protected me from all harm,
bless the young men.
Through them may my name be kept alive
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.
May they grow into a great multitude
throughout the land.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was upset and grasped his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “No, my father! This is the oldest son. Put your right hand on his head.”
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He’ll become a people too, and he’ll also be great. But his younger brother will be greater than he will, and his descendants will become many nations.” 20 Israel blessed them that day, saying,
“Through you, Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”
So Israel put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I’m about to die. God will be with you and return you to the land of your fathers. 22 I’m giving you one portion more than to your brothers, a portion that I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”
RJ's Devotion
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
We have finished our journey through the book of Genesis.
As we come to the final chapter of the book, we see how Jacob (Israel) blesses his sons. The blessing from his fathers, also confirmed through his encounter with God, was passed on to his sons.
We see how God, in God’s faithfulness, reveals God’s plan for what we do.
Israel buried Rachel, his beloved wife, in Bethlehem, and we see how it became the birthplace of Messiah, who was the fulfillment of the blessing Israel received.
Israel misplaced his hand, on Joseph’s two sons, and blessed them. We do not know if it was a mere human error or a revelation from God, but we see how God was faithful to honor that decision and include them in the twelve tribes of Israel.
God can use our decisions in God’s plan. Of course, it means God must have led us to make that decision that can impact the future.
So how should we make decisions in our daily life?
It is a journey that we are walking with Christ, relying on his wisdom and instructions.
As we grow deeper in that relationship, we pray that God will use our decisions to impact the future.
Prayer
Lord, in all that we do, may it be for us to honor your name both today and tomorrow. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN
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