48:1-7
Jacob is now very ill and we get his last words. The following two chapters will focus on the blessings that Jacob bestows on his sons. Here we read of him adopting Joseph’s first two sons as his own, elevating them to the same status as Reuben and Simeon. Later on Ephraim and Manasseh will be considered as two separate tribes. So Joseph received one sixth, rather than one twelfth of the inheritance, a double portion. So Joseph was effectively considered as the first born. Jacob recounts some of the visitations he had from the Lord.
48:8-16
Joseph brings his two sons to Jacob. Jacob had thought Joseph was lost, dead even, so he would never see him again, let alone see his grandchildren. Jacob blessed Ephraim before Manasseh, giving his “cross-handed” blessing. Maybe Jacob was recalling how he was blessed ahead of Esau. Later Ephraim would be a leading tribe, but would then be rejected in favour of Judah (Ps 78:67-71). Man can try his best to manipulate God’s plans, but he will never succeed. Jacob’s blessing sees the sons as a continuation of God’s plan beginning with Abraham and working through Isaac and Jacob. Jacob knew that God had looked after him all his days, and that the blessing would continue.
No comments:
Post a Comment