Monday, April 28, 2025

Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, Genesis 48


If you want to see him alive, you better hurry.

Have you ever heard those words? Gotten that call?

Jacob’s 147 and not doing so great.

Joseph was the first to get the call.

The rest of the family shows up later, (Gen. 49) but for now, it’s just Joseph and his boys with Grandpa Jake.

Jacob, the last of the Patriarchal trio, of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, with nearly a century and a half behind him, stands at the threshold of Eternity.

What does he say?

What does he do?

Genesis 48:1
 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.

After what things?

It’s been 17 years since Jacob and family moved to Egypt due to famine. Now, the famine’s been over for a dozen years or so, but they’re still hanging out in Egypt.

Jacob doesn’t have long to live, so he’s getting his house in order.

Just the other day with Joseph he made plans to be buried in the family burial plot back in The Promise Land. Genesis 47:29-31.

Now, Jacob is told that Joe and the boys are coming, so he prepares to meet them. Sits up, straightens up.

When they arrive the first thing he says, of all 147 years of living, is what God said 70 years prior. Genesis 28:13-21.

Of all the experiences and stories one can tell, in the end, all that matters is the Wisdom, the Words and the Ways of the Lord God Almighty.

 Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’

 And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

As far as recorded in the Bible, he doesn’t beget any offspring after them, Ephraim and Manasseh are the only two sons of Joseph. They are probably in their early twenties. Born during the 7 years of plenty, before the 7 years of famine, (Gen. 41:50). Then, Jacob showed up 2 years into the famine and has been in the land 17 years. 17 + 2 = 19, minimum age for the youngest.

Manasseh means forgetfulness. God has caused me to forget the pain of the past, the pit and the prison. Gen. 41:51.

Ephraim means fruitfulness. God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. Gen. 41:52.

Notice, Jacob repeats the Promise God gave to his grandpa Abraham, his dad Isaac and to him 70 years prior, and then, he immediately, says, your two sons are mine as Reuben and Simeon.

This statement kicks off what earns Jacob his place in the Hebrews 11, Hall of Faith.

Why? Well, in the DLT (Doug’s Loose Translation) it goes like this:

Jacob is almost blind, in a foreign country, not inhabiting one square inch of the land God promised him, and while on his death bed he says:

Seventy years ago, God said He’d bless me and multiply me and through me bless all nations of the earth.

Ain’t God great!

So great in fact that I do hereby adopt Ephraim and Manasseh, as Reuben and Simeon (first and second born).

Wow. Wait. What? Why?

If you say:

Jake, slow down. You’re not even back in the Promise Land yet. You can’t see. You don’t look so good. You don’t own one blade of grass, here or there. Maybe you ought to ease up on the inheritance talk for a bit. I know you think God said, He’d bless you above and beyond all you could ever ask or think, but stop and think, consider the circumstances, that was a long time ago, maybe you misunderstood.

Jake will say:

That’s why you’re not in the Hebrews 11, Hall of Faith.

When it comes to believing and obeying the Word of God, considering circumstances only causes confusion.

Just the other day I was talking to a friend, who retired from a 1% er biker gang. He said they lived and rode by a different code than the laws of the land.  

These Hall of Faith folks in Hebrews 11, do too. They belong to the God er Done Club. They say things like:

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor. 4:18.

Through faith and patience we receive the promise. Hebrews 6:12.

If you don’t quit you win. Gal. 6:9.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1.

God said it, so I believe it’s good as done.

Besides, I’m not looking for a place made with hands. My sights are higher than anything this world has to offer. My eyes are on a Land whose Builder and Maker is God. Hebrews 11:10.

That's why Hebrews 11:21 says: "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff."

So, Jacob basically transfers the birthright of the firstborn from Reuben to Joseph and makes Joseph’s boys joint heirs as if they were his own sons.

In positions of status and leadership Ephraim and Manasseh replaced Reuben and Simeon, who were disqualified because of their sins.

Genesis 34:25, Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city (Shechem) and killed all the males.

Genesis 35:22, And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it. (This happened at the time Jacob was mourning the death of Rachel.)

Jacob will address this in more detail when the rest of the family gathers in the next chapter.

Okay, thinking about what Reuben did, probably triggered a memory in Jacob, that causes him to pause and reminisce on a personal moment, of special interest to Joseph and the boys.

 But as for me, (to my sorrow) when I came from Padan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

Rachel, Joseph’s mother, died giving birth to Benjamin; Joseph’s only full-blooded brother.

 Rachel was grandmother to the boys she never met, Ephraim and Manasseh.

Picture grandpa Jake, tremble a little as his eyes well up with Rachel's memory, the grandsons who respectfully were standing behind Joseph, step forward to comfort grandpa...

Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”

And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 

It's wise to acquaint children coming up in the world with Godly silver haired saints who are going out.

They have a wealth of wisdom and experience and testimony of the goodness of God to deposit into young hearts and minds.

Invite them over.

Gather the kids around them.

Then sit back and listen and learn and laugh.

It’s lifegiving.

In the end, you’ll all be the wiser.

Proverbs 16:31, The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, if it is found in the way of righteousness.

10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see.

The eyes of flesh may dim with age, while the eyes of faith grow ever clearer

Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

Notice how these humble Godly men seamlessly weave God into their conversation.

Joseph had said, “They are my sons, whom God has given me.”

Now Jacob says, “God has also shown me your offspring.”

God is so good, beyond my expectations. I never thought I’d see you again, and now I see you, and your children.

We apply this to ourselves.

Father God, You are so good, beyond our expectation. You not only save and adopt a wretch like we; but show us the salvation of our seed. Even if for now, it may be  with the eyes of faith. 

12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 

Joseph, the man in command of all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Perhaps the most powerful person on the planet, humbly bows to the ground before his old, blind dad.

Now, Joseph made sure Manasseh, the oldest was on Jacob’s right, and Ephraim the youngest on the left.

Because, traditionally, the oldest on the right would receive the birthright.

When the father died or was absent the son of the birthright would take the leadership role in the family; additionally, he inherited twice the inheritance of the other sons.

14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 

Jacob may have been nearly blind physically, but spiritually he had 20/20 Xray vision.

God, who sees the end from the beginning, and the thoughts and intents of the heart, knows the character of a person before they’re even born.

Thus, Jacob simply followed the Lord’s prompting.

Although the birthright traditionally went to the eldest, it wasn’t mandatory.

God is never bound by tradition or religion or birth order or bloodline. 

15 And he blessed Joseph, and said:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked...

God is not mocked, they walked before God with Godly behavior, they stood before Him, in honor of Him.

Not all who say, “I’m a Christian, are Christ like. Many talk the talk; few walk the walk.

Jesus puts it like this:

“Not everyone who calls Me, Lord, Lord, will enter heaven, only those who do the will of My Father.” Matt. 7:21.

Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and Joseph, although they sinned and were flawed men, they walked before God as our examples of Godliness.

15...The God who has fed (shepherded) me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel who has redeemed
(bought back) me from all evil,
Bless the lads;

God, my Father, my Shepherd, my Redeemer, bless the lads.

16...Let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers; as if to say, "Let them not follow their father Joseph in his power and prestige here in Egypt, but let them follow me in the inheritance of the promise made by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Which was much more valuable and honorable, and everlasting, than all the riches of Egypt..

Thus, Jacob teaches them not to look to Egypt as their home, nor consider themselves Egyptians, but to take their lot with the people of God, as Moses would. Heb. 11:24-27.

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Now, we in Christ have a Home, not of this world, a Citizenship not of this earth, we have a Promise Land to look forward to, and a name to claim even greater than that of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the name above all names the name of Jesus.

17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Jacob might not have been able to see his hand in front of his face, but God allowed him to see hundreds of years into the future.

This was fulfilled in Israel’s history. Both tribes were blessed, but Ephraim was greater, even to the point where the name Ephraim was used to refer to the entire northern kingdom of Israel (Isaiah 7:8, 7:17, 11:13).

The mighty Joshua, the prophet Samuel, and king Jeroboam, all came from Ephraim.  

So, just because Reuben and Manasseh were first born, didn’t automatically give them the blessing of the birthright.

God cannot be put in a religious box, bound by tradition.

Ishmael was older than Isaac.

Esau was older than Jacob. 

God sees the content of a person’s character before they’re born. And in His eyes, quality of character trumps birth order, or bloodline every time.

Being born in a Christian family or so-called Christian nation, does not guarantee a birthright into heaven.

Unless one is born again, they will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. John 3:3.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Jacob left him with the promise of their return out of Egypt.

I die, God don’t. He never breaks a promise. He will be with you and bring you out of Egypt and into the land of Promise.

I'm dying, but God will be with you

The surgery will be scary, but God will be with you.

The chemo will be awful, but God will be with you.

That rehab will be tough, but God will be with you.

The night will be lonely, but God will be with you.

The healing will be hard, but God will be with you.

You name it... but God will be with you.

If God be with me, who can stand against me? Romans 8:31.

You say: “No one!”

If God be with me, who shall I fear? Psalm 27:1.

No one!

If God be with me, who can snatch me from His hand? John 10:28-29.

No one!

If God be with me, no matter the thorn, His grace is sufficient, 2 Cor. 12:9.

As Jacob died in Egypt, so too, would Joseph. And when he did he repeated the same promise to his family, Genesis 50:24. And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

Through 400 years in Egypt, through slavery, cruel task masters, Israel held fast to God’s promise, passing it along from one generation to the next.  So, they might neither love Egypt too much when it favored them, nor fear it too much when it frowned on them.

Dear family of God, hold on loosely to this world, cling tightly to our Lord.

If we know God be with us whether we stay in this world or go, we ought not sorrow as those who have no hope, but walk before Him, honorably, joyfully, knowing come, feast or famine, joy or sorrow, life or death, we are everyday one step closer to our land of Promise.

Let’s pray.

Our Father, our Shepherd, our Redeemer, our Friend, we cling to You, Lord Jesus.

Thank You for helping us to walk before You as examples of Godliness, to honor You in the thoughts and intents of our heart. Lord, we long to live well and die well, so our life will leave a trail for others to follow out of Egypt, straight to You.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

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