Jacob was looking back on his life and the hardships that he had faced, but he recognized that God had always been there with him and had carried him through safely.  Now he wanted to ensure that the torch was passed on properly to his sons. This was a tremendous responsibility and Jacob was determined to do it properly. 

Though Jacob had sworn at Bethel that he and his house would serve only the Lord God, his life turned out not to be easy, as one tragedy followed another. 

His mother's loyal and faithful servant had died and had been buried near Bethel. His beloved wife Rachel died in childbirth and was buried a few miles from Bethlehem.  His first son Rueben had committed incest with his wife. His daughter was raped by a Gentile and the pure line of his children was about to be defiled by those outside the covenant. His sons had responded in the wrong way and had treacherously slaughtered the inhabitants of Shechem and Jacob realized that living there was not safe.   

His father Isaac had died after he moved close to him. He thought that his favorite son Joseph had died a painful death, not realizing that he had been sold into slavery by his own brothers. Finally, famine had swept through the land of Canaan and his family had to move out of the Promised Land to go down to Egypt.   

Jacob knew that his leaving the Promised Land the first time had led to a series of troubles for him, and he must have left Canaan for Egypt with some trepidation, even though he knew he would be extremely happy to see his beloved Joseph again. 

When he met Pharaoh, Jacob summed up his life, describing his one hundred and thirty years as few and evil or unpleasant.  But now, after seventeen years in Egypt, on his deathbed as it were, he who had described the ‘Lord as his Shepherd’ and the ‘Stone of Israel’ was about to pass his radically changed perspective on life to his family. 

Jacob had seen how his son Joseph had managed the affairs of the land of Egypt, a land which was exhausted by famine. He had seen firsthand how Joseph had protected the family and how they had grown in numbers and prospered even during the years of famine. He knew that God had sent Joseph to Egypt to preserve his covenant people, as well as preserve the Egyptians. 

Despite this, when he felt that he was about to die he sent for Joseph and made him swear an oath not to bury him in Egypt, but in the land of Canaan. When Joseph promised to fulfill his wish we are told that Jacob turned to lie with his face upon the bed and worshipped God.  He had faith in the promises of God and with Joseph's promise he was assured that he would be taken back to Canaan.

His faith in the promises of God was strong and he wished to pass onto his children this living faith.   

We are now looking at a man who had been transformed, who knew that God was in control of all aspects of the life of those who called upon his name, that the promises of God were the most important things to be had, for God had promised his people only good things from His hand.   

God had proved himself to Jacob and the decisions he was about to make would be in harmony with what God had revealed to him.  God had given Jacob power and authority, changed his name to Israel and now he would bless his sons and urge on them the appropriate course of life. 

So we are now looking at what happened after Jacob knew that he would be buried in Canaan beside the other patriarchs.  He wanted to be in Canaan and nowhere else, for that was the land that God had given to Abraham and his seed. 

Just remember that when we are dying, we should be focusing on the important things, the things of value to God and ourselves and that is what Jacob was now doing. 

Do not underestimate the responsibility Jacob had and the weight of that responsibility.  He was the one on which the Covenant of God had rested for one hundred and forty seven years.  He had inherited that from Isaac his father and God had expected him to carry the torch after his father died. 

He had often behaved badly, dishonoured God and committed sins, but now he had been transformed and was about to finish well. 

We should learn this lesson from Jacob, namely, that despite the mistakes and sins we have committed and the dishonouring of God that we have done, we should put all that behind us and make sure that we finish well.  That should be our goal. 

So this lesson calls on us to reflect deeply on our past life, and to consider the legacy that we will leave behind us.  So let us get things right with God and behave in all respects as a child of God.

Pass on the torch that God has given to us, making sure that our life honours God.  We will see how Jacob did this.

THE TEXT

Verse 1-10. Jacob was now near the end of his life and demonstrating his faith in the promises of God that the land of Canaan was the Promised Land given to him and his children forever; he made Joseph vow to bury him in Canaan.   

He was now clearly not able to do anything out of his own strengths and personal skill and he was no longer depending on his cunning to achieve fulfillment of his desires, but now rested in the promises of God.  He had reached the stage in life where he was confident that God had been and was his Shepherd, his Rock and the stable element in his life.  Jacob, shortly before his death is a picture of a radically changed man. 

He was very sick and sensing that he was approaching death, prepares to die.  Joseph was advised of the situation and he went to visit Jacob and took with him his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim.  Joseph would have known Jacob's condition as described in chapter 47: 29 and his taking his sons with him suggests that Joseph wanted his father to bless his two sons before he died. 

Manasseh would probably between twenty and thirty years old at this time with Ephraim a little bit younger.  The children had been born to Joseph during the years of plenty sometime before Jacob had come to Egypt.  Their father, second only to Pharaoh in the land, their mother, daughter of the Egyptian high priest and her family belonged to the most prominent families in Egypt. They were certainly privileged boys.  They had grown up in very affluent surroundings, exposed to all of Egyptian culture.  Though growing up under the influence of their godly father, never having lived in Canaan among a nomadic family, they would have found this life and the culture in Goshen all a little strange. 

Now they would face their grandfather, this old nomadic shepherd, who made no bones about his belief in a God which had promised their grandfather's family the entire land of Canaan. 

Now it was time for their eternal destiny to be decided, though they would not have completely understood this at the time.  At this meeting the decision had to be made (mentally) as to whether they would stay in the world of Egypt, or commit themselves to the world of the aged Israel and his family.  

Joseph's sons would have a bright future in Egypt, and Pharaoh would probably appoint them to positions of power and influence in his government.  Would they agree to give up the very promising and sure “bird in the hand”, or place their hope in a land the possession of which was promised to them in the distant future, a land that they had never seen? 

Sometime four hundred years later, Moses who grew up in the palace of Pharaoh would have to make the same kind of decision. In his case he had tremendous power already in his hand and he would have to make a choice and take chances which would involve giving that power up. 

Jacob was obviously weak and when he was told that Joseph was coming, he collected his strength and sat up on the bed to pronounce whatever blessings he had for Joseph's sons.  This meeting would decide much and affect the fate of many millions of people. 

So Jacob got straight to the point.  He begun to remind Joseph of the covenant that God had made with him in the land of Canaan at Luz, otherwise called Bethel. He had been fleeing from Esau's hand and was alone and lonely.  It was there in Bethel that he had seen the stairway with angels descending and ascending into heaven. The Lord had stood on the top of the stairway and had spoken to him promising to make him fruitful, to give him many, many descendents and to give the land of Canaan to his descendents as an everlasting possession.  He had made a vow to follow God then. 

Jacob used the name “El Shaddai”, which is translated “God Almighty” in speaking about God and in so doing testified that God was all-powerful and whatever he had promised would assuredly be fulfilled.  Despite all Jacob's misdeeds, “God Almighty” had remained faithful to him and would remain faithful to His promises to his descendents. 

So Jacob now claimed the full power which came with being the one to whom the covenant had been passed and he was about to pass on this all-important blessing of the patriarch fathers to his sons and their children. 

Jacob had received a promise and this had given him the power to do what he was about to do.  Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh who were born in Egypt before he came to live in Egypt, would now be adopted by him.  They would be as much sons of him as Reuben and Simeon to whom the birthright would normally have been passed. They were obviously being displaced as far as the birthright was concerned, and the double blessing generally reserved for the firstborn Reuben was being given to Joseph, in effect with the double portion being split between his two sons. 

Jacob explained why he was doing this adoption. He was incorporating those born outside his house in Canaan, and at the same time honouring the memory of his beloved Rachel who had died and was buried on the road to Bethlehem.  She had passed on without being able to see the exaltation of her son.

So Joseph’s two sons are brought into full fellowship in a special way.  Jacob’s grandchildren are now called “his own sons” in his exercise of faith.  He knew by faith that these children of Joseph would be drawn into and remain in fellowship with God.  The sons of Rachel would not be left out, none would be lost. Hebrews 11:21 points to this act by Jacob when he was about to die as a powerful act of faith. It states: “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.” 

This adoption and blessing was clearly considered by God as Jacob’s supreme act of faith. 

Some consider that the encounter now recorded in verses 8-12 are really a formal adoption process.  It is considered the ancient beginning of the adoption process equivalent to that of a modern-day wedding when at the start of the wedding ceremony the presiding clergyman asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

So when Jacob “sees” Joseph's sons and asks: “Who are these?” 

It is not that he does not know that the boys are there but he expects the formal response from Joseph which comes: “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.” 

So Jacob asked that the boys be brought to him, (his eyes were dim and he could not physically see) and he blessed them, kissing and embracing them.

Jacob counts this again as a great blessing attributed to God alone.  God in this act had reassured Jacob that the blessings given to him and inherited from his father Isaac were great blessings.  It demonstrated God's merciful providences, his ability to surprise us with His blessings over and above our expectations, his bestowal of blessings which exceeds our greatest hopes.  So Jacob's joy was indeed great. 

Notice the massive change in Jacob between his appearance before Pharaoh where he told this King that his life had been one long sequence of sorrows and his present peaceful resolute state.   

He did not deny at this meeting that his life had been full of sorrows but he now saw that God had been shepherding him all along and had been with him in all his sorrows.  He recognized that it was God that was guiding him through adversity while directing the events of his life to go according to His will.  For Jacob the “sorrows of his life” had taken on a new meaning. 

We must recognize that no believer in Christ has ever been promised that there would not be troubles in life.  God uses trials and tribulations to mould us.  He had used trials and tribulations to bring Joseph down to Egypt and Jacob and his family down to Egypt. At the time both Joseph and Jacob were unaware of the exact nature of God's providence and how all of the “sorrows” they were experiencing would work to bring about God's purposes.

The lessons for us are many. As we mature as Christians we should look back on our lives and see in a different light, the pains and the problems of life which has worked together for good in our life and which have brought us closer to God. 

We do not seek for suffering, but we come to appreciate it when we see how God has beautifully used it to bring us into closer, intimate contact with Himself.  God works all things in his own way, to ultimately draw us near to Him. So the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:7-10 reminds us by putting “suffering” in its proper perspective: “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, be conformed to His death,

if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” 

The matter of “adoption” is a critically important issue that we should not pass over lightly.  Jacob has acted to show us that these grandsons had done nothing to earn his adoption but yet their grandfather had declared that they belonged to him.  They would be the father and head of their respective tribes and be a special blessing to their respective descendants. 

There is a great aspect of Jacob's choice that should interest us for his “adoption” prefigures the gracious adoption by God of the believers in Christ. God chose us as His own even before we had the ability to ask Him to do so.  He searched us out first, even when we were still His enemies.  He did this because He loves us. 

So let us all remember that we too have been adopted by God and have been placed in Christ

(Gal. 4:5).  God has taken the “legal steps” to give us an inheritance which we do not deserve or was able to obtain by our efforts, hence we are rightfully regarded as His sons (1 John 3:2). 

Their behaviour at this peculiar event and their attitude to both Jacob and Joseph, would show their obvious acceptance of what was happening; respect to their ancestral heritage and devotion and love to their fathers. Joseph had a special place in Jacob’s heart; it was the same with these children.   

Joseph bowed his face to the earth, and we should understand the significance of this given the honourable status of Joseph in Egypt.  Many people bowed to him.  There were not many people to whom he bowed.   

He was a very important man in Egypt, but yet with all the power bestowed to him, he did not lose sight of the filial honour that should be paid to his father.  Joseph knows that it is God’s blessings on Jacob that had put him in his exalted position and allowed him to prosper.  So by showing respect to Jacob, Joseph was also honouring God for how He had brought His plan to fruition.  The many years apart did not diminish this respect that Joseph had for his father. 

The description given to us in this verse clearly indicates the expectation of Joseph to see Manasseh, the older son receive the blessing that would usually be granted to the first-born son. To make it easier for Jacob to bless the older son first and give him the priority, as was the custom, Joseph positioned the boys in the way he thought they should be positioned.  He thought that this positioning would also make it easier for Jacob, who was old and bedridden, to pass on the blessing. 

The Bible depicts the right hand as the hand of strength and skill.  The right hand is associated with God’s strength (Exodus 15:6), favour (Psalm 16:11), and help (Psalm 20:6). This is why Jesus is described as sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 14:62).  So when Joseph guided Manasseh and Ephraim towards Jacob for their blessing, we recognize that Joseph intended to follow tradition, while God was thinking otherwise. 

Jacob did not act according to plan or custom, but was moved by God to bestow the right hand of blessing, the birthright of the first born, on Ephraim, which meant that Ephraim would get a double portion of the family inheritance, and would one day become the family's leader. 

(See Deuteronomy 21: 15-17).  Jacob knew what he was doing and it was confirmed by him in

verse nineteen, so that perhaps Joseph would understand that this is the will of God Almighty.   

We should recall from our previous lesson that the blessing previously belonged to the first-born son Reuben but this had been moved to Joseph's second born son Ephraim because Reuben had defiled his father's bed.  (See 1 Chronicles 5:1-2). 

It is also to be noted that Jacob was blessing Joseph.  But in this case, the unusual procedure Jacob used involved blessing Joseph, indirectly through Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh. They received the blessings that would go to their father. Joseph would be honoured in them.   

This transference of blessings and inheritance of the covenant is irreversible once it is made.  It was the same way when Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau, he could not undo it.   

The theme of the younger put in a position before the older is present in the generations of the children of Abraham. This was the fourth consecutive generation of Abraham’s descendants, in which the normal pattern of the firstborn assuming prominence over the second born was reversed: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, and Ephraim over Manasseh.

Jacob realized that throughout his life, despite all his acts of unfaithfulness and faithlessness, God had brought him to this point.  Despite some unsavoury moments in his life, he had learned and matured in his relationship with God and realized that all that was done was part of God’s will for his life.   

So Joseph reaffirmed his faith in the living God by using the definite article with the word “God” to emphasize that his God was “Genuine Deity”.

This triple reference to God, in which the Angel who is placed on an equality with Ha-Elohim cannot possibly be a created angel, but must be the “Angel of God” i.e., God manifested in the form of the Angel of Jehovah, or the “Angel of His Face” (Isa 43:9), contains a foreshadowing of the Trinity, though only God and the Angel are distinguished, not three persons of the divine nature.” 

This phrase “Angel of the Lord” appears several times in the Old Testament and the term carries significant value as it is connected with the term “redeemed” at different events in the Bible.  But there are differences of opinion on the matter. 

Jacob declared that the same Spirit that had guided and watched over him, was being invoked to watch, guide and bless the two sons of Joseph.   

Note Jacob was now speaking of his personal experience. He was reaching out to the sons of Joseph showing them that “Elohim” had great plans for them and their descendants. God had proved himself to Abraham, Isaac and to him Jacob and in all their traveling had “fed” and “redeemed” them all. 

So by his words Jacob was affirming to Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh that every thing that had happened in his life, the adversity that he had experienced, came from the shaping hand of God.  There would therefore be no need to fear what ever happened to them.

At this point, Jacob officially adopted the sons of Joseph as his and they took the places of Reuben and Simeon in them possessing the blessing given to the firstborn, because of the sins that the older brothers of Joseph had committed.   

Jacob’s words “Let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers” completely transferred the blessings and inheritance to the sons of Joseph.  This was done under the prophetical inspiration of God.   

God had His plans for these boys, not just for the children of Israel. Joseph was a powerful and respected person in Egypt, but this blessing surpassed all that he would accomplish in Egypt. The blessing would surpass in importance, the honour and blessing he had achieved in Egypt. They would have great honour within the community of God, and afterwards.   

Joseph had been given a double blessing through his sons.  Part of the reason for doing this might be because of the sins committed against Joseph. God might also have intended to let Ephraim and Manasseh know by this adoption that they are truly a part of the family of God. They had not been removed from the covenant relationship set up with Abraham, just because they were born in Egypt.  Also, it was important for them to realize that it is a better thing to be with the Lord, than to have the wealth and security of the world of Egypt.  

Joseph certainly deserved his reward.  He had always leaned on God, trusted in Him, stood up for Him, and in every respect showed that he was a man after God's own heart.  The lesson of Joseph therefore and his reward from God is a testimony to us.  We should use him as a model in our Christian life. 

Between Ephraim and Manasseh, Ephraim got the greater blessing, since the right hand signified that the greater proportion of the blessing was given to him.  In Israel’s history we see this being fulfilled when the whole of the northern nation of Israel was called Ephraim. 

Actually, Ephraim and Manasseh were very large tribes, and clearly the promise that Joseph's descendents would be as numerous as the sand of the sea was fulfilled. 

Tragically both tribes would fall away from God and Judah would take over the ascendancy. Psalm 78 records these tragic words: “The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows,

Turned back in the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God;

They refused to walk in His law, And forgot His works And His wonders that He had shown them.” 

Judges 12:1-7 records their shameful behaviour when dealing with the Judge of Israel named Jephthah. 

The Lesson for us from this is that we must be diligent and persevere in our faith, always following the covenant terms.  We should never leave obeying the laws of God.  If we do not follow the covenant we will also come to a sad and tragic end.  Whatever position of ascendancy we have will be taken away. 

In the last portion of the verse Jacob testified as to whom he owed everything. His testimony was a testimony of the grace of God.  He indicated how faithful God was to him, even though he was not faithful to God. When it says ‘God who fed me’, it really is saying ‘The God who has shepherded me’.  This is basically the first time Scripture mentions God as a shepherd to His people. 

Joseph thinking that his father had made a mistake because of his blindness, moved to correct this supposed error, but Jacob continued on his deliberate course of action.  Joseph had supported his son Manasseh by reaching for his father’s hand to place it on Manasseh’s head.  But Joseph was acting according to human reasoning, while Jacob was acting under divine inspiration. 

We can imagine Jacob smiling to himself as he insisted that he was right in doing what he was doing.  He knew that it had all come full circle from the days when he was younger and his own father Isaac wanted to bless the elder son Esau. Had Jacob not taken things in his own hands, God would have arranged the circumstances so that the younger son, Jacob himself, received the blessing.

Why does God seem to repeatedly choose the younger over the older?  This might be done for a few reasons.  It might be so to highlight the election of God (Rom 9:11-12).  In His sovereignty, God is absolutely free to choose some over others.  As the clay, we have no right to argue with the Potter. 

Or it might be to highlight the mercy of God (Rom. 9:15-16). God’s mercy does not depend upon our works. God chooses whom He will have mercy and compassion on and to what degree. 

Lastly, it might be to highlight the glory of God (1 Cor.1:27-29). One of the recurring themes throughout Genesis is the pleasure God takes in glorifying Himself. As a result, He shames the wise and strong with His particular choice of actions:  “so that no one can boast in his presence”

Verse 18.   Even though this action was unexpected by Joseph, we can still see that he respected his father, even in the way how he moved to correct him.  Joseph was proceeding according to the order of birthright, but Jacob went by the leading of the spirit of prophecy.   Jacob moved from the normal position of the first born having the position of pre-eminence.  Even though there were many examples going counter to this in the people of God, Joseph had not understood before Jacob’s actions that this was the will of God. 

It must have occurred to Ephraim and Manasseh that God had chosen them to make something of godly value out of them. So we should learn with them that God has called us, and chosen us, showed us grace and mercy and love, so that he could take us to some special place, the Land of Promise.  Do not choose to stay with the promises and the potential gifts of the world.  The things of the world might appear to be attractive but they are only an illusion. 

The change brought about in the life of Ephraim and Manasseh was tremendous.  They now knew what the future held for them, and they did not have to worry about it. They did not have to get into the politics and the general iniquity of Egypt to survive.   

Their grandfather Jacob, as the spokesman for God, had transformed their lives, teaching them who they were, and setting them on a path of glory.  We too have been chosen, called and told what our future will be.  We have been told where we are headed.   

So we should never become complacent, or ever feel that we have to give in to the ways of the world. Like Jacob we should seek out those who God wants to become part of the great multitude of His.  With our dying breath we should reach out to those who do not know who they are, and inform them of God's promises, and point them in the right directions. 

Joseph like Jacob believed the promise from God that his family would multiply and would become a great people. Joseph and his sons identified with these promises.  They knew that though they were then small in number they were destined to be a great people. All of us are therefore encouraged to be people of faith. We must like Jacob pass on the torch, and leave a great legacy behind us. 

So realize like Jacob that the hand of God is in our suffering and that God is at work teaching us endurance and maturity.  He is demonstrating his power, choosing weak and frail vessels and turning them into beautiful vessels fit for the master's kingdom. 

So please do not engage in the fruitless efforts of Jacob’s early life. Realize instead like Jacob did in his dying moments, that God is our shepherd in every stage of our lives. 

The blessing of God is very important to us and our families.  We should pass on the blessing that God has given us to our children, and pray for them.  We have been immeasurably blessed and we should make our children know it.  One writer tells us what our blessing is. He says:

“We have been chosen by the Father, redeemed by the Son, and sealed by the Holy Spirit”.

He concluded:

“Once we understand that we have been spiritually blessed by God -- tied into his creative purpose, fully accepted, and protected by him -- that truth eliminates our isolation, fear, anger, and emptiness and fills our hearts with a sense of wholeness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

To be blessed by God is life-changing.  So let's live under his blessings as a holy people, a spiritual community: and then pass those spiritual blessings on our children, our neighbours, and even youngsters who ride by our home on their bikes.”

So what can we say then to God?  Let us pray as Psalm 90:12 instructs:

“So teach us to number our days