Genesis 49:13-18

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"13 Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon. 14 Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between two burdens; 15 He saw that rest was good, and that the land was pleasant; he bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a band of slaves. 16 Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!" ~ Genesis 49:13-18

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 49 where Jacob, at the end of his earthly life, is delivering blessings upon his twelve sons. To this point, we have considered four of the twelve sons. Today, we will consider the next three. Each word in this passage is prophetic of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to purchase fallen man back to God. In this we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all things good and truthful. It was He who said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life! No one comes to the Father but through Me."

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall adjoin Sidon."

Jacob, after blessing Judah, now turns his attention to his tenth-born son, Zebulun. Judah was the fourth son of Israel, so this seems out of place, but Zebulun was born to Leah, not to one of the maidservants. And so the blessing is upon her sons first. However, Zebulun has another brother, Issachar, who was born to Leah before he was. And yet, Jacob first blessed Zebulun before he blessed Issachar.

Zebulun means "Glorious Dwelling Place." The word "sea" was written in the plural here. Literally, it reads, "Zebulun at the shore of the seas shall dwell," implying is that this tribe would fill the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Zebulun's inheritance included a shore where ships unloaded revealing the people of Zebulun would be a people predominantly engaged in commerce next to the town of Sidon.

Sidon was the firstborn of Canaan and his territory was at the norther end of the land of Canaan.

Sidon means "catching fish" confirming that Zebulun would have a portion of coastal territory. As each son of Jacob so far has pointed us to the Lord Jesus Christ, this one does too. Zebulun describes that place where Christ brings all who trust in Him into the presence of God through His work on the cross.

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between two burdens; 15 He saw that rest was good, and that the land was pleasant; he bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, and became a band of slaves."

Issachar was Jacob’s ninth son, the fifth born to Leah. Issachar means "He is wages." In addition, he is called a strong donkey. This type of donkey is a service animal, used like an ox for plowing and other such heavy work. In addition, Issachar will be placed between two borders, the region of Syro-Phonecia on one side and Samaria on the other. The word translated here as "burdens" is used only twice in the Bible. The other time, it is translated as "sheepfolds" indicating Issachar would be like a servant animal who finds rest in a comfortable spot. 

The word "rest" is the same word used to describe the still waters in Psalm 23. Due to his peaceful surroundings and his well-placed position between two areas where there is safety and rest, he will be willing to bear a heavy burden upon his shoulder in order to obtain what he desires. As Issachar means "He is wages" the idea is that in his future he will be a man of hire. In other words, his labors will be his pay; he will be a bondservant. No one but the Lord Jesus fits this bill.

In v.16-18 of today's passage we read, "16 Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for your salvation, O Lord!"

In the final blessing today, that of Dan the fifth born son to Jacob and the first of four born to his two concubines. Dan was the first born to Bilhah, the maidservant of Rachel. Dan means "to plead the cause of." In Dan we see a most striking and clear picture of the work of the Lord Jesus. 

In John 6:38 the Lord Jesus said, "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." Then in John 9:39, He said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind." Then, in John 10:10 He said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." In 1 John 2:1 we read, "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Jacob likened Dan to a serpent which is the same word used for the serpent in Genesis 3:1. Dan is likened to this serpent, which is the same word used in John 3:14-15 which reads, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." In addition, Jacob described Dan as a "viper" which comes from the Hebrew word which means "to bruise." In Genesis 3:15 we read, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel."

At the end of v.18 of our passage today, we have the first usage of the name "Yeshua" in the Old Testament. Of course, Yeshua is Jesus. In Acts 4:12 we read, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The name of whom Peter spoke that day was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the suffering Messiah predicted by the Psalmist a thousand years before His coming. 

In Psalm 22 we read, "16 For dogs have surrounded Me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; 17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. 18 They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." The Lord Jesus could not have orchestrated these events if He were a mere man. This is one of many passages in the Old Testament which all point us to the One who is the God who became a Man in order to save us by paying our penalty on His cross.

Genesis 49:8-12

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"8 Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you. 9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. 11 Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk." ~ Genesis 49:8-12

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 49 where Jacob is blessing his sons. Having considered Jacob's blessing upon the first three sons, today, we will contemplate Jacob’s blessing upon Judah, his fourth son. The Bible speaks more about the tribe of Judah than any other single tribe of Israel. Through Judah came the Lord Jesus Christ. Despite his sexual failure with his daughter-in-law, Judah developed into a leader. If we desire to be leaders, we, like Judah, must be willing to confront the truth, even hard truths about ourselves, repent of our sin and turn to God. In the development of Judah as a leader, a drama developed which would only be consummated through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v.8 of today's passage, we read, "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s children shall bow down before you."

Judah was the fourth son born to Jacob and Leah. The name Judah means "Thank you, God."  The term "Jew" comes directly from the name Judah. The Apostle Paul used this term in Romans 2:28-29 which reads, "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."

Jacob’s note in today's passage is that God was praised for him at his birth. Judah first began to attain ascendancy when he spoke on behalf of all the brothers before Joseph revealed himself to them. After that, he was sent by Jacob ahead of the others as they traveled to Egypt to point the way to Goshen. Judah was the first tribe to march ahead of the other tribes as they carried the Ark of the Covenant into Canaan. Once in Canaan, Judah was repeatedly selected as the first of the tribes to go into battle. After Joshua’s death, Judah was the first to be assigned land as it was divided among the tribes. The first judge of Israel, Othniel, was of the tribe of Judah. From Judah came King, David. Judah, meaning "thank you, God" sets the example for all of us. In all things, let gratitude lead.

In v.9-10 of today's passage we read, "9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people."

Judah was a young lion, one of little power. At this point in the history of Judah, he was one among his brothers, with no seeming advantage above them. However, the tribe of Judah eventually matured into a grown lion in its own right. It became the largest of the tribes and was known for its many conquests, defeating prey in all directions as they prospered. Jacob employed symbolism of a lion that crouched over his prey, with no worries about it being taken from him as he devoured it. 

The scepter has always been the symbol of rule and authority. This was prophesied by Jacob of Judah as the predominate and ruling tribe. To Judah was given the rule and the acknowledgment of that rule was in the scepter. As the ruler, Judah would rest his staff between his feet while sitting on his throne. Judah, like many others in the Old Testament points us to none other than the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is called the Lion of Judah who has triumphed over temptation, sin, and death. The Lord Jesus is the Lion who retreats before nothing! The word "Shiloh" means peace, the peace of the coming Messiah. It is the law or truth of God that brings order to things. The name and person of Judah points us to the Prince of Peace. Judah was the lawgiver until the true Lawgiver came.

In v.11-12 of today's passage we read, "11 Binding his donkey to the vine, and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. 12 His eyes are darker than wine, And his teeth whiter than milk."

In the land of Judah, vines have always been in great abundance. So much so that a donkey could be tied to them almost anywhere. The "choice vine" has a purple berry without any seeds and it is highly valued. And yet, it would be so common that that the donkey’s colt would be tied to it. The same terms for donkey and donkey’s colt were used in Zechariah 9:9 which foretold of the coming Messiah. And, even the vine has a fulfillment in the Lord Jesus. In John 15 he said, "I am the true Vine." Under the law, donkeys are considered unclean animals and thus they represent the gentiles, impure and ignorant of spiritual matters and yet once tied to the true Vine, the Lord Jesus, the gentile believer is given the very wisdom of God that confounds the unsaved world. 

In the land of Judah, wine was so common, it could be used like water for the most ordinary purpose, even washing clothes. This is why Jacob prophesied that the Messiah would wash His clothes in the blood of grapes. The Lord Jesus is our goel, He is both our Kinsman Redeemer and Avenger of blood. Both of these roles come from the same Hebrew word, goel, as we have previously pointed out. As our Kinsman Redeemer, Christ has put on garments of flesh and has become like us in His human nature. He, in fact did wash his clothes in His own blood, becoming entirely red in His apparel, from head to foot in order to redeem you and me. His bloody garment became our righteousness because He has avenged us of our sin. In Revelation 19:13 we read, "He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God."

Genesis 49:1-7

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1 And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: 2 Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father. 3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it — he went up to my couch." "5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. 6 Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." ~ Genesis 49:1-7

Today, we transition into Genesis 49 where the sons of Jacob are being given a history lesson of God's faithfulness. Following that Jacob pronounced blessing upon each of his sons. These blessings were actually prophetic utterances of what the sons should have expected in the remaining days of their lives. Jacob himself had been in some hard spots during his life but he discovered through it all that the God of the Bible was "the Stone of Israel." Today, we will consider Jacob's blessing upon just three of his twelve sons. 

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 And Jacob called his sons and said, 'Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days: 2 Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, and listen to Israel your father.'"

In this chapter, the names Jacob and Israel are both used five times. The usage of these names illustrates the civil war that exists in every believer in the Lord Jesus. As Jacob, he was the man who fed his flesh or the evil desires within. As Israel, he fed the Spirit of God who worked in his life. As Jacob, he was defined by sin and as Israel he was defined by God. With this as the background, Jacob called his sons into his presence so that he could pronounce upon them divinely inspired blessings that would prove to be prophetic.

In v.1, Jacob used the phrase "in the last days." This is the first of 16 times that this phrase is used in the Bible. Despite the fact that portions of this prophecy extend well beyond our time here on earth, they will be fulfilled in Israel’s later history during the Tribulation and the Millennium.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity and the excellency of power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it — he went up to my couch."

The firstborn son of Jacob was Reuben. Since he was the firstborn, he should have been blessed with the rights of a first born which included the birthright, the priesthood, and the kingdom. But Reuben disqualified himself due to his sexual indiscretion. Jacob described him as "boiling over like water" which means Reuben was unstable in how he conducted himself. Jacob was saying that Reuben couldn’t control himself. As a result, nothing of superiority or excellence is noted concerning Reuben in the rest of the Bible. Not even one person of renown came from him. At the same time, two of the Bible’s most noted bad men, Dathan and Abiram, who came against Moses later, came from Reuben's lineage.

In these last words ever uttered to his oldest son, Jacob used the third person as if Reuben was not even in the room when he was saying these words. Jacob's disgust of Reuben's actions was clear. Later, Reuben and his tribe would be separated from the land of Canaan by the Jordan River. His inheritance forever remained on the eastside of the Jordan. It was as if he and his people were always on the outside looking in. Reuben, when he had his sexual fun was in search of intimacy. Sadly, that was what he lacked for the remainder of his days.

In v.5-7 of today's passage we read, "5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. 6 Let not my soul enter their council; let not my honor be united to their assembly; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel."

Here Jacob blessed his next two sons, Simeon and Levi. He  blessed them together. Of all the sons to be blessed by Israel, only Simeon and Levi are united in a single blessing rather than individually. They were sons of the same mother, and they together killed all the men of Shechem in response to the rape of their sister Dinah by the man named Shechem. Because of their actions Jacob described them as "instruments of cruelty."

Since Simeon and Levi killed the entire city of men with the sword, Jacob removed them from their positions of honor that should have followed Reuben’s disqualification. Jacob was careful to curse their emotions and not the sons. Even in his condemnation of their actions, he still granted them the blessing of the covenant. They were family but they failed to make choices accordingly. Throughout the Bible we learn that there is a place for wrath. It is the obvious result of offense, but wrath is to be tempered and appropriate to the situation. In the case of these two brothers, they allowed their wrath to make a mockery of justice. This cost them a prominent blessing from their father. Instead, in their blessing, came a prophetic rebuke concerning the generations which followed them. 

Jacob’s words to Reuben, Simeon, and Levi were more like anti-blessings. Reuben lost the rights of the firstborn because he had sex with his father’s wife. Simeon and Levi lost their positions as next in line because they murdered the men of the city of Shechem. The tribe of Simeon virtually disappeared from the biblical narrative after the conquest of the promised land under Joshua. And, the tribe of Levi had no inheritance in the promised land. 

The prophetic blessings of Reuben, Simeon and Levi point to the future history of their people and they also point us to the work of God in the Lord Jesus Christ that was required to redeem us from our sinful ways. Time and time again, God allows us to pursue the definitions of this world so that we would hopefully be redirected to His Son. Through the destruction that sin brings, God desires to awaken us out of our sleep and to prompt us to be defined by Him. Without the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives, there is no lasting purpose and there is no ultimate point to our existence. But in the Lord Jesus there is eternal hope, abounding peace and enthusiastic joy due to His abiding presence in our yielded lives. 

Genesis 48:17-22

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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. 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." ~ Genesis 48:17-22

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 48 where Jacob has just blessed the two sons of Joseph. As we have seen, the names of these two sons are quite revealing because Manasseh means "to forget a debt" and Ephraim means "ashes made double fruitful." Jacob blessed the second-born Ephraim with his right hand and the firstborn Manasseh with his left hand. In doing that, Jacob pointed us to the cross of the Lord Jesus. The word "knowingly" was used by Moses to describe the crossing of Jacob's hands. Joseph misunderstood this detail because he did not understand that God was in the details, directing all who seek Him for the remedy of our "ashes to ashes" problem. This was not a mistake, but was the full intention of Jacob under the inspiration of God according to v.14.

In v.17-19 of today's passage we read, "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.'"

The order of the blessing upon the boys, from that time on, would affect all of redemptive history, for both Jew and Gentile. Ephraim is the name associated with the ten northern tribes of Israel. They rejected God's definition of things. And so, God rejected them and they were exiled from their homeland. But in their exile, God never forgot them and He was gracious to them later extending the possibility of them entering into a personal relationship with Him. 

Jacob guided his hands knowingly, crossing them over so that the blessing would fall upon Ephraim, the younger son, instead of Manasseh, the older brother. Every detail of what occurred was given to picture the work of the Lord Jesus Christ in redemptive history. Where Adam failed and incurred a debt, the Lord Jesus Christ prevailed and His work on the cross has made it possible for all of Adam’s fallen sons to share in the grace and mercy of God. It is the same story being re-explained and repeated over and over again in the book of Genesis so that we don’t miss what God has done and that the Lord Jesus is understood to be the Messiah.

At that time however, Joseph didn’t understand. He thought his own father Jacob was confused about the placement of the sons and so he attempted to rectify it by intervening in the placing on of the hands. Joseph failed to recognize the hand of God’s Spirit upon Jacob as he prophesied and blessed his grandsons. It further says that he was displeased. What Joseph saw as an error, was a repetition of God’s continued selection of the second over the first. In this case, it would turn out to be one of the great moments in redemptive history.

Joseph's failure was his attaching God’s grace to the order of nature. It is the same failure that we all have made, we attempt to shove God into a box of our own choosing. We perceive that the world should work in a particular way and we think that God will act in that way. Jacob had the hand of God upon him for what would become the reality of the supremacy of Ephraim over Manasseh, and he had the hand of God upon him for what would become a picture of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The hidden wisdom of God cannot be limited by flimsy human understanding.

From Ephraim came Jeroboam who became the first leader of the Ten Tribes of Israel as they broke away from the southern kingdom of Judah. Because of this, the northern tribes are often called both Israel and Ephraim. The southern tribes were known as Judah. It was the ten northern tribes that was exiled by Sennacherib King of Assyria in 722 BC. From this exile, they were dispersed to the ends of the world, losing their identity and mixing in with the gentiles. This exile included both tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. It doesn’t sound like greatness, unless one understands what occurred in their dispersion. The phrase translated "multitude of nations" in v.19 is best understood in the phrase used in the New Testament, "the fullness of the gentiles." The waywardness of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh led to the possibility of the gentiles being allowed into God's family.

In v.20-22 of today's passage we read, "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. 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.'"

While the Jewish people, represented by the tribe of Judah is currently under God's punishment according to the law, God has presently directed His attention to the Gentiles, represented by the dispersed tribe of Ephraim. And He is, in us, continuing on today with His remarkable plan of salvation. The Gentiles have been brought into the commonwealth of Israel because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. Jacob’s words reveal the miracle of the church age which we are in at this current time.

The final words of blessing uttered by Jacob in today's passage were words of prophecy and faith. Not only would Joseph and his seed after him return to Canaan, but they would receive their inheritance as is now granted to them. The one requirement for receiving the blessing of forgiven sin and a personal relationship with God is that they receive their inheritance, the Lord Jesus Himself who was promised so long ago in the Garden of Eden just after the Fall.

Genesis 48:8-16

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8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, "Who are these?" 9 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." 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. 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!" 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. 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. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; 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." ~ Genesis 48:8-16

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 48 where we find Joseph and his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim before Jacob awaiting his blessing. Throughout the Bible it is revealed that that which pleases God is not our actions but our heart. It is clear in the Bible that the only thing that pleases God is our faith in Him. Faith in the God of the Bible is trust in Him, trust that is based upon a true understanding of who He is, as revealed in the Bible.

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, 'Who are these?' 9 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.'"

Before even noticing his two grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim, Jacob was engaged in a lengthy conversation with his son Joseph. Jacob's eyesight was so bad that he could not tell that his two grandsons were present with their father. After having explained to Joseph why he wanted to adopt his sons into the family, he asked about the two who came with him.

These were the sons born to Joseph in Egypt before Jacob and his family had arrived. In the words of Joseph, these were the sons God gave him. From the very beginning of his life Joseph had a very high and sovereign view of God. Everything that happened to him had been a result of God’s direction and somehow from the beginning, Joseph understood this. The broader our view of God and His sovereignty, the more we will be in submission to Him and the authority He has set up in our lives. 

According to Hebrews 11:21 the highest act of the life of Jacob was that he blessed the sons of Joseph and then worshiped God. Jacob's greatness credited to him by God was due to his faith in God alone. Of course, his faith enabled him to be defined by God as evidenced by the fact that he sometimes obeyed Him, but Jacob was noted as a man of faith in God who is pleased  most by the vulnerability of those who trust Him without knowing the outcome in advance. As was the case with all biblical figures, our faith in the God of the Bible is of the greatest value in his sight.

In v.10-13 of today's passage we read, "10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. 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!' 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."

It was at the end of his life on earth and Jacob's eyesight was so poor that he found it difficult to see. The two sons of Joseph were around 19 and 20 years old respectively. They weren’t little children, and yet they allowed their father to direct them, and guide them. Jacob kissed Manasseh and Ephraim which is something he only did three times during his life. The first time was when he deceived Isaac and kissed his father before receiving his blessing. The second time was when he first met his wife Rachel and kissed her. And now the third in today's passage. It isn’t coincidence that only these three instances are recorded. These moments tie the life of Jacob together into a picture of God’s sovereignty and grace.

Then Joseph positioned his sons to be blessed by their grandfather. This is the first time in the Bible the position of the right hand is noted as the preeminent position. It will be noted many times after this. Only one blessing is given, but a distinction is made between the right and the left. The phrase "he’s my right hand man" comes from the Bible. The words "right hand" occurs 166 times in the Bible. In Isaiah 41:13 we read, "For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'" God is able to do this because as He said in Mark 16:19, "So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." And now we read, Luke 22:69, "From now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God." This is why the right hand is so important in the Bible because this is where the Lord Jesus is reigning at the right hand of the Father.

Joseph bowed down with his face to the earth. Even though Joseph encountered many setbacks in his life, he knew a great amount of success. Success is not a goal to be attained; it is a state of being. If we need something outward to validate us as a success, then we will not be a success. One of God’s main methods of developing us to our greatest potential is to influence us to become successful on the inside when we do not appear successful on the outside.

In v.14-16 of today's passage we read, "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. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: 'God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; 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.'"

Despite Joseph’s care, Israel did the unexpected when he pronounced his blessing. He guided his hands knowingly to cross over to the opposite son. The word translated as "knowingly" means "to cross." By doing so, he placed younger Ephraim above older Manasseh. This is not the first time this has happened in the Bible. In fact, this is something that has happened repeatedly and which will continue through the rest of it. God took us to this theme to show us the foundational work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary making it possible for us to be at the right hand of the Father.

Joseph named the first Manasseh whose name means "to forget." The Bible’s idea of forgetting is active. It paints for us the taking away of something. And so Joseph, by taking away the memory of his past, named his son Manasseh because he forgot, even though he hadn’t really forgotten. But, there is more to the name Manasseh which is the same word which also means "a debt." The name Manasseh pictured the work of the Lord Jesus: "to forget a debt."

Ephraim means "double fruitful." It also carries with it the idea for "ashes." Ashes are emblematic of grief or sorrow, especially for judgment on sin. Ephraim means "one made from the dust, deserving of the judgment of being reduced to ashes." And so the double play on this name wasn’t just that Joseph was doubly fruitful in the land of his affliction, but that he remained filled with grief over being separated from his father and his home in the land of his affliction. Manasseh meant Joseph was twice fruitful in the land of His affliction, prevailing over the law and thus becoming the Savior of Jew and Gentile, but his work also meant that sin was judged in Him, thus the ashes. 

This account of Jacob blessing Ephraim over Manasseh is given to us to specifically show the work of Christ replacing the fallen state of Adam. This is why such minute care was given concerning the placement of the sons by Joseph and then the knowing movement of Jacob’s hands to override the decision. This passage ends with Jacob referring to the Lord as "goel" meaning "the Angel of the Lord who is the Redeemer of man." This is the first use of the word goel in the Bible. This word will be translated in two main ways: the first one "avenger of blood" and the other is "kinsman redeemer." Both of these are ascribed to the Lord Jesus who is the One who avenges the blood of His saints and the One who redeems us from our sin.

Genesis 48:1-7

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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. 2 And Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph is coming to you;" and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 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.' 5 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. 6 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 But as for me, 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)." ~ Genesis 48:1-7

Today, we transition into Genesis 48 where Jacob and his twelve sons are living in a placed named Goshen. It was there that they flourished even though the whole world was still in a famine. It is clear that God had been true to His word to Joseph and to his father Jacob. In today's passage, we will learn of the great significance of the dying words of Jacob to the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh.

In v.1 of today's passage we read, "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."

It was quite apparent that Jacob was about to die. Joseph was informed that his father Jacob was so sick that he was about to pass into the realm of eternity. So, Joseph brought his two adult sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to be blessed by their grandfather. Amazingly, these words of the old patriarch was nothing less than the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. These words of Jacob spoken to these two grandsons will be something that will affect humanity from this point onward.

In v.2 of today's passage we read, "And Jacob was told, 'Look, your son Joseph is coming to you;' and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed."

The sudden change in this verse from the name "Jacob" to the name "Israel" is quite instructive. When Jacob spoke, it was as Jacob the man. When Israel spoke, it was on the behalf of the God of the Bible and under His inspiration. This subtle change underscores the constant struggle that we all face from moment to moment, relying on ourselves or relying on God. When we are weak we discover that God is granting us the opportunity to be strong but only as we are being defined by Him.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 Then Jacob said to Joseph: 'God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 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.'"

After Joseph and his two sons arrived, Jacob gave them a history lesson from his life. Jacob told his son and grandsons that God Almighty appeared to him at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed him. Jacob referred to the place as Luz, not Bethel which is its other name. Luz was the original name of the location, but Jacob renamed it Bethel after his blessing. Luz means "to turn away from." Luz represented a people who had "turned away from God." This is why Jacob called the place Luz, not Bethel because all mankind needs the redemption that only comes through the Lord Jesus Christ.

In v.5-6 of today's passage we read, "5 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. 6 Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance."

Here, the names of the two grandsons were reversed by Jacob. By doing so, Jacob moved Ephraim and Manasseh to an equal footing and position with the other grandsons as redemptive history would continue to unfold. The naming of Ephraim before his older brother reveals that at the foot of the cross of the Lord Jesus we are all viewed by God as equals in Christ. 

In v.5 Jacob literally said, "Ephraim and Manasseh as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be to me." This clearly meant for Ephraim and Manasseh that they were expected to leave their luxurious lives in Egypt and be united with Israel in their inheritance. History bears out that they agreed with this and they accepted the covenant inheritance, and became united to their people Israel. The highest honor in this life is not wealth, fame, or riches as most think. Rather, the highest honor is to be united to the Lord and to be the covenant people of God. 

Ephraim and Manasseh's adoption mirrors the adoption that God has granted all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 2:11-13 we read, "11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying: 'I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.' 13 And again: 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again: 'Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.'"

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "But as for me, 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)."

Here, Jacob mentioned Padan which means "Ransom." This is the last of 11 times this word is used in Genesis, but it is the only time that it is used alone. The other ten times it is called Padan Aram. Rachel means "ewe lamb" which is the same word used when speaking of the Lord Jesus as the suffering lamb in Isaiah 53. Then Jacob used the word "beside." Whether he knew it or not, Jacob was painting a picture of the gospel of the Lord Jesus with his words.

Canaan which means "lowly" was next to be mentioned by Jacob. The name Ephrath means both "ash heap" and "place of fruitfulness" depending upon its context. Jacob used this name twice in the same sentence. Ephraim is the plural of Ephrath. Both, ash heap and place of fruitfulness were implied as Jacob used Ephrath twice here.

Then, at the end of the verse, Jacob mentioned Bethlehem which means "House of Bread." All of this wording in a sentence which when put together literally says, "But as for me, when I came from the place of ransom, the Lamb died for me, in my place, in the land of the humbled on the journey when there was a long distance to the place of fruitfulness and I buried the Lamb in the place of ashes, the land of affliction when sin was judged in the Lamb. The place of the house of bread."

Genesis 47:27-31

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27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” 31 Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed. ~ Genesis 47:27-31

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 47 where the grace of God has been put on full display as He used Joseph to save his family and many Egyptians from certain disaster. Amazingly, had Joseph not gone through the many intense trials including being rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, separated from his father for many years, accused falsely by Potiphar's wife, thrown into prison again, he would have never risen to the second most powerful position in the world at that time. The next time an unwanted trial enters our life, we must seek God to determine the plan He has in mind for our lives since He either caused it or allow the trial to come.

In v.27-28 of today's passage we read, "27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years."

Exactly as was promised by Pharaoh to Joseph, the people of Israel were given Goshen as their temporary home to live. Goshen means "drawing near" while Egypt in the Hebrew means "double distress." These two places paint a picture of the gentiles and the people of Israel. Egypt was without God and without the covenant blessings while Israel was drawing near to its deliverance from the famine and from the exile from Canaan. There in the land of double distress Israel lived and waited for their return to the promised land.

Israel's journey to Egypt and the coming Exodus pictures the incredible work of God for all people in His overall plan of redemption. One of the immediate advantages of God’s plan in the journey to Egypt was that it kept the covenant people together. Going all the way back to the Fall in the Garden of Eden, there is a continual pattern of families separating. Cain was the first to be separated from his family after committing his wicked deed against his brother Abel.

There were a total of 75 people within the covenant community who came from Canaan to Egypt with Jacob. Within a 215 year period of time, this small group of people grew to a total of 603,550 fighting-aged men. When we add the women, children, and the older folks their numbers were as high as 3 million people. These numbers attest to the fact that God’s hand was upon Jacob and His family. To further the argument, God has kept them together ever since.

Jacob entered the land of Egypt in the year 2299 BC at the age of 130 years, and, he continued on in Egypt for a total of 17 years. Interestingly, this is the same amount of time that Jacob had with his son Joseph before he was sold off to the Ishmaelite traders by his brothers. Like bookends on the span of Joseph’s life until the death of Jacob, these two 17-year periods mean that in all, Jacob had 34 years with his eleventh son. That is actually close to, maybe a bit more than, the amount of time Mary had with her Son who, like Joseph, was given the title "The Savior of the World."

Jacob was born in the year 2169 BC and his death at 147 years of age occurred in the year 2316 BC. Jacob, who is Israel, lived seventy-seven years in the land of Canaan before moving to Padan-aram where he stayed 20 years. After that, he moved again to Canaan and lived there for thirty-three more years. And finally, as directed by God, he moved once again from the Promised land to live his 17 final years in Egypt. The events of the life of Jacob were used in a most astonishing way to reveal future events in the history of redemption. Only God who knows all things, including the future, could have so carefully woven the stories and their intended fulfillment together.

In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, 'Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.' And he said, 'I will do as you have said.'"

In the Bible we are presented with two different types of death; There is the death of the spirit which is separation from God, and there is the death of the physical body which is the end of our earthly life. The first death, the spiritual death, is inherited but can be reversed. In an act of faith in God’s provision through the work of Jesus Christ, man can be regenerated in his spirit. This is what it means to be "born again." For those who are never "born again" the death of the physical body means that the spirit will never be received by God. Those who are never "born again" await the Lake of Fire. This is the reward for a self-inflicted wound which has never healed. "Born once, die twice; born twice die once." 

Knowing that his time on earth was limited, Jacob requested that Joseph place his hand under his thigh. This would be an everlasting covenant. To swear upon the hand placed under the thigh is to invoke allegiance to the One from whom man originally came. Jacob was asking to be taken out of the land of double-distress, the land of Egypt, and to be buried with His fathers. He desired to be placed along with them in their burial place. Instead of being buried with his beloved Rachel, Jacob asked to be buried in the cave that was purchased in Genesis 23 by Abraham. That cave was a significant spot which looks forward to the resurrection of the righteous. It is to this location that Jacob asked for his remains to be buried.

In v.31 of today's passage we read, "Then he said, 'Swear to me.' And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed."

Jacob has been referred to as Jacob twice and as Israel twice in this passage. The two times he was referred to as Jacob referenced the number of his years alive on the earth and his number of years in Egypt. The two times he was referred to as Israel, spoke of his approaching death and of his worship of God. Jacob, like us was defined at some points by his flesh and as Israel he was defined by God. That which we worship defines us.

The principle throughout God's Word is that the word is binding when the word is spoken. The word of the Lord which is recorded in the Bible is His oath. When God speaks, it is a vow in and of itself. Everyone who has trusted in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sin can bank on it because it has been issued by the authority of God Himself. The highest of all authorities will keep His promise. As a result, Jacob worshipped God. In 2 Corinthians 1:20 we read, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God." 

Genesis 47:23-26

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23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” 25 So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s. ~ Genesis 47:23-26

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 47 where Jacob and his sons are now in Egypt and are at the end of the sixth year of the seven year famine. Everything had failed the people of Egypt, their money and the Nile River which was to them one of their many gods. So, even their theology had failed them. In the context of their misery, the Egyptians asked Joseph to make them Pharaoh's servants so that they might eat and live. As this was happening, God provided for and protected Jacob and his sons through Jacob's eleventh son. This provides for us a picture of how God looks over all who are in His family. He doesn't promise absence of problems, He promises purpose through the problems.

In v.23-24 of today's passage we read, "23 Then Joseph said to the people, 'Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones'"

At this point in the narrative, Jacob and his sons were in the seventh year of the worldwide famine. God had long ago told Joseph the famine would last seven years. This is why at this point Joseph gave the people seed to be sown. Once the sown seed produced crops, the people were told that 1/5 of the crop would be Pharaoh's and 4/5 would be their's. Earlier, the 1/5th percentage was the same percentage that was bought up by Pharaoh during the seven abundant years before the famine. At this point Joseph required of the people one-fifth as their payment for renting the land owned by Pharaoh. Pharaoh grew in wealth and power while the people happily made themselves his indebted servants.

In v.25 of today's passage we read, "So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.'"

Provided for us here is a perfect picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. First the Egyptians said to Joseph, "You have saved our lives." Then they said, "Let us find favor in the sight of my lord." The word "favor" is a Hebrew word which means "grace." In essence, they said, "By your grace we are saved." The Egyptians understood and affirmed the fact that had Joseph not come into the narrative when he did, they would have been doomed. There is no question in my mind that had the Lord Jesus not come into my life when He did, I would have been doomed. As a result of my mother dying when I was five years old and my father dying when I was seventeen, I was an orphan. And, for 43 years the Lord has not missed a beat in my life. He has been most faithful and due to His grace I trust Him unswervingly. After the Egyptians acknowledged Joseph's grace, they agreed to be the servants of the Pharaoh. This was how we became servants of God, through the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, pictured here by Joseph. 

The key to our willingness to let God be the Supreme Being in our lives is grace. Our unwillingness to be subservient to God reveals our lack of knowledge of Him and our lack of subsequent trust in Him. We are saved specifically by God’s grace alone manifested ultimately through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. God's grace is a force that makes us want to serve. In Ephesians 2:8-9 we read, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."

God’s grace is a mind-blowing gift from the Supreme Being of all. We are made right with God by His grace. No amount of good works on our behalf can earn us a right relationship with God. The forgiveness of our sin comes to us by grace as a gift. Once we have received God's free gift of forgiveness by His grace we are propelled into a personal relationship with Him. If we could have been saved by any goodness that we could have produce then the law of Moses would have lifted us out of our condemned condition.

Once we see that we cannot bridge the massive gap that our sinfulness created between us and God, the only alternative is the grace of God which is hard for us to accept because it is so foreign to us. Our default mode is to pull up our moral boot straps and try to improve upon ourselves. But we are completely broken. Of course, this is why the Lord Jesus came to live a perfect life and to die a perfect death on the cross for you and me. Through His grace, God reached down and brought us up to be on the same level as Himself through His Son.

In v.26 of today's passage we read, "And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s."

In this verse yet again the grace of God is subtly brought to the fore for those who have come to the end of themselves. The entire account of today's passage reveals to us God's grace. Pharaoh’s house, as ruled by Joseph, hadn’t done anything overbearing or reprehensible towards the people of Egypt. Instead, the Lord God used Joseph to save many of them alive through the famine, picturing a much greater salvation provided for us through the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is so much more than forgiveness because forgiveness describes what God kept us from, that is, His judgment. Through His grace God gave us His righteousness which is what grants us a right standing with God. God, through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, gave us a new and an acceptable status before Him. 

In Colossians 1:21-22 we read, "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." 

Genesis 47:18-22

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18 When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate." 20 Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands. ~ Genesis 47:18-22

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 47 where the people of the world were enduring a severe seven-year famine. The famine was so severe the Egyptians traded their land and themselves for food. When Joseph was done, Pharaoh owned all the land, and all the people had sold themselves into slavery. In terms of an economic policy, Joseph had transformed Egypt from a place where individuals had wealth and property and freedom to a place owned by the government.

In the 1970's Bob Dylan sang a song titled "Gotta Serve Somebody." In the chorus of that song, Dylan sang, "You're still gonna have to serve somebody, yes, you're gonna have to serve somebody. Well, it may be the Devil and it may be the Lord but you're gonna have to serve somebody." No truer words have ever been spoken. The truth is, we are all servants to someone or something and we always becoming like the someone or something we serve. The answer to this is to walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is simply being sensitive to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit primarily through His word and then do what He tells us. In addition to this we must pray which is an on-going conversation with God. Listening to Him as we read His word and talking to Him are the two primary ways that we discover what it means to walk in the Spirit.

In v.18-19 of today's passage we read, "18 When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, 'We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.'"

Today's narrative took place about 500 years after the flood. This famine was at the end of its sixth year and the beginning of its seventh year. Everything in Egypt had been reduced to poverty level, subsistence living. The money failed the people, even the Nile River failed them. They desperately sold their animals and themselves to garner the food to remain alive. They went from prosperity to grappling for food over night. The only option besides death was to give up everything they owned and become the servants of Pharaoh. 

In all of his epistles the Apostle Paul identified himself as the bondservant of Jesus Christ. A bondservant is a slave. The Greek word "doulos" means "one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of his master." Like us, the Apostle Paul learned that being a bondservant of the Lord Jesus is not a duty, it is a pleasure. Servanthood is an act of devotion because the Lord Jesus has delivered us from the eternal clutches of Hell itself through His sacrifice made on our behalf on the cross. 

In v.19 the people begged for "seed." The word translated "seed" was used in Genesis 3:15 of the promised coming Messiah. That prophecy pointed us to the Seed of the woman. Of course, a woman doesn't have a seed. It wasn't the woman's seed, it was God's Seed. This was God's first hint that the Messiah would be born of a virgin and it was not the last. In Isaiah 7:14 we read, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Our greatest need is not for temporal food which fuels our bodies for a short time. No, our greatest need is for a Savior and only the perfect God could overcome death on our behalf by giving Himself over to death. And when He did so, sin and death died.

The desperate request from the Egyptians reveals to us the reality of what they were enduring. They were so desperate for food that they themselves became the slaves of the Pharaoh. And tucked away in this true story was to be found the mystery of how God would solve mankind's desperate need for forgiveness which was our greatest need because it is our sin that has separated us from life itself. 

In v.20 of today's passage we read, "Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s."

Until this point in the narrative, Pharaoh had no claim on the lands of the people. Only now had he consolidated his power and ownership entirely over the people and the lands. And all of this had been orchestrated by the hand of Joseph. Interestingly, this is also almost a mirror picture of what Joseph's name means. The name "Joseph" comes from two phrases: to subtract and to add. In one period of seven years, Joseph had taken away all of that which belonged to the Egyptians and had added it to Pharaoh’s wealth. But notice here, even though Canaan had been mentioned three times since v.13 in this chapter, it is excluded from this verse. Canaan was never assimilated by the Pharaoh, thus allowing for the continuing plan of God to unfold exactly as it would in the future. 

In v.21-22 of today's passage we read, "21 And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands."

Here, God set the stage for the events that would lead to the Exodus of the Jewish people approximately 400 years later. God used this seven-year famine to transfer the wealth of the Egyptians to Pharaoh. Much of that wealth was given to Israel when they left Egypt during the Exodus. 

Israel’s family lived separate from the Egyptians in Goshen while shepherding their animals. The Egyptians considered shepherding to be a loathsome profession. Research reveals that people who have never turned to God before may suddenly turn to Him in a crisis or through suffering. In those cases, a "bad" thing can inspire someone to receive the free gift of forgiveness from the Lord Jesus, resulting in an eternity in heaven instead of hell. 

Only those who trust in the Lord Jesus will be protected by God. We all go through life knowing where we want to go, but not knowing how to get there. We may think that we are making good time in our journey, only to find out in the end that we have been headed in the wrong direction. Twice in the Book of Proverbs we read, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." The only way that is real is the pathway the Lord Jesus beat for us into eternal life. It is only through Him that we discover "The way, and the truth, and the life" because "No one comes to the Father except through the Lord Jesus Christ."  

Genesis 47:13-17

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13 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15 So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed." 16 Then Joseph said, "Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone." 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. ~ Genesis 47:13-17

Today, we return to Genesis 47 which happened during a period when the people on the earth were experiencing a seven year famine. Before the famine set in God revealed through Joseph that there was coming seven years of abundance of food which would prepare them for the seven year famine. It happened just as God had revealed, knowing it gave Joseph favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh. The fact that Joseph resisted the impulses of his flesh and was defined by the Lord, positioned him to recognize the leading of God. Having recognized the Lord, Joseph obey His Word and as a result he was defined by God.

The seven year famine in Joseph's day pictures for us a time of famine which will come upon the whole world during the seven year event that most refer to as the Tribulation. The Bible actually never calls this period the Tribulation, it is referenced in Daniel 9 as the seventieth seven of Daniel's prophecy for Israel. In Jeremiah 30:7 it is called a time of Jacob's trouble. At the opening of the third seal in Revelation 6 there will be a rider on a black horse who will appear as a sign of the famine. There will also be at that time a famine of the Word of God. As we’ve seen in our study of Genesis, grain has consistently pictured the word of God. It is one thing to lack food for the body, it is quite another to lack food for the soul.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine."

The mentioning of the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan here is significant. Both will languish which means that this will be a worldwide famine, for both Israel and the rest of the world. Only those who have a personal relationship with God will be cared for supernaturally. This is foreshadowed in today's passage in the prospering of Israel while they were in the land of Goshen while everyone else suffered. The word translated "languished" meant that in such a state the people became exhausted to the point of fainting.

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15 So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, 'Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.'"

This is the last time the word grain is mentioned in Joseph's story. It was yet again a picture of what will happen on the earth during the Tribulation. This scenario is exactly referred to in Ezekiel 7:19 which reads, "They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be like refuse; Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them In the day of the wrath of the Lord; They will not satisfy their souls, nor fill their stomachs, because it became their stumbling block of iniquity." 

The famine outlasted the money. We live in a world where everyone believes that if they just had a little bit more money they would be okay. Those who trust in money more than the Lord will never be secure. Even though the US currency bares the message, "In God We Trust," engraved by our faith-filled founding fathers, that phrase is a reminder not to waste our energy engaging money as the source of our security. We invite trouble into our souls when we trust money more than we trust God. It is impossible to obtain a totally secured financial future. God knows we need this uncertainty to stay dependent upon Him. Frustration and fear become the pattern of those who focus on finances over faith in the God of the Bible.

Only in Goshen did God protect and provide for Israel as long as they were willing to be defined by Him. It will be the same for those Jews during the Tribulation. According to the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24, those who will flee to the wilderness will be safe. The rest will endure intense hardships. Knowing the word of God in advance and being defined by the Lord will be the precursor for their protection and God's provision for them.

In v.16-17 of today's passage we read, "16 Then Joseph said, 'Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.' 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year."

At this point in the narrative it was the sixth year of the seven year famine. In a wise moment for both Pharaoh and for the animals, when Joseph proposed an exchange of food for the livestock of the people. The exchange was made and the few possessions of value left to the people became the property of Pharaoh. Here, the picture of the future Tribulation comes into focus. In the book of the Revelation we learn not one person will be able to buy or sell anything unless they have the mark of the beast, the sign of their allegiance to the enemy. The only difference will be those who will be born again by asking the Lord Jesus into their lives. Sadly those who will resist the number during that time will die awful deaths. This is the clear difference between the Lord Jesus and the enemy. The Lord Jesus died for us while the devil will require those not subject to him to die. Our choice is clear, to trust in the one who loves us or to trust in the one who appeals to our flesh.