GENESIS
CHAPTER
48
1. After this Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2. When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you, he summoned his strength and sat up in bed.
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 1 to 2)
On reflecting Jacob was very ill. In fact it could be said that he was on death's doorstep. However, the news that Joseph had come to visit him gave him a special extra boost of energy, that was surely not his own. It was beyond his capacity as a weak human. God had not yet finished using Jacob. He wanted to deliver a very important message by means of Jacob.
At times we may feel strongly compelled to do something for others or maybe for ourselves. Moreover the energy and motivation may be beyond our capacity. A typical example may be that of a woman who is constantly abused by her husband who abuses alcohol and regularly beats his wife. God is able to give this woman, the victim of such abusive treatment, to escape from her house along with her children and seek help in a shelter for abused women. This can also apply to men who may also be experiencing abuse from their female counterparts. Another typical example is that of a person who is in a critical situation, where the only way to escape route is to make a leap from a very high tower. God gives us the courage and motivation in order to make important decisions at the right moment in order to ensure our physical, social, spiritual and psychological well being.
3. And Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me, 4. and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers; I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for a perpetual holding.' 5. Therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are now mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are. 6. As for the offspring born to you after them they shall be yours. They shall be recorded under the names of their brothers regard to their inheritance. 7 For when I came from Paddan, Rachel, alas, died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath" (that is Bethlehem).
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 3 to 7)
Jacob shared with Joseph that in Luz God had ratified the original promise that He had originally made to Abraham. Now was the time when Joseph and his generation would witness the unfolding of God's promise to Abraham after all those years of waiting. Moreover Jacob insisted that Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh who were born in Egypt, were also partakers of the promise, as much as we are as Christians who were the offspring from the line of Abraham that led to the birth of Jesus Christ who is our one and only father.
Moreover as found written in verse 6, through the voice of Jacob God was sort of ordering Joseph that the history of the descendants of Abraham was to be recorded in the sense of written and documented. This was the go ahead for the Word of God to be recorded and compiled in a written form, covering the period from the beginning of time onwards, thus also including the time that God's people were in the land of Egypt and the following eras leading to the New Testament and even the acts of the Apostles and also the the books that reveal to us news regarding the events that are to take place at the end of one time, and the beginning of Eternal time, when God will renew everything to its original perfect state in His presence.
8. When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?"9. Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." And he said, "Bring them to me please, that I may bless them." 10. Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, and he could not see well. So Joseph brought them near him; and he kissed them and embraced them.
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 8 to 10)
As a loving father Jacob asks Joseph to bring him his sons close to him that he may bless them. Jacob kissed them and embraced them, although they were not part of his family. God the father whom as Christians we identify as being our God is also a loving father who is always ready to welcome his other children and bless them, even if they are from other religions and sects. God is still worshiped in many forms and cults as there are many forms and trends throughout the world. The Holy Spirit of God has no limitations, biases or impositions, He is open and welcoming to all, who as sinners desire his love, grace, justice and mercy, therefore nobody in the world, is to be left out we are all one big family, black, white, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and even atheists amongst others. In the New Testament Jesus referred to the other 'sheep' who are not yet part of the 'fold' and how he wished that all would reunite and He would be the one 'Shepherd' of all the flocks and there would be unity amongst all diversity, so that the body Jesus Christ would be 'Whole' instead of 'hole' with dissensions, biases and barriers as it is today.
11. Israel said to Joseph, " I did not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children also."
(Genesis chapter 48 verse 11)
God is full of surprises and is beyond human logic and comprehension. He is able to make the humanly impossible possible. Moreover God has no limitations of time and space, and can be at anywhere and at any time.
12. Then Joseph removed them from his father's knees, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
(Genesis chapter 48 verse 12)
Although Joseph had grown in power and prestige, he still remained the humble person that he originally was. Although he had become a parent himself, Joseph still showed respect to his father, who was now of an advanced age. Moreover Joseph by means of this humble gesture set a practical example for his children who were present with him at the time. Setting a good example for our children is very important especially when they are still young. Their unconscious will become positively influenced to follow in the steps of their parents.
13. Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward's Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel's right, and brought them near him. 14. But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 13 to 14)
According to verses 13 to 14 we are given a typical example of the logic of God versus that of humans. Human logic has its own structures. According to its premises, the first born is always preferred over the second, however as displayed in the mentioned verses God's choices by means of Jacob go against that logic, because His agenda and priorities is different from that of our own.
15. He blessed joseph, and said;
"The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16. the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth,"
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 15 to 16)
This prayer in itself is one that all parents are to impart on their children. Jacob prayed for the protection of Joseph's sons as he himself had received protection from the same angels. Today the Roman Catholic Church has given us the prayer of the guardian angels that serves the same purpose as this part of Jacob's blessing. As much as Jacob wished that his name and that of his ancestors be perpetuated in the sense that they would never be forgotten but commemorated, so does wish the same thing from us. Instead of using the name of God in vain as in swearing or cursing the name of God and his mother, we are to use our faculties in order to give witness of His presence in our lives, along with praise and worship.
17. When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18. Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 17 to 18)
Joseph observed that his father Jacob was violating the rules or tradition that gave priority of the elder son over the younger. On reflecting it can be said that Jacob should have, known better since he had experienced the negative consequences of such an even that concerned him and Esau. On reflecting as in the case of Joseph we can also become stuck by means of senseless traditions that may even limit our quality of life as a consequence. It comes to my mind that when the Roman Catholic Church gave us the permission to receive God in our hands during mass, this was met by great hostility in the Church. Some people even suffered psychological disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, due to excessive ruminations whether the recipients hands were totally clean enough to receive the Host of Hosts in their hands. Therefore hands were washed again and again, to the extent that the skin of their hands had been damaged by the detergent used in process of washing the hands.
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. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."
(Genesis chapter 48 verse 19)
Joseph tried to convince his father, Jacob that he was going against the long held tradition, however according to Jacob, doing the will of God over rides all traditions.
20. So he blessed them that day, saying,
"By you Israel will invoke blessings, saying, 'God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.' So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21. Then Israel said to Joseph, " I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors. 22. I now give to you one portion more than to your brothers, the portion that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 20 to 22)
As sons and daughters of God has also reserved a portion of his inheritance for us, however it is our decision to accept or deny the fact that we are his sons and daughters.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayers of which the first has been donated to us by christiansit.com and shared publicly with me with the permission of Geveetha Mary and Bev Forgenie (I hope I got it right)
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 8 to 10)
As a loving father Jacob asks Joseph to bring him his sons close to him that he may bless them. Jacob kissed them and embraced them, although they were not part of his family. God the father whom as Christians we identify as being our God is also a loving father who is always ready to welcome his other children and bless them, even if they are from other religions and sects. God is still worshiped in many forms and cults as there are many forms and trends throughout the world. The Holy Spirit of God has no limitations, biases or impositions, He is open and welcoming to all, who as sinners desire his love, grace, justice and mercy, therefore nobody in the world, is to be left out we are all one big family, black, white, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and even atheists amongst others. In the New Testament Jesus referred to the other 'sheep' who are not yet part of the 'fold' and how he wished that all would reunite and He would be the one 'Shepherd' of all the flocks and there would be unity amongst all diversity, so that the body Jesus Christ would be 'Whole' instead of 'hole' with dissensions, biases and barriers as it is today.
11. Israel said to Joseph, " I did not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children also."
(Genesis chapter 48 verse 11)
God is full of surprises and is beyond human logic and comprehension. He is able to make the humanly impossible possible. Moreover God has no limitations of time and space, and can be at anywhere and at any time.
12. Then Joseph removed them from his father's knees, and bowed himself with his face to the earth.
(Genesis chapter 48 verse 12)
Although Joseph had grown in power and prestige, he still remained the humble person that he originally was. Although he had become a parent himself, Joseph still showed respect to his father, who was now of an advanced age. Moreover Joseph by means of this humble gesture set a practical example for his children who were present with him at the time. Setting a good example for our children is very important especially when they are still young. Their unconscious will become positively influenced to follow in the steps of their parents.
13. Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward's Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel's right, and brought them near him. 14. But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 13 to 14)
According to verses 13 to 14 we are given a typical example of the logic of God versus that of humans. Human logic has its own structures. According to its premises, the first born is always preferred over the second, however as displayed in the mentioned verses God's choices by means of Jacob go against that logic, because His agenda and priorities is different from that of our own.
15. He blessed joseph, and said;
"The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16. the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth,"
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 15 to 16)
This prayer in itself is one that all parents are to impart on their children. Jacob prayed for the protection of Joseph's sons as he himself had received protection from the same angels. Today the Roman Catholic Church has given us the prayer of the guardian angels that serves the same purpose as this part of Jacob's blessing. As much as Jacob wished that his name and that of his ancestors be perpetuated in the sense that they would never be forgotten but commemorated, so does wish the same thing from us. Instead of using the name of God in vain as in swearing or cursing the name of God and his mother, we are to use our faculties in order to give witness of His presence in our lives, along with praise and worship.
17. When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18. Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 17 to 18)
Joseph observed that his father Jacob was violating the rules or tradition that gave priority of the elder son over the younger. On reflecting it can be said that Jacob should have, known better since he had experienced the negative consequences of such an even that concerned him and Esau. On reflecting as in the case of Joseph we can also become stuck by means of senseless traditions that may even limit our quality of life as a consequence. It comes to my mind that when the Roman Catholic Church gave us the permission to receive God in our hands during mass, this was met by great hostility in the Church. Some people even suffered psychological disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, due to excessive ruminations whether the recipients hands were totally clean enough to receive the Host of Hosts in their hands. Therefore hands were washed again and again, to the extent that the skin of their hands had been damaged by the detergent used in process of washing the hands.
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. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."
(Genesis chapter 48 verse 19)
Joseph tried to convince his father, Jacob that he was going against the long held tradition, however according to Jacob, doing the will of God over rides all traditions.
20. So he blessed them that day, saying,
"By you Israel will invoke blessings, saying, 'God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.' So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21. Then Israel said to Joseph, " I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors. 22. I now give to you one portion more than to your brothers, the portion that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."
(Genesis chapter 48 verses 20 to 22)
As sons and daughters of God has also reserved a portion of his inheritance for us, however it is our decision to accept or deny the fact that we are his sons and daughters.
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayers of which the first has been donated to us by christiansit.com and shared publicly with me with the permission of Geveetha Mary and Bev Forgenie (I hope I got it right)
I would also like to add the following prayer:
Oh my God I would like to thank You again and again for accepting me as your son. I would also like to praise your Holy Name and thank You for saving me a place in heaven with You. Oh my God you are my investment. Help me to always give you the first priority in my life and seek to always do your will before that of my own.
Oh my God I would like to thank You again and again for accepting me as your son. I would also like to praise your Holy Name and thank You for saving me a place in heaven with You. Oh my God you are my investment. Help me to always give you the first priority in my life and seek to always do your will before that of my own.
Thank You God
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