Genesis Chapter 48 Verses 1 – 14

• (Jesus type (v1-9) – Joseph brings his sons. Jacob says, “Who are these?” Jacob gives them inheritance just like they were his own.)

• So Joseph brings them to his father in the correct order. With Manasseh, who was the older, in front of Israel to his right so that Manasseh would have Israel’s right hand placed on him. But interestingly, Israel switches his hands…crisscrosses his hands…why?

• Well first, understand that the right hand in the Bible always indicates the position of power, favor and blessing. Jesus is described several times as the “Righteous Right Hand” of God in the Bible and even sits at the right hand of the Father always making intercession for man… By placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was actually giving Ephraim, the younger, the second born, the greater blessing and this was against normal custom and expectation…so Joseph will object in a moment.

• But why? There are a couple thoughts here. First, remember their names. Manasseh, the first born, the one to come first, his name means “forgetfulness” or “forgiveness,” and Ephraim, the second to come, his name means, “fruitfulness.” And so where is the blessing? It is often so intensely hard to forgive someone and truly offer them a clean slate second or third chance…to overlook the offense and how you’ve been wronged…

• Pride swallowing, pain accepting…that stuff is hard. Truly an act of commanding your will…and there’s not much blessing there…they haven’t even groveled yet! HA! But then the offspring of forgiveness and offspring of forgetfulness…fruitfulness. There it is…the blessing is right there…and so many pray for God’s blessings on their lives and desire to be richly blessed by God…but remember, the one that comes second is the one that is blessed…

• Second thought, Jacob was the second born, right? Remember that whole store with his brother Esau? Now we see this again in Joseph’s sons…the son that came second, the second born is the one that receives the blessing of God. Each one of us has been born of water, of the flesh…born into this world…but the blessing of God, the gift of salvation comes only to the second born…those that are born again.

Genesis Chapter 48 Verses 15 – 16

• Jacob tells of God’s grace, God’s provision…he says nothing of his own faithfulness but all that matters and remains is to tell his son’s sons about God’s faithfulness to him. And notice a few things here…it says, “He blessed Joseph,” but isn’t this blessing being pronounced on Manasseh and Ephraim? Yes. But truly…there is no greater blessing a father or a mother can receive than to see their children blessed…no greater blessing.

• And take note of this…Jacob says, “Let my name be named upon them…” Is that a prayer that you can pray for your sons and grandsons? Heavy question. Would you want that? Or would you want it said, “These won’t be like me, like their father…make the same mistakes…” and such? Listen man, walk by faith. INTEGRITY of faith! Leave a legacy that will bless your children and your children’s children…and it will! Hebrews 11, the chapter of faith, says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a GOOD TESTIMONY.” Live your life such that you’d ask God to put your name upon your sons and your grandsons…

Genesis Chapter 48 Verses 17 – 19

• Jacob knows what he is doing. Joseph sees that something doesn’t look right to him, something wasn’t going the way he planned and he objects to his father, but I like this…his father says, “I know my son, I know.” There is a gentleness in that statement…care…and yet also a request. “Trust me, son.”

• Many of you are facing situations and circumstances where something isn’t right, isn’t as planned…and you’re doing the right thing…you’re taking it to God…and I want to reassure you, He sees and He hears. The thing is though, He has a plan and it may involve things you didn’t think about…will you trust Him?

• There was once a man camping in the woods…out on a hike and he encountered a bear and it began chasing him. (Obviously he was camping at the Cherry Creek Reservoir!) He ran and ran and eventually encountered a cliff. He looked over the edge of the 1,000 foot drop and saw a root growing out of the side. Concluding this was his only chance, he reached down, took hold of the root and went over the cliff, hanging there. Just then, after he had committed, he noticed the root was old, weak and breaking. He began to cry out to God! “God, save me! I’ll do anything you ask for the rest of my life, just save me!!”

• Suddenly a voice cam booming from the sky and said, “You will do anything I ask!?” The man was shocked for a moment but remembering his situation replied, “Yes! Anything…just save me!” Then God said, “There is only one way to save you but it will take courage and you need to trust Me! Let go of the branch.” The man was terrified…just then he saw the bear peer over the cliff and growl at him! God said again, “Alright then, let go of the branch!” The man looked down to see the thousand foot drop, looked up at the bear, looked at the root crumbling in his hands, looked up to the sky and said, “Is there anyone else up there?” HA!!

• Ok so bad joke! HA! But that’s the circumstance that many of us face…no win…we can’t see a way out and what God is telling us to do is seemingly impossible or terribly difficult. HERE is where INTEGRITY of FAITH either arrives or fails. Remember, He may have a plan. Ya think? He may have thought of something you haven’t thought of…I have learned over these years of walking with the Lord that there is my way and there is the right way…and God always knows and does the right way…Jacob, the father, “I know son, I know. But will you trust me?”

• Quickly, I read this article this week of the 7 habits of people who trust God. Number 1, they accept suffering. Just lost most of the church right there didn’t I…ugh. Number 2, their hope and home is in heaven and they know it. Number 3, they spend time each day with God. Number 4, prayer is more than requests…it is praise and it is listening. Number 5, they submit and apply the Word of God. Number 6, they rarely repeat mistakes and when they do, it eats them alive. And number 7, they have active quick obedience to the Holy Spirit. When they know to do right, they don’t put it off, they don’t delay…they do it right then no matter the cost to their emotion. Joseph thought Jacob was wrong…Jacob knew exactly what he was doing. Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand…” Do you believe God knows what He is doing? That question will play out in your habits…

Genesis Chapter 48 Verses 20 – 22

• The torch is effectively passing…from father to son and what Jacob says here in privacy with Joseph and his sons is sweet…in essence, and this is something for us to remember, as we trust the Lord, as we believe God and walk with Him we can all take hold of this truth, no matter how good or how bad the years have been, the best is yet to come. The double portion…the land promised and won by God…all still ahead…but it may just include each one of us…trusting God, and letting go.