Testifying God’s Faithfulness

<Genesis 48>
1 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’

5 “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

9 “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.”

10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers
    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,

the God who has been my shepherd
    all my life to this day,
16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm
    —may he bless these boys.

May they be called by my name
    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
and may they increase greatly
    on the earth.”

Looking back: From complaints to praise

• Dying Jacob very different from about 17 years ago:
  • “My years have been few and difficult” <Gen 47:9>.
• But was surprised by God <v11>.
• He didn’t deny his sufferings.
• But saw all his suffering in the light of God’s promises and goodness.
  • “God has been my shepherd all my life to this day” <v15>.
  • “the Angelwho has delivered me from all harm” <v16>.
• A mature Christian will stop complaining but praise God.
  • Complaints paint a misleading picture about God, that He is unfaithful.
• Do you remember the place, time and situation when Jesus first met you? How has His promise to you been fulfilled thus far?

Last mission before dying: Blessing the next generation.

• Introduced his descendants to God.
• Gave personal testimony to substantiate God’s promises.
• His grandsons need to hear it (same for our children):
  • Privileges and comforts in Egypt VS the shepherd family despised by Egyptians.
  • They must be convinced God is better!
• Passed on godly vision – Be a blessing to all nations!
• Reflect upon our lives and prepare our personal testimonies too.

God’s sovereign election.

<Genesis 48>
12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

• Right hand = favored.
• Unusual for younger Ephraim to receive better blessing than firstborn.
• God’s sovereign choice not dependent on human qualities or preferences.
• God shall bless whom He is delighted to bless.
• Even if His choice is not our preference, we must submit.
  • Joseph was at first displeased with his father blessing the younger over the firstborn.
  • Parents may have ideals on children, but do not impose on them (and so hinder God’s plans), but help your children discover God’s purpose.