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Youth Worship 18th February 2023 : “And he blessed Joseph”

Text: Genesis 48:1-22
18 February 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. Jacob had lived in Egypt for 17 years Genesis 47:28

2. He was coming to the end of his earthly life

3. Joseph was informed that Jacob was dying

THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN JACOB AND JOSEPH

1. Remembering God

Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,

Genesis 48:3

a) God Almighty appeared to me at Luz
b) And blessed me

2. Remembering God’s promise

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.’

Genesis 48:4

a) I will make you fruitful
b) And multiply you
c) And make you a multitude of people
d) And give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession

LOOKING AT THE SONS OF JOSEPH

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 48:5-7

1. Ephraim and Manasseh were born in Egypt

2. They were now declared as “sons of Jacob”

3. They will inherit the land of Canaan as the brothers of Joseph would

4. If Joseph were to have other children, they would be Joseph’s

BLESSING THE SONS OF JOSEPH

1. Israel was very old and his eyes were too dim to see clearly

2. Joseph brought his sons to his father with great respect

a) Manasseh was the firstborn
b) Ephraim was the younger son

3. Israel crossed his hands as he pronounced the blessing

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 48:15-16

a) The name of the LORD was invoked
b) The name of the Angel of the LORD was also invoked
c) The names of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) were mentioned
d) Blessing of growth into a multitude was pronounced
4. This was astoundingly called the blessing of Joseph

“And he blessed Joseph”

Genesis 48:15

AN ATTEMPT BY JOSEPH TO SHIFT THE HANDS OF HIS FATHER

1. Joseph was concerned by the crossing of Jacob’s hands

2. He thought that his father had made a mistake

a) He was old
b) He could not see properly
3. But Jacob was adamant
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.
Genesis 48:17-20
a) Ephraim would be the stronger tribe
b) He would surpass Manasseh

CONCLUSION

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.”

1. Acceptance of death

Jacob knew that the end of his life had come

2. Focus on the Lord

His thoughts were on the Lord who had faithfully kept him

3. A special gift to Joseph

a) He gave to Joseph one extra portion above his brothers
i) Joseph was being treated as if he was the firstborn
ii) The extra portion was normally given to the eldest son
iii) Jacob gave the extra portion to Joseph
iv) It was a piece of land that he had when he fought with the
Amorites on one occasion
b) Jacob exercised his right to give as he saw fit
i) Reuben was the firstborn but he did not deserve an extra portion
ii) Joseph had stood out among all his brothers and was most
deserving