As we journey together into the quiet intimacy of Genesis 48, we enter the room where Jacob (Israel), now elderly and nearing death, extends a precious spiritual heritage. Physically frail, yet spiritually strong, Jacob summons Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Although Jacob’s vision was dim, his spiritual insight could not have been clearer.
Jacob begins by reflecting on his past, remembering his encounter with God at Luz (Bethel) where the Almighty had reaffirmed the grand promises of the land, descendants, and a lasting blessing (Genesis 28:13-15, 35:9-15). This brief recounting is not merely nostalgia; it is intentional storytelling, weaving the past encounter into the present blessing. He links the promise of God explicitly to Joseph and his descendants, underscoring again that Jacob’s faith is rooted in God’s covenant faithfulness.
Consider how Jacob, near death, anchors his identity and legacy not in his accomplishments, riches, or even his relationships, but profoundly in God’s faithfulness and promises. Like Jacob, we pause today to reflect on our lives: Do we primarily organize our identity around God’s promises, or do we define ourselves by worldly measures?
Jacob’s actions regarding Ephraim and Manasseh may puzzle the modern western reader. Adopting grandchildren as one’s own children (Jacob claims them as equal to Reuben and Simeon) was not unusual in the ancient Near East when establishing inheritance lines (Genesis 48:5-6). However, what follows is unexpected. Joseph deliberately positions Manasseh, the older son, by Jacob’s right hand—the traditional place of superior blessing—but Jacob intentionally crosses his hands to favor Ephraim, the younger.
This act mirrors Jacob’s own story: he, the younger brother, received Isaac’s superior blessing over Esau (Genesis 27). It underscores God’s sovereign freedom to upset human conventions to fulfill his purposes. As theologians and commentators throughout history have noted, including John Calvin and Martin Luther, this act symbolizes the mysterious but sovereign choice of God who is bound neither by human expectations nor cultural tradition.
Do we trust God’s sovereign decisions even when they surprise—or unsettle—us? God’s purposes often emerge precisely out of what we least expect. Be open to divine reversals in your own journey.
Jacob closes this deeply sacred family ceremony stating plainly to Joseph: “I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers” (Genesis 48:21, New International Version). Jacob’s words remind us that although our days are limited, God’s faithfulness remains throughout generations. Like Joseph and his sons, we inherit more than mere possessions; we inherit promises backed by God Himself.
The Hebrew phrase “God will be with you” is no mere platitude. It echoes the covenantal promises God made first to Abraham (Genesis 17:7), reaffirmed repeatedly through Genesis, and fulfilled ultimately in Christ, Emmanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23). This profound truth of divine presence forms the cornerstone of our faith.
In ancient Near East cultures, passing blessings to children was considered not just a personal wish but a binding prophetic declaration. Words carried weight, authority, and divine expectancy. Jacob’s blessing is poetry itself, containing parallelisms and symbolic imagery of a shepherd and redeemer (“the angel who has delivered me”—Genesis 48:16). The Hebrew word “go’el” translated here as “redeemer” or “deliverer” evokes later images of Christ as Redeemer, highlighting how Old Testament scenes foreshadow the redemptive work of Jesus.
Are we intentionally fostering spiritual legacies to pass on? What practical steps can we take to ensure that our children, grandchildren, or spiritual descendants receive the blessing of the faith we treasure?
Consider listening to or reflecting in quiet meditation upon the hymn “He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought” by Joseph Gilmore. It beautifully encapsulates the image of God’s shepherding presence, paralleling Jacob’s acknowledgment of God’s guidance through his life.
“He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.”
Father of generations, God of Jacob, You who cross hands and upset human expectations to fulfill Your sovereign purposes, grant us hearts humble enough to accept Your choices. Help us to build legacies of deep trust in Your promises rather than temporal achievements. Lord Jesus, our Redeemer and Shepherd, guide us daily, that we too may pass on an inheritance of faith firmly anchored in Your unfailing presence. Amen.