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Genesis 47:28-50:26<\/strong><\/span> Today is a big reading day! We finish up Genesis! Today in Genesis Chapter 48 we read about Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh!\u00a0 One thing I thought about when reading this chapter and the next chapter was how interesting it is that blessings had so much importance and significance back in the days of the patriarchs.\u00a0 And I wonder \u2013 do we have blessings today that are as significant?\u00a0 Do fathers bless kids or grandkids these days?\u00a0 Maybe so\u2026\u00a0 I guess I just haven\u2019t noticed it in my family\u2026\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 I do think there are still some \u201cblessings\u201d today that hold some incredible significance today.\u00a0 Wedding vows come to mind and the blessings that come from the pastor\/priest\/minister during this time.\u00a0 Church ceremonies or rituals come to mind \u2013 Communion, Baptism, Funerals, etc.\u00a0 And then certainly above all else, there is the amazing and eternal blessing we receive from Jesus himself \u2013 the free blessing and free gift of salvation.\u00a0 What else is there today that I\u2019m missing?\u00a0 Have you been \u201cblessed\u201d by others in some way, like we read about in today\u2019s 2 chapters?\u00a0 Have you \u201cblessed\u201d others?\u00a0 Please share in the Comments section below.\u00a0 Below is a painting by the American artist Benjamin West from the early 19th century of Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh \u2013 and with his arms appropriately crossed as per the text \ud83d\ude42 \u2013 <\/span><\/p>\n In Genesis chapter 49 we read about Jacob blessing his sons \u2013 and these are some very accurate blessings he gives as we will see as we continue through the Bible this year.\u00a0 Perhaps Predictions or Prophecies might be the better term for Jacob\u2019s blessings in this chapter.\u00a0 \u00a0Verse 10 is awesome: \u201cThe scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler\u2019s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will obey.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 This verse can apply to 2 descendants of Judah \u2013 King David and then ultimately and eternally to Jesus.\u00a0 In verse 22 we read this about Joseph: \u201cJoseph is a fruitful tree,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And this is certainly true, as his descendants will include Joshua, Deborah & Gideon & Jephthah (3 judges of Israel), and Samuel the prophet.\u00a0 Below is an image of Jacob blessing his 12 sons:<\/span><\/p>\n Below is a map that should be helpful to review based on today\u2019s blessing from Jacob of his sons.\u00a0 Obviously we still need to get through the Exodus and a few other things before the twelve tribes have this land below :), but this is a nice overview for now of where things are going and correlate with Jacob\u2019s blessing in today\u2019s readings:<\/span><\/p>\n Genesis chapter 50 verses 19 & 20 stood out to me as Joseph spoke to his brothers: \u201c\u201dDon\u2019t be afraid of me. Am I God, to judge and punish you? As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to the high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Again, I am impressed with Joseph\u2019s character here.\u00a0 His brothers seemed to think that Joseph hadn\u2019t really forgiven them, and that he was waiting to get back at them after their father had passed away.\u00a0 But, I think we see here that Joseph had truly forgiven his brothers!\u00a0 It was water under the bridge.\u00a0 And not only had Joseph forgiven them, but he saw the power of how God turned something bad into something incredibly good.\u00a0 I wonder about this in our lives today \u2013 do we truly forgive other people like Joseph forgave his brothers?\u00a0 Or, do we maybe hold some piece of unforgiveness within us?\u00a0 Maybe we keep bringing up the wrong that somebody did to us?\u00a0 Maybe we do this to make them feel a bit guilty from time to time?\u00a0 Will we instead fully forgive and fully move forward?\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n One interesting side note in chapter 50 was the embalming of Jacob & Joseph.\u00a0 Embalming was an Egyptian custom \u2013 not a Hebrew custom.\u00a0 Some commentaries suggest that Jacob & Joseph were likely being respectful of the Egyptian customs of the day.\u00a0 The Egyptians believed in an afterlife \u2013 and believed that the embalming allowed the deceased to utilize their body in the afterlife.\u00a0 Below is an illustration from the 13th century \u201cPsalter of St. Louis\u201d of Jacob\u00b4s corpse being laid in the tomb by his twelve sons:<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Genesis chapter 48 titled \u201cThe View from the Graveyard\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and commentary on chapter 49 titled \u201cThe Purpose of Prophecy\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span> and commentary on Genesis chapter 50 titled \u201cThe End of An Era\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Casting Crowns\u2019 song \u201cThrive:\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n
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