Genesis Chapter 48

Israel (Jacob) Prophetic Blessings

We know from the previous Chapter 47, that 16 or 17 years have now passed since the Israelites have entered and settled in Egypt; since Israel lives to age 147.

48:1-2

Joseph is told that his father is very ill and dying. Knowing this is the time of Prophetic Blessings and inheritances, he immediately goes to see his father, bringing his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
In turn, Israel is told that Joseph is coming to see him; when he hears this good news, he is strengthened and sits up in his bed. Good, positive news tends to strengthen us and give us renewed hope.

48:3-4

Israel wastes no time in setting the stage for the Prophetic Blessings, by giving Joseph, whose sons were with him, a summary of his lifetime relationship with God Almighty. He confirms that God actually appeared to him in the land of Canaan at Luz. God told him that He would bless him, causing him to have many children, who would become a multitude of people, who would become a nation. God also confirmed that He would give the land of Canaan to his descendants as an everlasting possession. This is the exact same promise that was given to Abraham, Jacob’s grandfather. We refer to these promises as the Abrahamic Promises, or Abrahamic Covenant. Israel no doubt wants his precious grandsons to hear these words from his own mouth, knowing that Joseph has already told his family history to his sons. There is something about hearing the Truth directly from the person who experienced a personal relationship and revelation from God, that solidifies the Truth in their hearts and minds. This is also true of us, that is why we must read and study the Bible for ourselves, getting the Word of God directly from the Bible, rather that just hearing sometime give us excerpts, or their interpretation of God’s Word. NEVER take someone’s else’s interpretation of God’s Word, ALWAYS check it out for yourself. See Acts 17:11. Search the scriptures daily to find the Truth!

48:5-6

Israel names Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, showing he clearly knows who they are, yet he reverses their birth order when he names them. He states that these two sons are to now become his sons, and will inherit the Blessings, just as though they were his direct offspring. Israel goes on to state that all future sons, and children, will remain as Joseph’s heirs and legal children; but these two are to be formally adopted as Israel’s own children; receiving an inheritance directly from Israel. Joseph no doubt has a large number of possessions as the Prime Minister of Egypt, yet the most important and valuable possession is the Prophetic Blessings of God. No matter how wealthy or rich we are in material possessions, they are all worthless in comparison to Heavenly, Eternal Blessings. Yet, most people, even Christians, fail to understand this crucial Truth! We should be seeking after Eternal Wealth, NOT earthly wealth. We can’t take one thing from earth into eternity, EXCEPT relationships with other Believers.

48:7

Now Israel continues with his history by focusing on Joseph’s mother, Rachel, who would have been the grandsons grandmother. He confirms that Rachel died beside him in the land of Canaan just before they came to Ephrath, now identified as Bethlehem. So we are given this additional bit of information that when Rachel died in childbirth, that Israel was right there with her during her entire ordeal. Israel confirms that he buried Rachel there on the way to Ephrath. Remember that he set up a monument at her grave to honor his beloved Rachel.

48:8-10

Then Israel, although nearly blind, sees Joseph’s sons and asks whose children are these? Both sons would have been young men by this time. Joseph immediately identifies them as his sons whom God had given to him in this place, meaning Egypt. Israel immediately tells Joseph to bring them close to him so that he may bless them. When Joseph brings his sons close to Israel, he reaches out and hugs them and kisses them; he receives them as his own sons.

48:11-13

Israel now emotionally tells Joseph that he had never thought he would ever see him again, and now God has even allowed him to see his grandsons! Joseph now bows down before Israel with both his sons. Joseph and his sons are honoring Israel and preparing themselves for the Patriarchal Blessing, this was a formal Prophetic Blessing that would be given to each of Israel’s sons. Since Israel has formally adopted Ephraim and Manasseh, they would then become part of the twelve tribes of Israel and be entitled to an inheritance in the Promised Land. We are told that Joseph carefully places Ephraim on Israel’s left hand side, and Manasseh on his right hand side. Joseph now knows that the firstborn, double blessing will be given to him, through this blessing and he wants it to go to Manasseh.

48:14-16

Israel intentionally stretches out his right hand and lays it on Ephraim’s head, the younger son, (the right hand would always be placed on the one given the firstborn son blessing) and then places his left hand on Manasseh’s head, knowing he was the firstborn son. He then blesses Joseph first with the Prophetic Blessing. The God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, whom his father’s worshiped and followed, and Who has been with him his entire life; and the Angel of the Lord (Who would be the pre-incarnation of Jesus the Messiah) has redeemed me from all evil; (Notice that Israel knows that Jesus has already redeemed him from all evil. This is true as Jesus forgives all sins past, present and future. His death on the cross reached back through the corridors of time and gave forgiveness to all Believers) “Bless these young men, let my name, Israel, be upon them and the name of Abraham, and let them grow into a multitude of peoples throughout the earth”. This would mean that they would become Nations of peoples! Israel is giving the firstborn double blessing to Joseph by blessing both of his sons, as his own sons. Reuben had lost the blessing because of his adultery with Bilhah, his father’s concubine. Both Simeon and Levi lost their blessings because of their disregard for moral righteousness.

48:17-20

When Joseph sees that his father has laid his right hand on Ephraim instead of Manasseh, he is displeased and tries to remove his father’s hand from Ephraim so as to place it on Manasseh’s head, saying to his father, “No father, this one is the firstborn, put your hand on his head!” BUT, Israel knows full well whom he is blessing and assures Joseph that Manasseh’s descendants will also become a great people, but that Ephraim’s offspring will be far greater and shall become a multitude of Nations. This Prophetic Blessing will be fulfilled in the future, as Ephraim’s posterity becomes much larger and more effective than Manasseh’s. As Israel blesses them, he prophesies that in the future the Nation of Israel will have a saying that they use repeatedly to reflect the great number of descendants of both sons: “May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!” This blessing is used to this very day for a newly married couple to indicate that they are to be blessed with many children.

48:21-22

“Behold I am dying,” It is amazing that Israel knows he is at death’s door, yet God has given him the wisdom and strength to make certain that the Prophetic Blessings are given to Joseph. Israel assures Joseph that God will continue to be with him and that God would bring Joseph back to the Promised Land. This will be partially fulfilled when Joseph’s bones are actually carried back into Canaan. The final fulfillment will be when Jesus returns in the Millennium and all Believing Jews, including Joseph, are resurrected to live in the Promised Land. In addition, Israel states that Joseph is being given a double blessing, by his giving the Blessing to both of his sons. Ephraim and Manasseh are part of the twelve tribes of Israel to this very day. Since there are now 13 sons, it is adjusted to read 12, when different listing’s of the twelve tribes omit one of the brothers tribes for very specific reasons. Remember that YOU have also been adopted into God’s family with Eternal Blessings promised to YOU!