Genesis 48

Joseph brings his sons with him to his father’s bedside when he is sick, and Jacob “adopts” them as his own for inheritance purposes. They basically take Joseph’s spot, but why don’t we then end up with the 13 tribes of Jacob instead of 12? Ultimately, the tribe of Levi ends up taking over priestly duties, so they don’t actually inherit a territory like the other tribes.

Joseph, through his sons, gets a double inheritance, effectively obtaining firstborn status. This shouldn’t surprise us, since Joseph was the favorite. What may surprise us is that Jacob blesses the younger son, Ephraim, over the older son, Manasseh. Could this be a foreshadowing of the fact that Joshua, an Ephraimite, eventually leads the people into the promised land?

Remember Jacob’s words from the last chapter: “The days of the years of my life have been few and evil.” Now contrast what we have here: “the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil.” Is it because of the different audiences? Circumstances? Timing?

Thought for the day: Where are you in your life right now? Do you have confidence that God is with you and loves you?

Hebrews 13:5 (WEB) “he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’ “