- Scripture: Genesis 48:8–22
- The Anchor: “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys…” – Genesis 48:15–16 (ESV)
In today’s passage, Joseph introduces his sons Ephraim and Manasseh to Jacob. Joseph brings his two sons close to Jacob to be blessed. Jacob’s eyes were bad and dim, so Joseph positioned Manasseh (the older) in front of Jacob’s right hand and he positioned Ephraim (the younger) in front of Jacob’s left hand. However, to Joseph’s disliking, Jacob crossed his arms and laid his right hand on Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh. Jacob prayed that God blesses the boys and he gives them his own blessing. Joseph tried to position his hands differently, but Jacob stopped him. He promised Joseph that Manasseh would become a great nation as well, but the younger would be greater than the older. Jacob blesses them and he blesses Joseph with God’s presence and he also gives them a mountain slope that he took from the Amorites.
This passage is obviously looking backwards to Jacob’s deception of Isaac. Isaac’s eyes were bad, so Jacob came in and took Esau’s blessing. In that case, God also blessed the younger (Jacob) to be greater than the older (Esau). However, in this passage, Jacob gives Ephraim the right hand blessing on purpose.
Jacob really changed as a person throughout the entire book of Genesis. When he first appeared, he was a trickster and he probably didn’t care much about God. Conversely, Jacob is now blessing other people with God now. He prays that God blesses the boys, and he also tells Joseph that God will be with him when Jacob is dead. I think the idea of blessing others is very broad but important. We can bless others through our actions and our words to show love and care to them. But how cool would it be to bless others with God? I love Numbers 6:24-26, where Aaron’s blessing is told to Moses by God. This passage and a few others are commonly used in benedictions, where God literally blesses us at the end of the church service. However, benedictions aren’t the only times when we can bless others with God. Through prayer and just reminding each other of God can be a blessing to others. I want to work on blessing others with God this week, whether that be talking about God with others or praying for them.
Reflection
- You reflected on how Jacob’s life came full circle—from the one who stole a blessing because of a father’s dim eyesight to the one who intentionally bestowed a blessing despite his own dimmed sight. How does it change your view of God’s sovereignty to realize He can take a “trickster” and transform him into a source of deliberate, godly blessing?
- You expressed a desire to “bless others with God” rather than just through kind words or actions. What is one practical way you can bring God into your interactions with your friends or classmates this week, perhaps by sharing a specific truth about His character or offering a prayer in the moment?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the transformation in Jacob’s life—a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of Your grace. Thank You for the privilege of blessing others by pointing them toward You. May my words and actions this week be a vehicle for Your presence, and help me to see others through the lens of Your intentional, loving grace. Amen.