Genesis 48 - The faithful God of Israel

Father God, we thank you for this is the day that You have made and we shall be glad and rejoice in it. Thank you for the breath that we have in our lungs to breathe and to be able to call upon Your name, thank you for all that You are and have been to us LORD God. We come in agreement and commit today's Word to you. May You encourage and strengthen hearts for Your glory in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Today's post is based on Genesis chapter 48. In my previous post, I shared how God was so kind to both Isarael and Joseph by reuniting them after so many years. In addition, God also made sure that Jacob lived another seventeen (17) years with his family in Egypt. Chapter 48 begins with Joseph being summoned to his father as Jacob was sick. Joseph went to visit his father with both his sons. (Genesis 48:1)

Jacob then re told Joseph of God's promise to bless him and multiply him in the land that He had given to his descedants (Genesis 48:3-4). Israel then proceeds to tell Jacob that Manasseh and Ephraim would specifically be his sons just like Reuben and Simeon (Genesis 48:5). When Israel saw Joseph's children, he kissed and hugged them (Genesis 48:10).

Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring." (Genesis 48:11). When I consider how God redeemed and restored Joseph's years but even more for Jacob, the faithfulness of God captured in Genesis 48:11 is unfathomable. When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, his father, Israel thought that he was dead. From the time Jacob found out about his son's death at the time, we never see any written dialogue between God and Jacob during that time until he hears news again that his Joseph is alive and governor in Egypt.

If you may re call from my previous post, I shared how I believe that Jacob's heart was most likely affected by the repeated grief that he experienced right before Joseph's alleged death was reported to him. At the time when Jacob returned home to Canaan, it is believed his mother was probably already dead at the time and we saw how closely related he was to his mother, Rebekah. Rachel his beloved wife, also died beside him on the way to Ephrath (Genesis 48:7) during the child birth of their son, Benjamin. After Rachel's death, Isaac, Jacob's father also died. The exact time period is not reported in the Bible but at least we can agree those were too many losses for one person to experience. A chapter later on, his sons came to him and tell him Joseph whom he loved deeply is also dead. I can only imagine the devasatation that Jacob had to endure during this period of his life. For this reason, I believe the power of God kept Israel, gave him the strength he needed so that he would live to see his son Joseph again who God also by His mighty power had kept in a foreign land.

God in His faithfulness towards His covenant to Israel did not just show him a Joseph who was alive, but He also showed him Joseph's children as well! This is a confirmation that God will always supernaturally exceed all His children's expectations past their heart's desires because no one can be more generous than God. Ephesians 3:20 NKJV reiterates this, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly, above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," - AMEN.

Israel then proceeds to bless Joseph's children but he put the second born, Ephraim, above the first born, Manasseh. Joseph initially was not pleased with this and in fact attempted to correct his father (Genesis 48:17-18), "but his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." (Genesis 48:19 NKJV).

At the end of this chapter, we also see Israel comforting Joseph and encouraging his faith in the LORD God. He said to him, "Behold I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers." (Genesis 48:21 NKJV). Israel did not tell his son to have strength in his immense power as second in command to the king of Egypt. Israel did not tell his son to have confidence in his wealth, resources or man. Israel's words of encouragement to his son before he physically departed the earth was that God's presence would be with him and God's faithfulness would take them back to their land of inheritance, Canaan. Israel understood that God could be trusted to keep His Word.

I don't know what you are going through right now but may you find comfort knowing that God's presence and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ is all you need right now and His faithfulness and love will keep you just like it kept Joseph and his father, Israel.

I'll end with this Word found in Numbers 23:19-20 (NKJV)

19."God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

20.Behold, I have received a command to bless;

He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it."

AMEN, thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: I invite you to make this confession that invites you to new covenant of love that is found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ where we get to have a personal relationship with God, the Father where His heart to lead, to be an ever present help and guide you as His child is found when you choose Jesus Christ, His only Son as your Lord and Saviour.

Please speak the words below:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

Please feel free to reach out to us on info@bibleversionoflife.com. We would love to hear your story and send you a free Bible! God bless you.

PS: In case you have not already, please remember to read Genesis 48 alongside this post in your personal devotional time and share your thoughts in the comments below!