Learning from OT Greats: Joseph - From the Pit to the PalaceSýnishorn

Day 10:  Jacob’s blessing for Joseph’s sons 

Thoughts on the Passage

The two boys of Joseph are young men – in their mid-twenties. Jacob does something very special for them – he gives them an equal portion among Jacob’s other sons. This is equivalent to the double portion given to the oldest son. Jacob takes the two sons instead of just Joseph. Here we see again the double portion not given to the oldest son – Reuben – but to Joseph. Joseph then struggles with that when Jacob gives the special blessing to the younger son Ephraim instead of the older son Manasseh – some things never change!

Also, there is something special about the blessing given here. It is actually a blessing to Joseph first of all. It is a blessing that is given to the sons of Joseph, but it is his blessing from his father. Jacob is a far-seeing man. He looks down the generations and sees that these two men each have a powerful destiny. So when we look at the specific blessing given to Joseph tomorrow, we must see it is this light – it is a blessing transferred to the sons. We will see that it is focused on the sons, but it comes because of the faithfulness of Joseph himself. Joseph receives this special blessing for his children because he was faithful and obedient to God. In the end that is what we want to see – our faithfulness producing blessing in the next generation.

We as parents get biased at times. We see our children in a special way. Joseph favored Manasseh. This was a character trait from Abraham (favoring Isaac), Isaac (favoring Esau), and even Jacob (favoring Joseph). Here we see that Jacob breaks through the favoritism and gets it right – Ephraim is the one who will receive the special blessing from God. Joseph learns from his father. First, think spiritually before culturally. Second, be careful about presuming we know what God wants.

Application to our Life

Is your desire for blessing about you… or for the generations to come?

Is your desire to bless others rooted in the heart of God or cultural bias?

If God were to release a blessing to you today, what would you like Him to say?

Time to Pray
Father, today as I look back at the blessings that I have received from father and spiritual father, I must admit it was more about me than for the generations to follow. Forgive me for that. In the end, I know my blessing is found in heaven and rooted in Your love. The blessings need to be released generationally. That is my prayer today. Physically, may my children and their children receive Your special blessing because of our faithfulness. Spiritually, we have so many children and our desire is to see them receive and release Your blessings generationally. May men and women arise to receive it. In Jesus name, Amen.