Faith Of Joseph Series

#12~Joseph ~ SS Heb.11:21-22 8-31-14

Gen.48: -- Gen.49: ~~ Gen.29: ~~ Gen.50:

Today we'll continue with our study of Hebrews 11: "the hall of the faithful" chapter. -- We left off last time talking about Jacob being on his death bed with his 12 sons gathered around, but before we leave Jacob I want to point out a few more things to do with him.

Hebrews 11:21

21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

~This is to do with Jacob blessing Joseph's two son's Ephraim and Manasseh.

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¡¡I mentioned last time that although Joseph was a son of Jacob, there was not a tribe headed by Joseph or named for Joseph, and the reason was that God had replaced Rueben the legitimate 1st born of Jacob and Leah with Joseph, Reuben had sinned a grievous sin and lost his birth right.

Listen as I read from;

@@@ Genesis 49: 1And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

(The last days of the nation Israel will be different from the last days of the church.) -- Tribulation

2Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. --Jacob and Israel one and the same.

3Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:

4Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father¡¯s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

~Notice, Jacob said loud and clear for the rest to hear, - he went up to my couch.

¡¡¡¡~Jacob spoke directly to Reuben, his eldest son, an old sin he'd committed finally caught up with Reuben.

¡¡¡¡> Num. 32: 23 --- and be sure your sin will find you out.

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¡¡¡¡Reuben was in fact the first-born of "Israel ~ Jacob" ~~ the double portion blessing of the birthright went to Joseph; and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, they were recognized as distinct tribes.

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Reuben defiled his father¡¯s bed (Jacob) in his incest with Bilhah.

¡¡¡¡Genesis 29: 24 And Laban (Leah & Rachel's brother) gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

¡¡¡¡ 29And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

According to these two verses both "Bilah and Zilpah" may have been Lebans concubines. -- But we don't read that any place, we are told they were both his maids.

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¡¡¡¡>Genesis 35:22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father¡¯s concubine: and Israel heard it.

Num.32:23 -- be sure your sin will find you out.

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So Ruben lost his privileges as the firstborn son. Jacob gave the 1st born son's blessing to Joseph.

> 1 Chron. 5:1-2 Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father¡¯s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: (Jacob) and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

2For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; (King David and ultimately the Lord Jesus) but the birthright was Joseph¡¯s:)

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~ As Jacob's firstborn son, Reuben should have been a strong man with dignity, who brought honor to his father and family, but he turned out to be a weak man, who disgraced his family by defiling his father's bed.

"Unstable as water" speaks of both turbulence and weakness. Reuben's arrogant attitude and reckless way of life weren't fitting for a firstborn son.

¡¡Water is certainly weak in itself, but turbulent water can be very destructive.

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¡¡ As far as I can tell not any member of the tribe of Reuben ever revealed himself to be a leader. --- The tribe declined in numbers between the Exodus and the entrance into the Promised Land.

¡¡It was the Reubenites who gave leadership in the rebellion of Korah (Num. 16:1) which led to the deaths of thousands of people.

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¡¡@@@ Gen. 48:21- 22 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.

¡¡~ Remember, the "you-ye-and your" are always plural, here he says "YOU" meaning all of Israel.

¡¡ 22Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

¡¡~ This was a personal gift made by Jacob to Joseph; it was a ridge near Sychar where Joseph would be buried. --