Wouldn’t it be nice if we could plan the day of our departure? Just think about it - you could accomplish the things that are really important, pass on vital information to those you will leave behind, then set your sights on heaven and away you go.
I remember when I was growing up the father of my best friend, Bob Tucker, knew he was going to die. I remember sitting in his living room and listening to him - knowing that this would be the last time I ever saw him. He passed on wisdom to me - the idea of not holding back, and of caring for my loved ones - that shaped my future.
In the last three chapters of Genesis we have the accounts of the deaths of Jacob and Joseph. Jacob has felt he was close to death several times - especially while his sons were dealing with Joseph in chapters 42-45. But that was mostly rhetoric "you will bring my grey head down to the grave" and that sort of thing. Now he realizes it is time - so he does a couple of things - he sets the order of his sons - who gets the rights of the firstborn - and he gives prophecies to the family.
Jacob really told it like it was for his boys - nailed their character and the future of those they would give birth to. Yet for at least one of the sons - what was a pretty bad character had been transformed - and it shows in the blessing given to him - Judah - who would be the progenitor of the Messiah.
In this we learn that God can so modify us that what looks like a bad end turns out good, when He gets a hold of us.
Chapter 48
Verses 1 - 4
Jacob was 147 years old.
Luz was Bethel - some 70 years before. That’s the thing that Jacob remembers - not the adventures or the triumphs or the tragedies - but when he gave his life to God.
Verse 5 - 6
Manasseh and Ephraim were ½ Egyptian - they looked different.
These two were adopted by Jacob - no paperwork needed. They were elevated to the level of patriarch.
What we miss in the NIV here is that Manasseh and Ephraim are actually replacing Reuben and Simeon. A literal translation reads: "like Reuben and Simeon they will be to me." They have now become the first born and get the shares allotted to Reuben and Simeon.
Verse 7
Why is this here? Well - it may be that it is legal justification for the adoption. Since Rachel’s line was cut short prematurely, the production of her offspring could be shown to be Jacob’s - thus Ephraim and Manasseh fulfill that law.
Verses 8 - 14
Jacob knew what he was doing - crossing his hands over to make the younger get the blessing.
Verses 15 - 16 The blessing to Ephraim and Manasseh
These guys are 20 years old. What Jacob is saying is: "God who watched over me and delivered me through His angel will bless your sons."
Verses 17 - 20
It became proverbial - if you are really blessed of God you are like Ephraim and Manasseh.
Verses 21-22
This is like what happened with Jacob stealing the blessing from Esau. This was no trick - God says "just like with you and your brother I’m not doing things the way they seem to be done. But you don’t have to manipulate this time to get it done."
Jacob says "I’m going to do it the way God wants me to."
God blesses by covenant not by human custom. We’re famous for saying we think we know what God should do - and we’re famous for being wrong.
That’s why there is no tribe of Joseph. He got two tribes instead of one.
Jacob gives Joseph the property of Shechem, which Simeon and Levi took by slaughtering everyone in it. It is Jacob’s because it was done in his name, so he gives it to Joseph.
Chapter 49
Reuben (verses 1 - 4)
Leah’s 1st born. Uncontrolled as water: frothing, unable to be controlled.
Rueben slept with Bilha. It’s like he still can’t believe it!
Simeon & Levi (verses 5 - 7)
2nd and 3rd of Leah. They killed the inhabitants of Shechem because he raped Dinah. God is not cruel or meaninglessly vengeful. Jacob is separating himself from them. People who are perpetually angry should be avoided. "Swords" here can also mean "to cut", an allusion to the circumcision of the men of Shechem. "Hamstrung an ox" can also be rendered "they mutilated the genitals of a prince" meaning Shechem.
Scattered: Simeon was absorbed by Judah.
Levi was dispersed because as priests they did not have tribal property.
Moses, who wrote Genesis, was a Levite. Much later on they stood with Moses against idolatry. God fulfilled the discipline but also mightily blessed them. It is the kindness and severity of God at work.
Judah (verses 8-12)
Leah’s 4th son.
Judah means praise - so it’s a play on words ("your brothers will praise you").
Speaks of strength, courage.
Sceptor - he will have rulers in his line.
Shiloh - "until he comes to whom it belongs" that’s what Shiloh means (in KJ)
Either way it refers to the Messiah. David and Jesus are from this tribe.
Jesus (Rev 5:5) is the Lion from the tribe of Judah
Donkey, Vine, wine and grapes - the abundance and peace under his reign. Red eyes "darker than wine" actually means "red" - from drinking too much wine - but it’s about the limitless amounts available - and also limitless milk.
Zebulun (verse 13)
Leah’s sixth son. To be honest - Zebulun never had a coastal territory - so making sense of this blessing is difficult. It’s possible that at some time they got an outlet to the ocean - but no one is for sure.
Issachar (verses 14-15)
Leah’s 5th son. Issachar is pictured as a strong donkey willing to be loaded down with heavy saddlebags in forced labor because he wanted rest and ease. Issachar lived in a Canaanite area and was forced into laboring for them rather than kick them out.
Dan (verses 16 - 18)
1st son of Rachael’s servant Bilhah.
Dan means "to judge" so that is his character - bringing justice.
Although the image of a snake might not be seen as positive - it seems that Jacob is trying to say something nice about Dan - that the Lord will bring about deliverance from their enemies. "May Dan be a snake" - small but dangerous.
Reminds me of Revelation three in the words to the church in Philedelphia:
Rev 3:8 I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Gad (verse 19)
Gad is the first son of Leah’s servant Zilpah.
This prophecy is full of word plays - but again speaks of God’s ultimate victory.
Gad’s homeland was subject to raids from the Amorites.
Asher (verse 20)
Again - great victory - and great abundance. Asher is Zilpah’s second son.
Deut 33:24 hints at the great land and abundant crops that will find their way to king’s tables.
Naphtali Verse 21
John Fisher wrote a great song on this verse.
"bears beautiful fawns" can also mean "writes beautiful words"
Barach in the book of Judges - he wrote a beautiful song with Deborah. He will be good with words.
Joseph (verses 22-26)
Rachael’s firstborn.
This is an incredible prophecy - note that the word "blessing" is used six times.
27 Benjamin
Rachael’s youngest. They were known as warriors.
Judah and Joseph got the major blessings. Ephraim was to be more blessed. As they monarchy took off in Israel - Saul (who was a Benjamite). After Solomon there was a civil war - what surfaced were two preeminent tribes they were Judah and Ephraim. Judah was the south and Ephraim was the north.
Verses 28 - 33
No one can go into the cave of Machpelah. The Arabs won’t let you go in. There is one of them that looks Egyptian - it’s Jacob.
And Jacob died right there.
Chapter 50
Verses 1 - 3
They mummified Jacob. Believe it or not, some 70 million people over 3,000 years were mummified in Egypt in a process that takes two months. In addition millions of animals were also mummified and buried alongside their owners. There was actually a bit of a trade for this service - and a lot of fakes have been found - mummies in the shapes of cats that are actually nothing more than reeds and grass. But, I’m sure Jacob’s mummy is the real thing.
It’s interesting that the Egyptians mourned him for 70 days.
Verses 4 - 11
Took three weeks to get there - then a week of mourning
Verses 12 - 14
He is buried in the same place as Abraham and Sarah.
Verses 15 - 21
They came back and said "okay now Dad’s gone and he’s the only reason that Joseph hasn’t killed us."
They fabricate something from his will that really wasn’t there. Somehow they felt Joseph hadn’t forgiven them.
Classic verse - that God meant it for good.
(Editors Note: Be sure to listen to the audio version of this study for much more on these verses - it’s a real key to this passage that didn’t make it on the text version.)
Verses 22 - 26
Joseph had the same faith that Jacob had. 350 years later Moses came along.
When they came out of Egypt they had an Egyptian mummy with them that they had dragged all over the wilderness for 40 years!
Hebrews 11 talks about their bones being brought up. It’s because these two had faith that they had things undone in his life - a person who really lives by faith always has unanswered prayers. It doesn’t mean that God isn’t listening but that God’s got a lot of stuff still to do. You are trusting God when He hasn’t come through yet but He will.
Conclusions
1. You can’t escape your character - but you can have it transformed
2. What the enemy means for evil, God means for good - so trust Him
