Week 37, Day 4: Jacob dies
Today’s Reading: Genesis 48:1-22
Some thoughts from the reading…
After being blessed with seeing his long lost son, Jacob is near death. He has had 17 years of life after coming to live in the land of Goshen. Joseph is told about his father being ill and so he goes to visit him with his two sons. Joseph has already vowed (placed his hand under Jacob’s thigh) to carry Jacob’s body back to the land of Canaan to bury him there. At this final visit Joseph has brought his sons to Jacob to be blessed by him. But something unexpected happens. Joseph brings the sons to his father, the oldest to his Jacob’s right hand and and the younger to his left hand. But intead of blessing the oldest with his right hand Jacob crosses his hands and blesses the younger with his right hand. This displeased Joseph but Jacob states that Ephraim will be mightier than his older brother Manasseh. It is interesting how this reflects Jacob’s case growing up (the older will serve the younger). Manasseh would not serve his younger brother but Ephraim would eclipse his brother and be greater, thus going contrary to the greater blessing being on the firstborn.
The other thing that is interesting to note is that our concepts of the right hand being the hand of favor is seen here as a long standing custom of man. We say someone is your “right hand man” or we read of extending the “right hand of fellowship” (Gal 2:9) and we see someone standing at the right hand of God. I find it fascinating to see times where customs or traditions can be traced or seen in other times. The concept of the right hand being the one of favor or to be preferred is not a new concept. We’ll probably never know how that concept started but it is interesting to see such practices reaching far back in man’s history.
Question: Jacob had said to Pharaoh in ch 47 that his days were few and had not attained to the years of his fathers. Jacob died at 147. How does this compare to his fathers ages?
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Week 37, Day 3: Joseph’s service is blessed
Today’s Reading: Genesis 47:1-31
Some thoughts from the reading…
In chapter 47 we find it recorded what is the outcome of the famine. God had revealed to Pharaoh what would come about. By God’s provision Joseph is raised to a position of prominence and makes provision to preserve life. But God also blesses Pharaoh greatly in the process because of Joseph. As the famine continued in Egypt and the land of Canaan. Joseph was able to gather all the money in these lands through the sale of the grain stored up during the 7 years of plenty. And in the end Pharaoh owns all the land of Egypt and the people are his slaves now. I have wondered what things were like before this time. Is our concepts of Egypt being ruled by Pharaoh and him having complete dominion over all of Egypt a post Joseph concept? Was the land governed somewhat differently before this famine? In any case, Pharaoh is now given more power and wealth because of Joseph.
Something else that was interesting to me was how willing Pharaoh was to hand over everything to Joseph. Joseph was set up to run things and be second only to Pharaoh. In this chapter Pharaoh is so confident in Joseph that he hands over all of his livestock to his care. Why I think all of this is so interesting is because I always have this concept of kings or leaders having to be worried that they might be betrayed by their servants. If one servant had too much power they my try to overthrow their master. Pharaoh’s complete trust in Joseph is a good testimony to how Joseph conducted himself. He did not covet the #1 position or try to work against his master. Rather he was a faithful and trustworthy servant. One that encouraged further trust and reliance. Joseph is such a great example to us of a man with integrity and great faith.
Question: What qualities makes someone a good servant or worker?
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