Bible Materials

Genesis 48:1-50:26

by Paul Choi   05/16/2022   Genesis 48:1~50:26

BibleNote


God was with Joseph

(Jacob blesses his sons) Lesson 29

Genesis 48:1-50:26

Key Verse: 50:20

  1. Look at 48:1-22. How did Jacob bless Joseph’s sons? Why did he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh? (14,19-20) What do we learn about God’s sovereignty in his blessing? (Ro 9:10-13,19-21)

  1. Joseph wanted Jacob to bless his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim before Jacob died. Now Jacob was old and ill.

  2. Jacob intentionally crossed his arms and blessed Ephraim with his right hand and Manasseh with his left hand. He put Ephraim, the younger, ahead of Manasseh, the older.

    The right hand is the symbol of strength and righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10) “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

  3. God has right to choose and bless according to his good purpose as a potter has right to use his pottery some for special purpose and others for common use.

    14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day and said, “In your[c] name will Israel pronounce this blessing:  ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

  1. 10 Not only that, but Rebekah’s children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. 11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”[a] 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”[b] 19 One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” 20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[a] 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

  1. Look at 49:1-28. How did Jacob blessed his 12 sons—especially Judah (49:8–12,28) and Joseph (49:22-25). How are their blessings different from others? What is the significance of this blessing in Israel's history?

Jacob Blesses His Sons

49 Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

  1. Jacob was going to bless his twelve sons, but his blessing is a prediction for their future.---what will happen to them in the future. The things happened to each son as Jacob blessed.

  2. Jacob blessed Judah with a covenant blessing---the Messiah will come out from the descendant of Judah as a king of Israel, who is Jesus Christ.

    Messianic typology: Lion, the scepter, the ruler are the symbol of King.

    Colt is the preview of Jesus’ riding on a colt entering to Jerusalem.

    Garment in wine, robe in the grape symbolize Jesus’ death on the cross.

    “People will praise the Lord”, The sons of Jacob will bow down before the descendant of Judah.

Jacob blessed Joseph with human blessing—prosperity as a fruitful vine, not covenant-related.

Reuben: the firstborn, powerful, but cursed because of his immorality, Simeon and Levi were cursed because of their violence in Shechem. Zebulun will live a seashore by the Mediterranean Sea.

Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asshur, Naphtali, Benjamin

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.

  1. Look at 49:29-50:14. Why did Jacob want to be buried in the land of Canaan? (49:29-32) What is the significance of this in God’s redemptive history?

  1. Jacob wanted to be buried in the Promised Land, not in the foreign land. No matter how fertile and beautiful land may be, it is not the land God promised. Our final destination is the kingdom of God, not on this earth. We must live by faith, not by sight.

  2. Jacob lived by faith to the end as a covenant son. Because of Jacob’s faith, God’s redemptive plan could continue through Abraham’s descendants. His decision is his commitment to God’s will. Because of his faith, all his twelve sons could become the head of 12 tribes of Israel.

The Death of Jacob

29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites. 33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

  1. Look at 50:15-26. Why did Joseph's brothers become fearful after Jacob's death? What request did they make of Joseph that reveals their repentance? (50:15-18) What did Joseph teach them? (19-20, Ro 8:28) What can we learn about the God of Joseph?

  1. Joseph’s brothers were fearful for Joseph’s revenge after Jacob’s death. They thought that Joseph would change his mind hostile to them because of what they had harmed Joseph.

  2. They repented and asked forgiveness of their sins before Joseph, who wept.

  3. Joseph taught them God’s divine sovereignty and providence for all things happened in the past. They intended to harm Joseph, but God intended it for good to accomplish his will for saving many lives.

    Romans 8:28. We believe that in all things God works for good for those who love him and have been called according to his good purpose.

    Joseph taught that it is God who did all these things. It is from God’s plan and work. So, they don’t have to be sorrowful or afraid. Joseph accepted God’s sovereignty over his life.

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.[z] 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.


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