Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt, and now he was getting old and sick (48:1,10, 21). Joseph came to meet his father with his two sons : Manasseh @ “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household” and Ephraim @ “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering”. ✒ 41:51-52

📝 The records states that the Lord was with Joseph in Egypt , and later on he had become a part of the Egyptian hierarchy. He might have felt that his two sons born in Egypt, accustomed with the Egyptian culture , education and religious influences , would no longer see themselves as Israelites.
So to bridge the gap between the cultures and faiths, his two sons needs Jacob’s blessing and God’s precepts and statutes ✅
📌 A Wake up call for the parents : Apart from the secular education and other co-curricular activities, our children needs to know/ reminded about the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ✝ . Lessons from Jacob 👇🏻

🎈 First of all Jacob reminded Joseph and his two sons about the past history and his testimony :
~ his personal encounter with the Lord @ while running away from home (28:10-22) and on his return (35:1-15).
~ God’s Covenant and His promise (v 4)
🎈 Secondly , to ensure God’s promise , Jacob had formally adopted Joseph’s two sons on a par with Joseph’s brothers in their inheritance ( v 5)
🎈 Thirdly Jacob reminded them about Rachel , her death and burial place (v 7). Perhaps he wanted to ensure that her first son – Joseph would get a double portion of land in Canaan.
🎈 Lastly Jacob thanked God for allowing him to see Joseph and his two sons ( v 11)

📌 Jacob put his hands and bless Manasseh and Ephraim. The same old history repeats : Jacob, the younger son who struggled with Esau for the birthright and blessing ; who preferred the younger sister @ Rachel above the older @ Leah, now advanced Joseph’s younger son @ Ephraim ahead of the older @ Manasseh .

📌 He pronounced the name of the God of his ancestors @ Abraham and Isaac by acknowledging His guidance , provision and protection ( v 15-16) and he blessed them :
~ Will be known by his name @ Israel (v 16 b)
~ Will acknowledge the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob ( v 16b)
~ Will increase greatly in numbers ( v 16 c)

📝 The people of Israel would see how extremely blessed Ephraim and Manasseh were , as a result they would get in the habit of pronouncing ” a Blessing over others ” : May God make you as blessed and fruitful as Ephraim and Manasseh ( v 20) 🙌

📌 Finally Jacob bequeathed to Joseph an extra portion of land in Canaan – a ridge of land( v 22)

📝 The Biblical records states that both the tribes ( Ephraim and Manasseh ) were the largest and powerful tribes in the northern kingdom :
》 Ephraim’ s descendants were most powerful tribe in the northern kingdom.
》 Ephraim is often used to represent the northern kingdom of Israel .
》 In the book of Revelation the tribe of Manasseh is mentioned when the sealing of God’s servants @ 144,000 were sealed ( 7:4 -6) .

💞 Jacob’s blessing was to declare the inheritance in Canaan – the promised land but we all have a Heavenly Inheritance ( Col 3:24 ; Heb 9:15) .
Let us press on 👣

Glory to God 🙏
✍🏽 Mark Boje
Arunachal Pradesh, India 🇮🇳