Genesis 48-49 The Future Cost of Sin and The Future Blessing of Obedience

In 49:18, my commentary says it appears that Jacob was communing with the Lord as he gave these final blessings to his sons.  It is therefore very likely, then, that God was directing these words and that they weren’t just an old man’s thoughts about what had happened in his family over time.  But some things he said and did had resulted from the sins of his sons.

First, Jacob adopted Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim as his own.  Since this gave Joseph’s family two inheritances, it effectively made Joseph the firstborn who got the double blessing, replacing Reuben, who’d disgraced his family.  Reuben’s tribe declined in numbers and settled on the east side of the Jordan, technically outside of the Promised Land.

Simeon and Levi had let indiscriminate anger rule them, and they’d killed as a result of it.  Simeon’s tribe eventually was absorbed with the tribe of Judah, and Levi’s tribe wasn’t given an area of land, but instead 48 towns scattered throughout the land.

During Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons, he had crossed his arms, blessing Ephraim (the younger) over Manasseh (the older).  Joseph had realized what was happening and tried to reverse his father’s hands, but Jacob held on.  This was the fifth time in Genesis that the birth order was reversed, my commentary said.  It also added, “Jacob was guided by God and knew what he was doing.”

Sinfulness in the lives of Jacob’s sons caught up with them, and some of what Jacob said wasn’t blessing but instead a revelation of the future cost of their sins, even on subsequent generations.

Father, please help my sons to see the cost of sinfulness and help them to choose obedience to You instead.  Help all of us to know that Your will for our lives is our absolute best course of action.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford