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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday June 2, 2019
JACOB
BLESSES MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM
Genesis
48
William E. Channing wrote in his
essay, “Means of promoting Christianity”, that, “The first laborers do little
more than teach those who come after them, what to avoid, and how to labor more
effectually than themselves”. For whatever we are in life, so are we in death.
Those who seek righteousness will be counted as righteous in the eyes of GOD,
and those who don’t, will continue on living in an unrighteous state, never
realizing their specific purpose, or “creation role” from GOD.
Furthermore, those who are righteous, leave
behind “a legacy of faith”, and a GODly heir whose life is made richer by their
witness and testimony concerning the only wise, eternal GOD in Heaven. The
unrighteous, by contrast, leave behind a sad commentary of a life that was
incomplete and void of purpose, never coming to know the true reason that they
came into the world, and only leaving their heirs with questions of “what ifs”.
In Genesis chapters 48-49, as Jacob’s life
on earth winds down to a close, he is still able to keep his focus on the
promise of the GOD of his ancestors, and the fulfillment of the “Abrahamic
Covenant” through his seed. Here in Genesis 48, verses 1-4, an ailing Jacob
gathers his strength and begins to disclose to Joseph how the Almighty GOD had
appeared to him at Bethel near Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed him with
the Covenant Promise.
Then, in a rather surprising turn of
events, Jacob passes the birthright blessing on to Joseph, usurping Reuben
through the adopting of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to be his own sons
(v.5). By doing so, he elevates the two boys to the rank of “firstborn sons” of
his, instead of being firstborn sons of Joseph’s. Thus Joseph was not only
given a double portion of Jacob’s inheritance through them, but also, in
effect, the boys replaced Reuben and Simeon, his eldest sons by his least
favorite wife, Leah, on the birthright chart.
Jacob’s elevation of Joseph’s sons was
apparently prompted by his sad reminiscence of having to bury “his favorite
wife”, Rachel, on the side of the road, between Bethel and Bethlehem (v.7 and
Genesis 35:16-20), while Leah, “his least favorite wife”, was buried in the
cave of his fathers at Machpelah, where, if he had his way, Rachel would be
entombed. And so, this became sort of a “make-up maneuver” by which he could
restore some honor to Rachel’s remembrance.
And so Jacob’s adopting of Manasseh and
Ephraim had a lasting effect upon biblical history, and GOD would, later on,
uses Jacob’s flawed “human effort”, to promote HIS OWN purpose and planning, as
HE always does. GOD, throughout Scripture, has always made it HIS pleasure to
take “a crooked stick” (human ingenuity), and use it to hit a “straight lick”
(take that which was meant for evil, and use it for good).
First of all, this crooked move by Jacob,
unbeknownst to him, would later allow GOD to set aside the tribe of Levi to
serve HIM in a priestly manner, and still maintain “the twelve tribe division”
of the future “Promised Land” that HE originally intended. Secondly, it changed
the structure of tribal authority, as Reuben had long ago, already forfeited
his birthright by sleeping with his father’s wife, Bilhah, shortly after
Rachel’s death (Genesis 35:22).
In another twist to this account, when
Joseph presented his two sons to Jacob for his blessing, he placed his eldest
son, Manasseh, on Jacob’s right knee, and his youngest son, Ephraim, on his
left knee. Jacob, who by now suffered with failing eyesight, through divine
intervention from GOD, crossed his arms and placed his right hand on the head
of Ephraim, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, thus elevating Ephraim,
the younger son, over Manasseh, the older son.
Joseph was upset when he saw what his
father had done, and he lifted up Jacob’s arm in an attempt to correct him,
thinking that his failing eyesight was the reason for what he had done.
However, Jacob refused to uncross his arm, telling Joseph, “I know what I’m doing, my son”. Manasseh
too, will become a great people, but his younger brother, Ephraim, will become
even greater. His descendants will become a multitude of nations! ”
And so Jacob blessed the boys that day with
this blessing: “The people of Israel will
use your names to bless each other. They will say, ‘May GOD make you as
prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh.’” In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead
of Manasseh. Then Jacob told Joseph that GOD would again bring him into Canaan
(Joseph’s bones would be carried out of Egypt long after his death, back into
Canaan for burial). And he gave Joseph an extra portion of land, beyond the
amount of what he gave to his brothers (this extra portion is believed to be
the plot which “Jacob’s Well” is located on) (John 4:4 and Joshua 24:22).
This account of Scripture serves to show us
that GOD is pleased to perform HIS work differently and unconventionally from
time to time. It had taken Jacob himself a lifetime to recognize that fact.
However, in truth, even faith recognizes that the ways of GOD and man are most
often adverse and different.
In verse 11 Jacob had already expressed
“the goodness of GOD” and how GOD had, not only, allowed him to see his son Joseph
again, after all those years, but, HE had also allowed him the privilege of
seeing Joseph’s children before he passed away, which was an, extra, unexpected
blessing.
GOD often showers us with blessings that we
never expected, and most certainly, will never deserve. And HE continues to
replace the darkness of our existence with the eternal light of HIS presence,
as a result of the vicarious sacrifice of the risen LORD, our SAVIOR, JESUS
CHRIST. And this becomes especially true, when we remain faithful to HIS Word.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
