Genesis Part 3 Week 9

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 48:1-2 

¹ One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, “Your father is failing rapidly.” So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. ² When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed. 

After Joseph made the oath to carry his father’s remains back to Canaan after his death, this word came to Joseph. As a good son, Joseph went to see his father and took his two sons along with him. Jacob was weak but he was able with extra effort to sit up in bed. 

REFLECT 

Have you experienced losing an elderly parent? If so, you likely saw how weak that person was at the end of life.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 48:1-9. This tells of the relationship of Jacob and his two grandsons through Joseph. Jacob wanted to claim these two for his own and after that any sons of Joseph could be claimed by him. Any future sons of Joseph would inherit land within the area designated for Joseph’s first two sons. Jacob also rehearsed about the death of his wife Rachel, Joseph’s mother.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 48:10-11 

¹⁰ Jacob was half blind because of his age and could hardly see. So Joseph brought the boys close to him, and Jacob kissed and embraced them. ¹¹ Then Jacob said to Joseph, “I never thought I would see your face again, but now God has let me see your children, too!” 

Imagine the joy of a grandfather who never expected to see his son again to now see his son’s children. As a good grandfather, although he could hardly see, he drew the boys close to him and embraced them.  

REFLECT 

Have you seen this kind of response in your family? Some have had grandparents die when the grandchildren were young and did not get to know them. Others were able to grow around godly grandparents who were an example to them.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 48:10-16. This passage tells of Jacob knowingly blessing the younger over the older one. This had been true in Jacob’s case and now he makes it true with his grandsons through Joseph.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 48:17-19 

¹⁷ But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head. So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ “No, my father,” he said. “This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.” ¹⁹ But his father refused. “I know, my son; I know,” he replied. “Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.” 

Joseph tried to correct his father about which son was older and his right hand should have been on him. Jacob knew what he was doing so he corrected his son. Although the descendants of the older son would become great, the descendants of the younger son would be even greater.  

REFLECT 

If you have siblings, have you experienced rivalry in your family between them? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 48:17-22. God was sovereignly working out His plan even though Joseph did not understand it at the time. This passage reveals that Jacob was giving Joseph the birthright of the territory to be inherited as he gave him some of the land he had taken from the Amorites. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 49:1-2 

¹ Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, “Gather around me, and I will tell you what will happen to each of you in the days to come. ² Come and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.” 

Jacob, also known as Israel, called his sons together so he could predict for them what would happen to each in the future. One wonders how the suspense grew as he began telling each what he was like and what would happen in his line in the future. 

REFLECT 

It is wise to let God determine your future. Psalm 39:4-5 says our days are numbered. Let God decide that and serve Him with gratefulness with the days you have.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 49:1-7. This passage tells what Jacob told Reuben, his oldest son. He described him as being “as unruly as a flood.” Jacob also said he would no longer be considered to have the birthright. Concerning Simeon and Levi, Jacob said they had been murderers and their descendants would be dispersed throughout Israel.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 49:8-9 

⁸ “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. 

All your relatives will bow before you. ⁹ Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?” 

The name “Judah” means “praise.” He is a key person among the sons of Jacob and some think the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 is also the story of Judah. Think about this as you reread these chapters. He was the brother that suggested selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites; committed incest with his daughter-in-law; but he offered to be the security for Benjamin if he could not bargain successfully with Joseph, at that point the unknown ruler of the land of Egypt.  

REFLECT 

Regardless of your past, can you be thankful for your salvation because you have believed in Jesus who paid the price for your sins? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 49:8-12. Especially notice verse 10 that gives a prediction about the Messiah being in Judah’s line of descendants. This corresponds to the prophecy in Micah 5:2 about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem.