Gen. 48:1-41And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. (Genesis 48:1‑4)
“And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.”
It was seventeen years since Jacob came with his family into Egypt. When the end of his days drew near, the old father felt keenly his responsibility as head of his household. As the one through whom the proses of God were channeled, he knew that before his departure he should communicate to each son those God-given prophesies as to his future. He must also bestow and establish individual blessings with wisdom and discretion.
Jacob’s last days were really his brightest. His earlier years were often marred with self-confidence, impetuous acts, sometimes with deceit and secrecy, and a variety of trying experiences that resulted from going in his own strength, rather than being dependent on God. But as he grew in age he also grew in wisdom and turned more and more away from his own ways to trust in God. The close of his history manifests this change, from the time that Joseph sent for him to come into Egypt. (We see this in his going to Beer-sheba to seek God’s counsel, in his visit to Pharaoh and his blessing the monarch, his quiet trust and confidence in Joseph’s provision for him, and finally his behavior in these his closing days.
Now he is found on his bed —weary and weak in body, but fresh and stronger in mind and judgment than in all the vigor of his life, and anxious to make known to his sons the future pattern of their lives that God has revealed to him. What a contrast this was to the final days of his own father, Isaac, whose early life was happy and blessed, but whose closing days were marred by his sad mistakes in connection with the blessings of his sons. There was none of this in Jacob. His earlier life may have been miserable enough, due to many failures, but his close was bright and clear, rising to new heights as, submissive to God’s revelations, his communications to his sons were in good order, showing a keen insight into the character of each and a true revelation of God’s mind concerning them. This is particularly important because, at this point, God’s Word is about to display these sons and their families as the foundation from which would soon grow a great nation, to be known to this day as the children of Israel.
On no dying bed of the patriarchs shone light more brightly than on Jacob’s. None was given so much as Jacob to scan Israel’s future. But strong in faith, adoring and giving glory to God, he is about to open his lips as God’s mouthpiece over his grandsons.
ML 12/31/1967