Genesis 49:22-2522Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: (Genesis 49:22‑25) (Reviewed)
“Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him,... and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel;) Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under...”
There is a special sweetness to the words of Israel concerning this son whom he loved so deeply. It was certainly a delight to him that, as he spoke God’s mind, for he would not do otherwise at so solemn a time, he could extol this one whose whole pathway had been marked with faithfulness to God, love to his father, forgiveness to his brethren, and unmarred testimony before the world.
“Joseph is a fruitful bough.” How true were these expressions concerning the one whose story we have followed with so much interest! “A fruitful bough by a well” was the character of this one who found his refreshment by the well of living waters — the Word of God ever being his guide and sustainer — and whose trials and triumphs combined to bring forth fruit to the praise of God. His branches “ran over the wall” in a very full sense. He not only brought good to his own brethren, but was the dispenser of life to all nations, whose eyes were upon him in their troubles. His own brethren were “the archers (who) sorely grieved him, and shot at him and hated him,” but God made his cause abide in strength, in spite of this opposition and hatred. The result of his faithful life was the prose of the Almighty’s help as the One who would yet provide blessings from above, as well as in the depths of the earth.
What a lovely picture of the Lord Jesus Himself is seen in all these exclamations pertaining to Joseph. All that was displayed in him, shone forth more abundantly in that One who later trod this earth. He too was the fruitful bough — indeed the true vine itself—bringing forth fruit to God, not alone in Israel but throughout the whole world. He too knew the hatred of the archers who sorely grieved Him. He too found the guidance and strength for His earthly walk as Son of man from God, His Father; and He too will know the fullness of blessings from above when the Church, His bride, redeemed by His own precious blood, is in Heaven with Him. Blessings below will be reflected in His earthly people, Israel, when, cleansed and walking joyfully before Him, they own Him their Messiah, the Prince of peace, in the happy days of the millennium.
ML 02/04/1968