Remain Faithful

Explore the Bible Series

May 25, 2008

Background Passage: Genesis 48:1-50:26

Lesson Passage: Genesis 48:3-6; 49:8-10; 50:15-21

Introduction:

Six months ago we began a survey of the majestic, panoramic Book of Genesis. In the ensuing weeks our study has taken us from the primordial mysteries of creation, to the genesis of the human race, the fall of man, the great flood of Noah’s generation, and the divine redemptive plan as traced through the family of Abraham. Among all the books of the Scriptures, no portion has a more grand scope than Genesis. Above all, God reveals himself here, in clear and unmistakable ways. We have observed:

1. God’s power: What piece of literature can match the poetic glory of the narrative of God’s creative power as he fashioned the universe? The profound simplicity of the creation narrative defies scientific or philosophical analysis. God spoke, and the worlds came into existence, sun and moon appeared, and seas and dry land emerged. The mere utterance of Jehovah’s creative word, and the plant and animal life came into existence. The only exception to this oral creative power occurred when God fashioned Adam from the dust of the earth and Eve from the rib of Adam. Mankind enjoys a derived creativity as part of the divine image, but only God possesses the power to create the world from nothing.
2. God’s wisdom: As God created the various components of the created order, he pronounced all things good. Like some great cosmic puzzle, each aspect of creation fits the precise niche for which God created it. Furthermore, we observe divine wisdom in the deliberate, gradual self-revelation of God. Step by step, the Lord opened himself to mankind. Unfortunately, God’s “students” often proved poor pupils; nevertheless, the Lord faithfully, patiently taught his people.
3. God’s goodness: Again, God repeated the refrain, “it is good” at every step of the creative process. He placed man in magnificent Eden and provided everything necessary for man’s existence and happiness. When man’s sin sullied the Lord’s perfect creation, Jehovah set out to reveal his glory through a gracious plan of redemption—to set right the devastating effects of disobedience.
4. God’s sovereignty: At every turn, it seems, mankind was intent on thwarting God’s gracious designs; however, the Lord’s redemptive plan remained intact and on course. Everywhere we look in Genesis, God oversaw history and prevented the utter ruin of the human race. Even God’s chosen people made one mistake after another; yet, God so superintended the course events that the plan of grace unfolded precisely as the Lord intended.
5. God’s compassion: From the time of Adam’s fall, Genesis describes the Lord’s kindness and mercy in dealing with his people. This wonderful Old Testament book never soft peddles the moral failures of his people: Adam’s disobedience, Abraham’s and Isaac’s lies, Jacob’s deception, or the unspeakable cruelty of Jacob’s sons. Yet, God remained faithful, and he forgave and preserved his people.

Lesson Outline:

I. Jacob’s Blessings on his Sons (48:1-49:27)

A. Ephraim and Manasseh (48:1-22)

1. Jacob’s rehearsal of God’s covenant (48:1-4 and 7): Jacob intended to tie future generations to their divine inheritance, the Abrahamic Covenant; thus, he recounted God’s kind dealings with him.

2. Jacob’s “adoption” of Joseph’s sons (48:6): Reuben was Jacob’s eldest son, but he had sacrificed his favored position by defiling his father’s bed (See 35:22). Simeon, of course, drew his father’s disfavor by his cruel revenge against Shechem. Ephraim and Manasseh, in a sense, took the positions of honor normally reserved for older sons.

3. the pronouncement of the blessing (48: 8-22): In a tender scene, Joseph brought his sons to the knees of the aged, infirmed Jacob. The old man crossed his hand and placed the hand of blessing (the right hand) on Joseph’s younger son, Ephraim. Joseph tried to correct his father, but Jacob insisted on giving the superior honor to Ephraim.

B. Reuben (49:1-4): This “blessing” begins with such great promise. Reuben possessed great dignity and strength; yet, his disgraceful mistreatment of his father brought tragic consequences.

C. Simeon and Levi (49:5-7): Partners in cruel revenge, Jacob lumped these Simeon and Levi together. In effect Jacob disinherited these sons, and their descendents, as a result, would not share fully in the bounty of Canaan. Simeon’s progeny would be scattered throughout the inheritance of Judah, and Levi, the priestly caste, would dwell in cities among the other tribes.

D. Judah (49:8-12): Jacob predicted a royal future for the descendants of Judah. Like a great lion, Judah would reign over his brothers in regal majesty. The line of David and Solomon came through Judah, and, eventually, the Lord Jesus descended through the lineage of Judah.

E. Zebulon (49:13): Jacob anticipated that this son would dwell along the western shores of the Mediterranean and thrive on maritime trade.

F. Issachar (49:14-15): Jacob predicted that this tribe would trade its spiritual liberty for the material security as the servants of the pagan citizens of Sidon (the Phoenicians).

G. Dan (49:16-18): Dan, small but powerful, shall prove treacherous. Like a serpent, this tribe will camouflage its insidious nature and strike at its enemy’s heels.

H. Gad (49:19): Gad would, once the tribe entered Canaan, suffer constant raids from its neighbors, Ammon and Moab. Jacob, however, believed that Gad would gain the preeminence over its adversaries.

I. Asher (49:20): Asher would inhabit a fertile region.

J. Naphtali (49:21): This tribe later settled in a mountainous region of Canaan, and Jacob anticipated that it would thrive in its future home.

K. Joseph (49:22-26): Jacob reserved his richest blessing for faithful Joseph. The old man recalled the severe trials Joseph had endured and described his beloved son as a fruitful tree, spreading its bountiful limbs in every direction.

L. Benjamin (49:27): Jacob used the image of a ravenous wolf to describe his youngest son. In years to come, Benjamin earned a reputation as a fierce, aggressive tribe.

II. The Deaths of Jacob and Joseph (49:28-50:26)

A. Jacob’s death and burial (49:28-50:14):

1. Jacob’s anticipation of his death (49:28-33): The old patriarch asked his sons to bury him in the family tomb, in Machpelah, in the land of Canaan. His grandparents, parents and his first wife were all buried in a cave that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite (See 23:1f), and Jacob wanted to be entombed with his family.

2. the preparation of Jacob’s body (50:1-3): Jews did not embalm bodies, but Joseph apparently allowed this procedure so he could keep his word about Jacob’s burial. The Egyptians, of course, were masters of corpse preservation, and Pharaoh, after an appropriate period of mourning, permitted Joseph to return to Canaan to bury Jacob.

B. Joseph’s reassurance of his brothers (50:15-21): After Joseph’s return from Canaan his bothers feared that the prime minister might exact revenge for the siblings’ former cruelty. Finally, the sinful brothers asked the forgiveness of Joseph, and Joseph pardoned them freely. In his great wisdom, Joseph saw the Lord’s hand in his sufferings the brothers had an evil intent, but God overruled their sinister design. Joseph forgave and spoke kindly to his family.

C. Joseph’s death (50:22-26): Joseph lived 110 years, and, as death approached, he promised that God would one day return the children of Israel to the Land of Promise. Furthermore, the old man made his family pledge that they would return his bones to Canaan, a promise their descendants kept when they interred Joseph’s remains at Shechem, early four hundred years later (See Joshua 24:32).