July 31, 2023

In Genesis 48, Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons and gives them an inheritance. Then in Genesis 49, before his last breath, he blesses and prophesies over his sons. He didn’t hold anything back; a few blessings seemed more like curses and a remembrance of their bad behavior. All I can say is thank God we are hidden in Jesus! Imagine what our life would be like if God saw all our failures rather than Jesus’s perfection when He looked at us; we receive God’s grace and mercy because of him. 

I wonder why Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons first. Is that significant? They are a part of the lost tribes. God is detailed; nothing is left undone; everything has a purpose and a meaning. Maybe we are linked to those tribes ancestrally. That would be fantastic, being Jacob was prophesying about the last days. Just a thought; only God knows.

Jacob also gives specific instructions that he should be buried in Canaan with his grandparents, Abraham and Sarah, his dad and mom, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah, his wife. Isn’t it interesting that he chose to be buried with Leah rather than Rachel? Maybe he grew to love her over time since she became his first wife, though not by his choice. Nevertheless, he kept having children with her.  

God’s plans are perfect; don’t try to force your will into situations that God should handle. Relax; God’s got this!

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people. Genesis 49:33