8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”
9 “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father.
Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I MAY BLESS THEM.” Genesis 48
Israel didn’t know or recognise Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, but he still knew that he carried a blessing to speak into their young lives.
Israel said, ‘Bring them to me’, sometimes we have to be IN THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE TO GET THE BLESSING OF GOD FROM THEIR LIVES. Elisha had to be with Elijah right to the end to receive his double portion. Lester Sumrall visited the home of Smith Wigglesworth and spent time with him and eventually received his blessing.
10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and HIS FATHER KISSED AND EMBRACED THEM. (Jewish men still kiss and embrace today, again I speak from personal experience.)
Israel showed love to his grandsons before he spoke a word to them. God is LOVE AND HE MAY WANT REAL AFFECTION BEFORE HE SPEAKS TO US!
3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and THERE HE BLESSED ME 4 and said to me, ‘I AM GOING TO MAKE YOU FRUITFUL AND INCREASE YOUR NUMBERS. I WILL MAKE YOU A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLES, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’
Jacob recounted God’s blessings to him as he came to adopt and bless Joseph’s sons born in Egypt.
15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,
“May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,
the God who has been my shepherd
all my life to this day, (BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF GOD’S CARE)
16
the Angel who has delivered me from all harm (AND GOD’S PROTECTION)
— MAY HE BLESS THESE BOYS.
May they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
AND MAY THEY INCREASE GREATLY
ON THE EARTH.” (FRUITFULNESS TO NEXT GENERATION)
Jacob, the great patriarch, carried the blessing of Almighty God on his life and he passed that same blessing to Ephraim and Manasseh. ‘His blessing and his prophecy’ were imparted to these two boys.
Rebecca had sought the Lord about the two babies jostling in her womb and God showed her what was going on;
23 The Lord said to her,
“Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger (Jacob was the younger) .” Genesis 25
When Israel came to lay hands on the two boys, he countermanded Joseph’s preparations, he laid his right hand on the younger and put him ahead of his brother. God knows all of us from the womb and the path set for each one.
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.” 20 He blessed them that day and said,
“In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”
So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Genesis 48
Jacob had known God as his shepherd and protector, we can also know these blessings for our own lives and our children.
God bless and keep you today.