Bible Basics: Genesis 48
Verses 1–2: Seventeen years after Jacob moved his family to Egypt to escape the famine and reunite with Joseph, he became ill in his old age. Joseph was summoned, and brought his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to see Jacob before he passed. Upon Joseph's arrival, Jacob gathered up his strength—sitting up in bed to see his son for the last time.
3–7: Jacob had seen God's unwavering faithfulness throughout the course of his entire life. Because of this, on his deathbed, he demonstrated deep trust that the Lord would keep His promise and pass it down to Joseph and succeeding generations. He reminded Joseph that God would bless all nations through their lineage, as Jesus, the Savior of the world for all the generations of human history, would be born through it. God would make Jacob’s descendants as numerous as the sands of the sea, and would eventually give them the promised land of Canaan to become their Israel, their forever home. He went on to prophecy that the land would be divided into twelve portions, eleven for Joseph's brothers, and one divided into two halves for Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Together these twelve clans with their territories would become known as the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jacob then recounted the sorrowful death of Rachel (Joseph's mom and Jacob’s most dearly loved wife) near Bethlehem on his long journey home to Esau and Isaac. He wouldn't be buried near her in death, but eventually his bones would be taken back to the promised land of Canaan.
8–11: Not recognizing Joseph’s sons due to his failing eyesight, Jacob asked who they were. Joseph brought them close, introducing Ephraim and Manasseh to him. Jacob embraced them, kissing them as they sat on his lap, and thanked God for restoring Joseph and sons to him. He was so grateful—he never thought he'd live to see the day! But God is in the habit of turning tragedy into triumph, bringing life from death, and restoring all that Satan tries to steal from us if we just follow His lead in life.
12–16: Joseph then removed his boys from Jacob's lap, and bowed down to pay honor to his dad. He directed his sons to stand close to Jacob, Manasseh as the oldest near Jacob's right hand, and Ephraim near his left. But Jacob suddenly crossed his arms, extending his right hand (the hand of greatest blessing) over Ephraim, the youngest. Jacob earnestly prayed for the goodness of God to flow to them both, and that they would each become a great people.
17–20: Believing his father to be in error, Joseph took Jacob's right hand in an attempt to return it to Manasseh. But Jacob refused, explaining that Ephraim was destined to become the greatest of the two brothers, although they would both be highly blessed in life. Just as Jacob became greater than his older brother Esau, so Ephraim would become greater than Manasseh. God knew and designed the good and unique destiny of them both. When we commit our lives to Him, we find the plan and purpose He imagined in His heart for us before we were even born (see Psalm 139:13–18, Jeremiah 1:5, and Ephesians 2:8–10). God’s got so much good in store if we’ll just seek to find it in Him!
21–22: Jacob explained that he was about to die, and encouraged Joseph: God would be with Joseph and would see to it that he was eventually brought back to Canaan, their land of promise. Despite all the trouble and hardship he faced in life, Joseph remained a man after God's heart, a man who consistently walked in His ways. God foreknew Joseph’s heart, and destined him for elevation over his brothers. As one of Jacob’s last acts, he honors that and grants Joseph a special piece of land as part of his inheritance in Canaan (likely near Shechem*), above and beyond the portions his brothers receive. In the end, both men’s lives paint a beautiful picture of the redemption God longs to bring to us all.