Opening illustration: A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing that his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.
His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in gold.
Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. But before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father has carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7: 11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"
As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words....PAID IN FULL.
How many times have we missed God’s blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? May God’s blessings touch your life always.
Introduction: The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says, they are my sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath showed me thy seed. Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God’s hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jacob mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his days. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now he was dying, he looked upon himself as redeemed from all sin and sorrow for ever. Christ, the Angel of the covenant, redeems from all evil. Deliverances from misery and dangers, by the Divine power, coming through the ransom of the blood of Christ, in Scripture are often called redemption. In blessing Joseph’s sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph was willing to support his first-born, and would have removed his father’s hands. But Jacob acted neither by mistake, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other; but from a spirit of prophecy, and by the Divine counsel. God, in bestowing blessings upon his people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts, graces, and comforts, and more of the good things of this life. He often gives most to those that are least likely. He chooses the weak things of the world; he raises the poor out of the dust. Grace observes not the order of nature, nor does God prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred, but as it pleases him. How poor are they who have no riches but those of this world! How miserable is a death-bed to those who have no well-grounded hope of good, but dreadful apprehensions of evil, and nothing but evil forever!
What are the Rewards of the CROSS Blessing?
1. Given the ‘First Born’ Rights (vs. 1 – 6)
(a) Fruitful & Multiply: Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were born in the land of Egypt. As sons of Joseph their future in Egypt may have seemed very bright. Perhaps they might fill the shoes of their father, taking places of power and influence in Pharaoh’s administration. But their greatest hope lay in a land they had not yet seen, for they were destined to be a part of the “company of peoples” (verse 4) that God had promised Jacob. Jacob wants to honor the memory of his beloved wife, whom he loved very much. When Rachel died a part of him died. He recognized that Rachel may have been capable of having more sons so in effect, Ephraim and Manasseh took the place of other sons that Rachel might have been expected to bear if she had continued to live. By this adoption of his two eldest sons, Joseph was placed in the position of the first-born.
(b) Abundant Growth: Twice God had appeared to Jacob at Luz (Bethel, 28:10-17; 35:9-12), and in both appearances God had blessed him, promising him that he would become a great nation and that he would possess the land of Canaan. While it was nowhere recorded that God specifically promised Jacob that the land would be an “everlasting possession” (verse 4), it was told Abram in 17: 7. This was probably orally passed on through Isaac. Since the Almighty God had promised him the increase of his seed into a multitude of peoples, and Canaan as an eternal possession to that seed, he could so incorporate into the number of his descendants the two sons of Joseph who were born in Egypt before his arrival, and therefore outside the range of his house, that they should receive an equal share in the promised inheritance with his own eldest sons. But this privilege was to be restricted to the two first-born sons of Joseph.
© Everlasting Possession (eternal life): Reuben, due to his sin of laying with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine (35:22), would be stripped of his birthright (cf. 49:4). This privilege was conveyed upon Joseph, but in an unusual way. No doubt the normal course would have been to give the birthright to the next son, Simeon, or to the next after him, Levi, but both of these sons were guilty of the mass murder of the Shechemites (34:25ff.). It was Joseph instead who was to receive the rights of the firstborn. Now the sons of Reuben is not even enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph (1 Chronicles 5: 1-2). Jacob achieved his purpose by adopting both of Joseph’s sons as his own, on a par with Reuben and Simeon (verse 5). Now each of them would receive one portion, but in so doing Joseph received a double portion. And I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow (Genesis 48: 22).
There are twelve tribes but you don’t see the name of Levi (they were the priests and given land in each tribe) or Joseph, but you do see the names of Ephraim and Manasseh. In essence, Jacob is giving Joseph the double blessing that is generally reserved for the firstborn (Reuben). In the future, 48: 6 states that Joseph’s other children would be incorporated into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
The primary focus of Jacob in his report to Joseph was the promise of the land of Canaan and the assurance that Jacob would become a numerous people, a company of peoples (verse 4). If God had assured Jacob of becoming a great and numerous people, then surely he was justified in adopting two more sons who would contribute to this proliferation of people. Joseph was the son of Rachel, Jacob’s chosen wife. His partiality to Joseph significantly contributed to Joseph’s rejection by his brothers and his journey to Egypt (cf. 37:4). A major factor in his preference for Joseph was the fact that he was the first-born of Rachel, his bride by choice. (Leah was his wife “by chance,” Bilhah and Zilpah “by competition.”)
2. Inscribed by the ‘Godly Name’ (vs. 8 – 16)
(a) Shown love and affection: Joseph’s sons had not yet been noticed by Jacob. The adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh was primarily a privilege granted to Joseph rather than an act of partiality toward his sons. Now, whether they are just noticed or they have been brought in after Joseph’s private interview with his father, Jacob seized the opportunity to pronounce a blessing upon Joseph through his two sons. Jacob kissed and embraced his grandsons. Even though it may be hard for you to offer your boys physical affection, do so nonetheless. Fathers and grandfathers, a handshake is not enough! If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, there needs to be additional expressions of affection. Don’t tell me about your upbringing or your personality (excuses); just imagine that it is the last day of your life every day. How would you treat that son or grandson?
(b) Prevail-er & Over comer: ‘…may my name be called on them, and the name of my father Abraham and Isaac, and may they like the fishes increase into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” The name ‘Israel’ would be upon them, meaning even when they would struggle with man or God, they would overcome and prevail by the hand and strength of God Himself.
Paul talks about believers being overcoming the evil with good (Romans 12: 21) and John talks about overcoming the evil one in the epistles (1 John 2: 13; 1 John 4: 4; I John 5: 4) and Revelation. He also talks about overcoming the world with our faith.
© Growth in Strength: Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God’s hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jacob mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his days. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now he was dying, he looked upon himself as redeemed from all sin and sorrow for ever. Christ, the Angel of the covenant, redeems from all evil. Deliverances from misery and dangers, by the Divine power, coming through the ransom of the blood of Christ, in Scripture are often called redemption. The blessing was being passed directly from Israel (grandfather to the sons of Joseph). It was not an indirect transfer from their father Joseph. That is what counted. We have direct access to God through Jesus Christ and also His Holy Spirit Who empowers us for greater things to do. 1 John 4: 4 talks about this and so does Zechariah 4: 6.
3. Promised of ‘God with us’ (vs. 17 – 22)
(a) Complete blessing: Jacob (Israel) stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, and placed his left upon the head of Manasseh (crossing his arms therefore), to bless Joseph in his sons. “Guiding his hands wittingly;” i.e., he placed his hands in this manner intentionally. Laying on the hand, which is mentioned here for the first time in the Scriptures, was a symbolical sign, by which the person acting transferred to another a spiritual good, a super-sensual power or gift; it occurs elsewhere in connection with dedication to an office (Num_27:18, Num_27:23; Deu_34:9; Mat_19:13; Act_6:6; Act_8:17, etc.), with the sacrifices, and with the cures performed by Christ and the apostles. By the imposition of hands, Jacob transferred to Joseph in his sons the blessing which he implored for them from his own and his father’s God. After watching this blessing ceremony unfold, Joseph finally realizes what is happening and he is appalled. His father had transgressed every tradition from the Nile to the Euphrates. Joseph knew his sons intimately and there could be no logical reason for Jacob to elevate Ephraim over Manasseh. All Manasseh’s years had been lived with the privilege and expectation of the firstborn. As Manasseh’s father, Joseph had worked to instill firstborn character and an essential sense of responsibility in his oldest boy. Thus humiliation was an undeserved wound. In any event the deed was done. Blessings once uttered could not be undone (cf. 27:34-37).
(b) Double portion blessing: The two sons of Joseph are not only included in the genealogy of Jacob but are also two of the tribes of Israel. They acquire the land Jacob conquered from the Amorites and are given inheritance with all the 12 tribes. Whereas all the other brothers are just given one tribe each and the names of Ruben (because of his grievous sin) and Levi (priests) are not included.
Elisha desired a double portion of what God had bestowed on Elijah, he got it. The OT saints had to pursue for the double portion anointing. Today all believers are freely given God’s continual presence of His Holy Spirit who will guide and be manifested through our lives.
© Placed before others: Joseph though the eldest of the sons from Rachel, was the 11th son of Jacob. And yet Israel honored him above all his brothers by giving him the first-born position and permanent inheritance with all the tribes of Israel. He was placed above all the other 10 older siblings. Not only was that, both his sons were now part of the tribes of Israel and have complete and permanent inheritance with other brothers of Joseph. Apparently all the other brothers had no qualms about this arrangement even though this was not a legalized practice in Egypt or elsewhere. But we get to see that ~
• The election of God (Romans 9: 11-12). In His sovereignty, God is absolutely free to choose some over others.
• Highlight the mercy of God (Romans 9: 15-16). God’s mercy does not depend upon our works.
• The glory of God (1 Corinthians 1: 27-29). One of the reoccurring themes throughout Genesis is the pleasure God takes glorifying Himself. As a result, He shames the wise and strong “so that no one can boast in his presence.”
Application: Israel had knowingly passed on the adoptive inherit ant blessings to Joseph and his sons. But unawares he had also passed on the CROSS blessings on his grandsons which was fulfilled a couple of thousand years after being imparted. Today we enjoy the CROSS blessing as we don’t have to make daily burnt offerings for our sins and have been given the Holy Spirit to stay permanently till Christ returns. Above all, as Paul puts it that we have been adopted by Christ into His Kingdom. It was intended for the Israelites but after they failed God continually He adopted the gentiles and incorporated them to be a part of Him. You and I are part of it and enjoy that privilege and blessing. Let us not hesitate to pass on the CROSS blessing to others who don’t have it and are not believers. Just as Jacob passed and left a legacy, let us pass on that legacy not only to our children and families but to all those around us.
