Genesis 49:13

Genesis 49:13 says, Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.  Jacob continues to speak of the future of his sons and the groups they will become.  Zebulun and his family would live at the haven of the sea and become a safe port for ships.  As followers of Christ, we all have different purposes in life, but we all have a purpose in life.  Verse fourteen states, Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:  Then verse fifteen continues, And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.  Issachar and his descendants were to be strong, industrious and patient people.  We might not think this to be something to be desired, especially in today's world, but we could certainly us more people like this today.  Too often, if we are strong, we think that gives us the right to impose our will on others instead of helping them to bear their burdens.  Verse sixteen says, Dan shall judge his people,  As one of the tribes of Israel. Dan's descendants would be judges over the people of Israel.  Dan was the son of one of the handmaidens, but his descendants would judge all Israelites.  Matthew Henry points out that this shows that God makes no distinction between bond and free in earthly terms.  It does not matter how we are born in this world, but how we relate to God through our relationship with Christ.  Verse seventeen continues,Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.  Dan's descendants would judge with the subtilty of a serpent, which Matthew Henry said could refer to Samson's fooling the Philistines.  Verse eighteen concludes, I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.  However good the descendants of Dan might be as judges, the still could not bring salvation to the people of Israel, nor can we today bring salvation to the world.  We must wait for the salvation of Christ and can  only point people to that salvation.  Salvation can only come from God.  Verse nineteen says, Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.  Gad and his descendants would be temporarily defeated, but would ultimately overcome their enemies.  We, as followers of Christ, may be temporarily overcome by the world, but through Christ the victory is ultimately ours.  Verse twenty states, Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.  Asher's descendants would be a tribe rich in the things of the world, but that is not necessarily what we should be looking for.  This does not say that they would not follow God, but often those who are rich in the things of this world do not follow God's teachings.  Verse twenty-one says, Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.  The descendants of Nephtali were to be well spoken people, though Matthew Henry states that we really don't have many examples of how this came to pass in the Bible.  Sometimes, we can see where God's prophesies, and these really were God's prophesies for His people, come to pass more easily than with others, but we simply need to realize that theywill all come to pass.

Genesis 49:1

Genesis 49:1 says, And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.  Jacob called his sons together to tell them what was going to happen to them in the last days, or future.  This was not based on what Jacob thought, but on what God had revealed to him.  The last days did not mean the end of the world, but the days to come, which at some point would be their last days,  We know what the Bible tells us will happen in the last days, before Christ returns, but everyday becomes the time of the last days for the life of many people,  Verse two  states, Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. The sons are called on to gather together and Jacob refers to them as the sons of Jacob with Israel being their father.  This was the same person.  We are called on to gather together as followers of Christ, the children of God.  This is not two Gods, but One.  Verse three says, Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:  Jacob first speaks to Reuben, his first born.  What Jacob says about Reuben at first seems pretty good.  Then verse four adds, Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.  Reuben was called unstable as water and had forfeited his birthright because of his sin with Jacob's wife.  Matthew Henry says Reuben had been forgiven, but his sin still bore consequences in this world.  Though our sins are forgiven when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we may still have to face the consequences of them in this life.   Verse five says, Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.  Jacob didn't have much good to say about Simeon and Levi, but they were still a part of God's plan  to make a great nation of the descendants of Abraham.  Verse six adds, O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.  Jacob was referring to their killing Shechem and the Shechmites in an act of revenge and hatred.  Some might say that they were justified in their actions, but God never expects His people to act out of anger and revenge.  Verse seven continues, Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.  Jacob said they would be divided, or separated from one another, and then scattered in Israel.  The Levites were scattered among the other tribes and the Simeonites were forced to disperse to find enough substance to stay alive.  Still, they were also a part of God's chosen people.  Fortunately, we do not have to be perfect to be a part of God's family, nor to remain a part of it once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eight declares, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.  Judah was praised by his father as being the one who would be above all his brothers.  Matthew Henry says that Judah's name signified praise, and that God was praised for him, by him and in him, just as God should be praised in our lives.  Verse nine adds, Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  Jacob said that Judah was like a powerful lion.  Verse ten continues, The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Then verse eleven states, Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:  Then verse twelve concludes, His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.  Though the  scepter would not  depart from the tribe of Judah, the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come from the tribe.  Jesus would bring peace between people and God, and some day all knees will bow to him, fulfilling the prophesy that Jacob gave to Judah.

Genesis 48:10

Genesis 48:10 says, Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.  Israel's eyes were getting dim, much like Isaac's were when he blessed Israel, or Jacob as he was known then  Verse eleven states,  And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.  Israel told Joseph that he had not thought that he would ever see him again, but now he was seeing not only Joseph but Joseph's children as well.  Sometimes, things that seem impossible with the world are very possible with God.  Verse twelve says, And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.  I guess that the boys were clinging to Joseph, but he brought them out to present to Israel.  When it comes to meeting Christ, we cannot hide behind our parents or anyone else.  We must come before Him face to face,  Verse thirteen says, And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.  Ephraim was on Israel's left hand side and Manasseh was on his right.  Verse fourteen declares, And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.  This would not have been the natural way for Israel to reach out to them, but he willingly chose the manner in which he would bless them.  Again, we may not make much out of blessings and birth order, but some cultures do.  Fortunately for us, God doesn't.  All are blessed equally.  Verse fifteen adds, And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,  Israel then asked God to bless Joseph.  He identified God as the God of Abraham and Isaac Who had blessed him all his life.  As followers of Christ, we need to let others know that the God that we follow is the One God of all time.  Verse sixteen says, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.  Israel asked that God continue to fulfill His promise through Ephraim and Manasseh.  We can be certain that God will continue to work through our children if they accept the blessing of salvation through Christ.  Verse seventeen declares,  And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.  Joseph attempted to change Israel's hand from Ephraim to Manasseh's head.  He was displeased with the order in which Israel we blessing them, since the birth order was wrong.  We cannot demand that God bless our children in a particular order.  Verse eighteen states, And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. Verse nineteen adds, And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.  Israel refused to change the order, because he said that the younger would become greater thane the older, much like with Esau and himself.  We cannot demand that God works in a particular order in the lives of our children.  Verse twenty states, And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.  Israel asked God to bless them both.  All we can ever do is to ask God's blessing on our children and that they come to Christ for salvation.  Verse twenty-one continues, And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.  Israel told Joseph that he would die, but that God would be with Joseph and bring him again to the land of his fathers.  Even if we die, God will bring us safely to our heavenly home.  Verse twenty-two concludes, Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.  Israel was still showing favoritism to Joseph.  We really should never do that with our children.

Genesis 48:1

Genesis 48:1 says, And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.  Joseph received word that his father was sick, so he took his sons to Jacob.  He may have just wanted his son's and himself to be able to say good-bye.  Still, I believe that God had more in mind, as He often does when we do certain things today.  Verse two states, And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. Someone also told Judah, or Israel, that Joseph was coming, and his strength was revived.  This is not unheard of today, where someone who is old and ill will revive when family comes around.  Verse three adds, And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,  We could say that Jacob was now sharing his personal testimony with Joseph.  Had Joseph not been sold into slavery, maybe Jacob would have done so before, but I have to wonder why Jacob had not done so before that.  As followers of Christ, we should tell our children about our coming to faith in Christ as soon as they are able to understand what it means and not wait until we are on our death bed.  Verse four continues, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.  Jacob, or Israel, continued to tell Joseph about God's promises.  God would make a great nation of Israel's descendants and it was an everlasting promise.  As followers of Christ, God makes us a part of His great nation and it is an everlasting promise.  Verse five states, And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.  Jacob basically said that Joseph's two sons would be considered just as much a part of God's promise as his own sons, even though they were born in Egypt.  As followers of Christ, we are all equal heirs with each other, no matter where we were born or who our parents are.  Verse six declares, And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.  Jacob was just once again stating that Joseph's sons would be a part of God's promise.  Of course, we cannot make our children a part of God's family.  We can only point them to Christ.  Verse seven adds, And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.  Israel told Joseph about the death of his mother.  Verse eight states, And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?  I believe that we would have to assume that Israel was having memory problems at this time, since he had just declared Joseph's sons to be a part of God's promise to him.  Verse nine concludes, And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.  Israel told Jacob to bring his sons to him and he would bless them.  We can only bring our children to Christ, and if they accept Him as their Savior and Lord, then God will bless them.

Genesis 47:21

Genesis 47:21 says, And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.  Joseph moved the people to the cities.  If the land was unproductive, there was no sense in having to go all over the country to feed them.  As followers of Christ, we need not remain in a place where we are spiritually desolate, but need to come to where God can offer us spiritual nourishment.  Verse twenty-two declares, Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.  The land of the priests was not bought, and Pharaoh gave them their portion of food.  There should always be a difference between what is dedicated to God's use and what is not, and we as Christians should always support those who are set apart doing God's work, such as preachers and missionaries.  The land of the priests was not productive, but God through Pharaoh provided for their needs.  Verse twenty-three declares, Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.  Joseph told the people that he had bought them and their land, but he was going to give them seed to sow.  This would be for when the draught was over.  He then told them that a fifth of what they harvested would belong to Pharaoh.  When we become a follower of Christ, I believe that God will bless us with enough to meet our needs, but everything we have really belongs to Him.  I believe that we should also set aside a portion of what God blesses us with to support those who are doing His work, again preachers, missionaries, and such.  Verse twenty-five states, And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.  The people told Joseph that he had saved their lives and that if they could find mercy in his sight that they would be Pharaoh's servants.  We, as followers of Christ, have found mercy with God and He has saved our lives spiritually, so we should likewise be willing to serve Him.  Verse twenty-six says, And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.  Joseph made it a law that a fifth of everything the people produced would go to Pharaoh, except for what the priests produced.  God has asked of His people a tenth of what they produce to be set aside for His work, and the reward is much greater.  Verse twenty-seven declares,  And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.  Israel and his family lived in the land of Goshen and grew and multiplied exceedingly.  This was what God had promised Abraham all those years ago.  God's promises will always come true, even if it is years after they are made.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.  Jacob lived long enough to see God's promise being fulfilled, but not long enough to return to the Promised Land.  We may not live long enough to see God's promises fulfilled in this lifetime, but we can rest assured that His promises will be fulfilled.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:  Before Jacob died, he had Joseph promise to not bury him in Egypt.  Verse thirty continues, But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.  Jacob wanted to be buried with his fathers, or ancestors.  Though I don't believe that it matters much where our final resting place is in this world, I believe that as followers of Christ we will ultimately be called out of this world to live with our brothers and sisters in Christ in His Promised Land.  Verse thirty-one states, And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.  Jacob wanted to be certain that Joseph would carry out his promise.  Though Joseph had the ability to fail to keep his promise, God never will fail to keep His.

Genesis 47:11

Genesis 47:11 says, And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.  Joseph gave his family land in Egypt.  Not only did Joseph give them land, but he gave them some of the best of the land as Pharaoh had instructed him to.  When we become followers of Christ, God gives us the best home, one that is everlasting, though it may be many years before we get there.  We can also be certain that what God gives us no one has the authority or power to take away.  Verse twelve states, And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.  Joseph provided bread for his family, according to their needs.  We are not told that he gave fine delicacies, but bread.  We are promised that God will give us our daily bread, but too often we think we need steak.  Verse thirteen proclaims, And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.  The famine was in its second year when Joseph's family arrived, and it continued to get worse.  Verse fourteen states, And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.  Joseph gathered all the money in the land and brought it to Pharaoh's house.  Money was of little value or use to the people when they were starving.  Without Christ as their Savior and Lord, people are spiritually starving today, but often they would rather continue to starve spiritually than to surrender everything to God.  We cannot allow the things of this world to become more important than our relationship with God.  Verse fifteen adds, And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.  When the people ran out of money, they came to Joseph and asked why they should just starve because they had no more money.  Verse sixteen states,  And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.  Joseph told the people if they ran out of money, then they could trade their cattle for the bread.  We are fortunate that we don't have to bargain with God for salvation, but like the people with Joseph then, we must not attempt to hang on to the things of this world feeling that they are more important than our relationship with God.  Verse seventeen says, And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.  Joseph provided for the people and their animals for a year.  Verse eighteen adds, When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:  The people came to Joseph the next year and said that all they had left was their land and themselves.  Eventually, if we are to become followers of Christ, we must acknowledge that all we can offer God of value is our self.  Verse nineteen continues, Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.  The people said they would give their land and themselves to Pharauh for bread.  I guess some would say that Joseph was being somewhat mercenary in his actions, but he was offering the people life instead of death.  There are people today who say that God demands too much when He wants them to give up everything and serve Him, but He offers them the only way to everlasting life.  Then, when a person accepts Christ as Savior and Lord, He promises to meet that person's needs forever.  Verse twenty declares, And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.  Pharaoh and not Joseph, eventually owned all the land.  Like Joseph with Pharaoh, we are simply representatives of God if we are followers of Christ and should never attempt to enrich ourselves because of our relationship with Him.

Genesis 47:1

Genesis 47:1 says, Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.  Though Joseph had invited his family to come to the safety of Egypt, Pharaoh was still in charge and Joseph needed Pharaoh's agreement, or blessing, for them to stay.  We can bring people to the safety of salvation, but God is still the Only One Who can grant them salvation.  Fortunately, God stands ready to forgive everyone who comes to Him by faith and grant them an everlasting home in heaven.  Verse two says, And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.  Joseph took five of his brothers with him to meet Pharaoh.  To continue the analogy with God, we must all come before Him for salvation and not just a part of our family.  Verse three declares, And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.  Pharaoh asked the brothers what their occupation was, and they said that they and their father were shepherds.  This was a lowly occupation to Pharaoh.  When we come to Christ, we can only come as lowly, unworthy sinners.  Verse four says, They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.  The brothers told Pharaoh why they had come.  There was a famine in Canaan, and then flocks would starve if they stayed there.  When someone comes to Christ, that person may be rich in the eyes of the world, but they are still in a spiritual famine and will die without hope without accepting Him as Savior and Lord.  Verse five declares,  And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:  Pharaoh asked Joseph if his father and brother had come to Joseph for help.  Then verse six adds, The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.  Pharaoh told Joseph that his brothers could live in the land of Goshen, and if he felt that any of them were qualified to put them in charge of his cattle as well.  I believe that this was so much more than what the brothers hoped for and deserved, and when we come to Christ, He gives us so much more than we deserve or could even hope for.  Just as with Joseph's brothers, God will also give us a purpose in his kingdom other than just sitting back and enjoying our salvation while awaiting Christ's return.  Verse seven states, And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.  Joseph brought his father before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed pharaoh, or more accurately asked God's blessing on Pharaoh.  Though Jacob stood before Pharaoh, who had all the earthly power, Jacob was God's representative in the world.  No matter how powerful a person may be in the world today, if we stand before them as followers of Christ, we need to ask God's blessing on them.  Verse eight asks, And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?  Jacob evidently appeared to be very old, so this would have been a common question.  Verse nine declares, Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.  Jacob referred to his life as a pilgrimage, and said that he had not been on his pilgrimage as long as his fathers, or ancestors, had lived on their pilgrimage.  We, as followers of Christ, are on a pilgrimage in this life, as is anyone else who is a follower of Christ.  Jacob said his pilgrimage had been full of evil days.  We may look at the world today as a place filled with evil, but we must continue on our pilgrimage with Christ.  Verse ten adds, And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.  Once again, Jacob blessed Pharaoh, then he left Pharaoh's presence.  Since this blessing would really be from God, it was up to Pharaoh what he would do with the blessing.  Likewise, we can bring people to the blessing of God's salvation, but it is up to them what they will do with it.