Joseph || Jacob’s Family Tree || Week 7

Welcome back to yet another week of “Jacob’s Family Tree.” We’ve talked about the different blessings Jacob gave to his children for the past six weeks. This week, we cover the favored child. We’re talking about the one who received a coat of many colors. That’s right! We talk about Joseph…and his two sons as well. Before we get into how that works, let’s dive into the blessing. It’s found in Genesis 49:22-26 and says this:

22 “Joseph is like a grapevine that produces much fruit. He is like a healthy vine watered by a spring. He is like a vine whose branches grow over the wall.

23 Men attack him violently with arrows. They shoot at him angrily.

24 But he aims his bow well. His arms are made strong. He gets his power from the Mighty God of Jacob. He gets his strength from the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

25 Your father’s God helps you. God All-Powerful blesses you. He blesses you with rain from above. He blesses you with water from springs below. He blesses you with many babies born to your wives. He blesses you with many young ones born to your animals.

26 The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains. They are greater than the good things of the long-lasting hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph. May they rest on the forehead of the one who was separated from his brothers.

You’ve heard the blessing. Now let’s talk about it.

Joseph’s Sons Receive the Blessing

I mentioned earlier that Joseph’s sons received part of the blessing. We must go back to Genesis to see what this means. Let’s read Genesis 48:15-20:

15 And Israel blessed Joseph and said, “My ancestors Abraham and Isaac served our God. And like a shepherd God has led me all my life.

16 He was the Angel who saved me from all my troubles. Now I pray that he will bless these boys. May my name be known through these boys. And may the names of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac be known through them. May they have many descendants on the earth.”

17 Joseph saw that his father put his right hand on Ephraim’s head. Joseph didn’t like it. So he took hold of his father’s hand. He wanted to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 

18 Joseph said to his father, “You are doing it wrong, Father. Manasseh is the firstborn son. Put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. Manasseh will be great and have many descendants. But his younger brother will be greater. And his descendants will be enough to make a nation. 

20 So Israel blessed them that day. He said, “When a blessing is given in Israel, they will say: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'” In this way he made Ephraim greater than Manasseh.

Joseph saw an issue with his father’s blessing over his kids. Manasseh was the oldest kid and therefore was supposed to receive the birthright blessing. Still, instead, Jacob gave it to Ephraim. Jacob believed that Ephraim would be more significant, and many nations would come into it…and it came true. Ephraim became the dominant tribe of the 10 northern tribes, eventually being used as the national designate for the 10 tribes in the prophets. Some examples of these future tribesmen for both sons: Samuel came from Ephraim, and Gideon came from Manasseh.

Name-Calling God

No other tribe had such a direct reference to God in their blessing. The four names referred to here:

· “Mighty One of Jacob” – Verse 24

· “The Shepherd” – Verse 24

· “The Stone of Israel” – Verse 24

· “The Almighty” – Verse 25

The four names for God well reflect Joseph’s emphasis on the sovereignty of his God, no matter the misfortune and grief that attended his way. No matter what Joseph had gone through in his life, he still knew that God was for him and with them through all the trials and tribulations Joseph went through. He knew of God’s power, leadership, and strength and will still know God will be with him and his children.

This was a shorter lesson, but we were able to talk more about the complexity of Joseph’s blessing and how it connects to Joseph’s own sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Next week, we wrap up this series by discussing Benjamin’s blessing. We’ll see you then! Stay blessed!