Don't Count Out the Elderly - The Eternal Lord Can Use Them Well

The Risen Word

(Genesis 48:1-22, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 18, 2015)

[48:1] After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. [2] And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. [3] And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, [4] and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ [5] And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. [6] And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. [7] As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

(1-7) Jacob reminded Joseph of the Lord's former blessings and the land of Canaan

Jacob was “ill.” His son Joseph came to him. Jacob “summoned his strength” in order to say what needed to be said before he went to be with his fathers. Jacob spoke of “God Almighty” and the “land of Canaan.” Any words of blessing that Jacob passed on to his descendants were to be understood in light of the blessings that he and his fathers had received from the Lord.

God had promised to make Jacob not just a numerous people, but a “company of peoples.” Israel would be given Canaan “as an everlasting possession.” For now, Jacob would have an important message for Ephraim and Manasseh. They would be treated as Jacob's sons—full tribes before God, meaning that Joseph would have the double portion of the favored son.

Jacob also spoke of his sorrow at the loss of Rachel so many years ago. Now he would soon join his beloved wife beyond the veil that separates this life from the next.

[8] When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” [9] Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” [10] Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. [11] And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” [12] Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. [13] 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 him. [14] And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). [15] And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
[16] the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
[17] When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. [18] And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” [19] But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” [20] So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. [21] Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. [22] Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

(8-22) In view of the mercies of God, Jacob also spoke words of blessing concerning events that would be fulfilled many centuries in the future.

Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh with a firm grasp on the promises of God. The Lord had a plan for Israel under the sun, but His plans went beyond this perishing world. This great man who was ill, still grieving, nearly blind, and easily mistaken as making the mistakes that come from old age, brought a word of surprising blessing as an authoritative spokesman of the Lord's covenant.

Jacob was grateful. He had never expected to see Joseph again, but now he was blessing his grandsons. Joseph “bowed himself with his face to the earth.” He knew that this great gift had come to him from the Almighty. His God was the God of his fathers. They had “walked” before the Lord in the land of the living. This same Lord had been Jacob's Shepherd throughout a long and difficult life. God had “redeemed” him “from all evil.” Now he spoke of this blessing coming to Joseph's sons.

The surprise was that Jacob placed Ephraim before Manasseh, the firstborn. As in Jacob's case, the last would be first. Both boys would have many descendants, but in the centuries to come, the northern tribes in Israel would be especially known by the name “Ephraim.” The Lord used the words of this broken old man of faith (don't count out the elderly) to speak of important facts that would not be fulfilled for many centuries. Ephraim would be a “multitude of nations.”

Joseph struggled with his aging father over the preeminence being given to the younger son. He presumed that the old man was mistaken. Jacob fought back. “His father refused.” He knew what he was doing. Joseph was to have two portions of the inheritance where his brothers would only have one, and Ephraim would be more numerous than his older brother. Centuries in the future, the Assyrian Empire would send thousands from Ephraim out to other nations. The word of God had come from Jacob, a feeble man who would soon be gone. The plan of God would overrule much evil and weakness. The wisdom and power of God would prevail over all.

In his day, old Jacob was the leader of God's people. There were other great men who came before he was born, and still others would come after him, but eventually the final Mediator between God and man would be revealed. Jesus does not need to be replaced as the supreme leader of the church. Our final Prophet, Priest, and King lives forever. His mind is not too feeble and His hand is not too weak. His message is unstoppable. He is the risen Word.

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 150:1c – Praise him in his mighty heavens!

Gospel Reading—Matthew 26:26-29 – Institution of the Lord's Supper