July 22 – Genesis 49:1-16

July 22 – Genesis 49:1-16

Click on link to listen to content of this post:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whengodwhispers/episodes/July-22--Genesis-491-16-e278fv7

Heavenly Father, I wonder today why sometimes we still treat different children differently because they are the oldest or a son.  I also struggle to understand why we can’t treat everyone as family because we are all related as children of Adam.  I know for many people the saying “blood is thicker than water” is a real truth for them, but truly, in my mind, the only blood that matters is the blood of YOUR Son, Jesus, who shed His blood for us.  For me.  So, I could become Your child.  So, I could inherit Your kingdom.  Help me see others as Your children as well and realize that You love them just as much as You love me, no matter how they act, or how loving or kind they might be, or might not be, You love them just as much as You love me.  Help me with this Father, because it isn’t something that is easy for me. 

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!



Blessings of the sons was a very important thing in the culture of Israel.  Why do you think he blessed Joseph’s sons in this way?

 Can you think of families who treat the oldest or any grandchildren in a similar fashion?  I thought of royal families and how the oldest had significance and responsibility. 

Are there families in normal society that treat the oldest differently still today?  Why or why not?



Genesis 49:1-16

After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 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.’ 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. And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 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).”

When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 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.”


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Welcome to "When God Whispers"

July 16 – Genesis 45:21-28

July 20 –Genesis 47:13-22