365 Reflections

It is clear Jacob knew where he wanted to be after his life on Earth had ended. He blesses his sons in Genesis 50 and then very descriptively tells them where his bones are to be buried. Genesis 49:29–33 (ESV)   Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people. Notice how his view is to be gathered to those who had gone before him. He wanted to be in the only piece...

In Genesis 49, Jacob shares his last blessing with his youngest son Benjamin. The son born to him at his wife's death at his old age. Here's what he says about Benjamin's tribe: Genesis 49:27 (ESV)   “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey and at evening dividing the spoil.” The tribe of Benjamin's blessing is odd in comparison to the character trait Benjamin the boy possessed in the Genesis narrative. In fact, all we've seen of Benjamin is passivity throughout the entire drama that has played out between his maternal brother (Joseph) and paternal brothers (10) of jealousy and rage. Benjamin hasn't even said a word. But Jacob's blessing is going to play out in Benjamin's tribe in surprising accuracy. The tribe of Benjamin does become ravenous and wild. The accounts of the book of Judges reveal a hedonism and disregard for human life that would shock any society (see Judges 19). Benjamin would produce the arrogant and p...

In Genesis 49, the Patriarch Jacob pronounces his final "blessings" on his sons who would form the 12 tribes of Israel. He begins with the oldest four: Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah. What is quite notable in this chapter of fatherly blessing is the LACK of blessing anyone receives until Judah is mentioned. Look at it: Genesis 49:3–7 (ESV) “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. 4 Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch! 5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. 6 Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. Jacob...

The job of the church is to pass down our hope from one generation to the other. We see Jacob do that right before he dies for his succeeding generation. Spurgeon notes there are four places where Jacob speaks of God being with him throughout his story in the book of Genesis. “I am with you” (Gen. 28:15). This was the first promise of God's presence while fleeing from Esau. He had just robbed his father and scorned his brother. God appears and promises to be with this boy who has really nothing good about him other than God's Word. The text tells us he was alone. He had been raised in a wealthy home with a loving mother who looked out for him constantly. He had been surrounded by servants and cattle and family all his life. Now he ends up in the desert laying his head upon a rock because he literally has nothing. Yet in the most deserted moment of his life God shows up and promises His presence. “I will be with you” (Gen. 31:3). The second word of God's presence ...

The time for Jacob's departure is approaching in Genesis 48. He has one last thing to make sure he communicates before he departs this life. So he calls for his son Joseph, adopts his sons out of Egyptian life and into the Covenant family and then blesses them in the strangest way: Genesis 48:14 (ESV) 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). Genesis 48:17–19 (ESV) 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 grea...

Are you worried about where your life is headed? Do you tend to freak out thinking the wrong people are in power over you? Do you think someone may be hindering your purpose and destiny in Christ? Stop. It's just not true. You have to read the scriptures to understand no human hand can stop God's plan. Jacob and his family of 66 are arrived in Egypt in Genesis 47. The 7 year famine is in year 7 and things are bleak. The nation is starving, the people are selling everything for grain - their fields, their homes, eventually even themselves. It's hard times for everyone. On top of this, the chosen family is on foreign soil. They are strangers at a strange time in a strange land. You don't want to be someone's guest when they have nothing good going for them. You feel like more of an intruder than normal. Yet right in the middle of this horrendous period of Egypt's history, Jacob's family is possessing property, growing, multiplying and increasing! Loo...

Genesis 47:7–11 (ESV) Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers 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. If we interpret this passage in light of how Hebrews interprets the Patriarchal blessings, it teaches us a lot about how to live in a world dominated by glitz, fame, celebrity and power.  Jacob - the wandering shepherd and Patriarch of the faith, the father of a rag tag family largely...

I love this little moment in Joseph's life with his father. He has brought him to this foreign land. Jacob probably apprehensive about what to expect does not realize that his own occupation could get him in a bit of trouble with Egyptians. So Joseph does what Christ does for us. He intercedes on his family's behalf. Genesis 46:31–34 (ESV) Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” ...

Genesis 46:1–4 (ESV) So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” I think we fail to realize how big of a moment this is for Jacob. Remember, he has lived most of his life in the land of Canaan; he's comfortable and settled. He's old, he's not ready for a huge transition. He has just learned his son is alive and in charge of the operations of the world's foremost superpower in Egypt. He has to uproot his existence and live there. What a radical change to handle in one's old age. On top of this, Egypt is severely pagan with...

Genesis 45:24 (ESV) Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.” This last command of Joseph concerning his brother's travels back to get their father and come with him to Egypt has a twinge of humor. He knows these guys. He understands they have been liars and deceivers for years. He knows they tend to look out for number one. So before they leave to go get dad one little admonishment is tossed out there: "Don't fight on your way back to dad." Joseph knows they are going to have to come clean to dad. They are going to have to confess that the robe they dipped in blood out of jealousy was their doing. They are going to have to let him know that his preference for Joseph irritated them to no end. It's going to be tempting for them to go back to dad and start making excuses. Reuben would be able to tell how he wanted to save the boy. Judah will try to tell him how he stopped them from killing him and ins...

In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and immediately sheds his love upon them in full measure. Then after than, he adorns them with gifts and promises - the best of the land. Notice how Pharaoh instructs Joseph to speak to his family: Genesis 45:17–20 (ESV) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ” I think about how Joseph was so adored by his boss (Pharaoh) that he would be instructed by him to give his family all these things! Pharaoh wants those Joseph knows and loves to be blessed and well care...