Rewarded For His Suffering

People seldom think about how their conflicts affect other people.  Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers had a tremendous impact on the entire family, and on Egypt.  Jacob and the family got to spend seventeen years together as we see in Genesis 47:27-28.  “And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.  And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.”

 As a result, Jacob got to spend time with Joseph, especially after Jacob became sick, in Genesis 48:1-7.  “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.  And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.  And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,  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.  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.  And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. 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.”

Because he got to spend a little time with his father just before he died. Joseph would find it far easier to recover from his grief.  They spent time talking about the past, especially about the death of Joseph’s mother, but Jacob also made it clear as to how he felt about Joseph’s sons.  They were to be treated as equal to Jacob’s sons when it came time for the inheritance, while any future children would be treated just like all the other grandchildren.  This would effectively give Joseph’s descendants twice as much as any of the other brothers, in effect making thirteen tribes of Israel.  However, the tribe of Levi would receive no country of their own.  Thus other countries would only deal with the other twelve tribes. 

Jacob was nearly blind and did not immediately recognize Joseph’s sons when he saw them.  Since he was claiming them as his own sons. Jacob would give them a prophetic blessing just as he would later do for his other sons.  In an effort to make it easy for Jacob, Joseph carefully placed the boys so that the eldest, Ephraim would be on Jacob’s left and Manasseh on the right, as Genesis 48:8-13 tells us.  “And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

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.  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.

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.  And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.  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.

Jacob deliberately crossed his hands placing his right on Ephraim’s head while he blessed Joseph, in Genesis 48:14-16.  “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.  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, 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.”

Tradition always placed the eldest on the right as the first son and primary heir.   Joseph was upset that Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim, Jacob explained he was acting at God’s direction, in Genesis 48:17-20.  “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.  And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

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.  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.”

Many times we make the same mistake Joseph made thinking a certain person would make a great preacher or leader because of certain earthly characteristics that seem to qualify them. while God chooses someone who seems less qualified to do the job.   We forget God is all powerful and doesn’t need human abilities or power to accomplish his purpose.  He only gets the glory when it is apparent he was the one who made it happen. 

Jacob finished with a bit of encouragement, and a reminder that Joseph would have a special place in Israel, in Genesis 48:21-22.  “And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.  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.”  It was a reward for the suffering he had experienced.