April 12

GENESIS 48

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 multitudein the midst of the earth.” – Genesis 48:10-16

GENESIS 48 JACOB BLESSES JOSEPH & HIS SONS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph presented his sons to his father’s deathbed

Jacob’s eyesight was already going and he can’t see them

So, Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim nearer his father

Jacob took them both and placed his right hand on Ephraim

His left hand he placed on Manasseh even though he was the firstborn

Then he blessed Joseph and the boys so that his name will be carried on.

On his deathbed, Joseph and his sons Manasseh and Ephraim gathered to pay homage to their beloved father and grandfather. Here, Jacob mentions how his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, had that covenant promise from God himself to their family. At this time, he thanked the Lord for allowing him to see Joseph again and also his sons in Egypt. Prior to these verses, we hear Jacob adopting these grandchildren to be like his own two sons. He passed on to them the same blessings he gave all his sons. Jacob wanted these two grandsons to have hierarchy in receiving God’s promise to his offspring.

REFLECTION

• Why do you think Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim and not Manasseh?

April 11

GENESIS 48

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).”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.” – Genesis 48:1-9

GENESIS 48 JACOB ADOPTS EPHRAIM & MANASSEH

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

It was seventeen years when Jacob moved to Egypt to see Joseph

This was almost the same number of years when he was sold at Egpyt

Jacob told Joseph of his meeting with the Lord Almighty at Luz in Canaan

God reiterated his plan to make them fruitful and to make them multiply

Jacob claimed Joseph’s two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons

Just like Reuben and Simeon were, then Joseph can have his own after these two.

At this point of Joseph’s story, we are getting ready for the death of Jacob. After hearing of his father’s illness, Joseph brought his two sons with him to see their grandfather. God has allowed Joseph and Jacob to reunite in those seventeen years that Joseph moved Jacob to Goshen in Egypt so he could see his father whenever he could.

REFLECTION

• Why did Jacob adopt Joseph’s sons before he died?

April 6

GENESIS 46

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.”⁵ Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶ They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, ⁷ his sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his sons’ daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt. – Genesis 46:1-7

GENESIS 46 GOD APPEASES ISRAEL TO GO DOWN TO EGYPT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After knowing that his favorite son Joseph was still alive

Israel took the journey even though he had trepidations

On his way, the Lord God spoke to him in visions of the night

God confirmed to Israel that he need not fear to go to Egypt.

God was with him all the way to see his son who was waiting for him

So went on his journey knowing that he’ll see his son before he dies

All his sons and daughters and all their entire household are to come too

They will all be provided for in Egypt and survive the famine in the land.

Israel must have been over a hundred years old by the time Joseph was sending him to go to Egypt. It is understandable to have apprehensions to travel that far with the entire family with them at that age. He doesn’t know what was going to happen if he did leave Canaan. But the Lord knows his fears and he was appeased in a vision by God himself and he was told that it was alright for him to go and die there in Joseph’s presence.

We are humans and it’s okay to fear at times but for God’s people, he always makes a way to comfort and appease us with the truth.

REFLECTION

• When has God appeased you when you start to worry or fear about something?

April 5

GENESIS 45

¹⁶ When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. ¹⁷ 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 foryour goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”²¹ The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. ²² To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. ²³ To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. ²⁴ Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way.”²⁵ So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. ²⁶ And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. ²⁷ But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. ²⁸ And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”   – Genesis 45:16-28

GENESIS 45 ISRAEL’S JOY TO LEARN JOSEPH IS ALIVE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

After Pharaoh and his household learned about Joseph’s family

He generously provided for the brothers to go back and get their father

All of Egypt is under Joseph’s disposal and can have all his family back

Israel was overjoyed to know his favorite son is still alive.

After all those years of suffering and grief over Joseph’s absence has now ended. God has used all the sins of Israel’s sons to Joseph to turn it into blessings. He used it for good so that Joseph can be the link for them to see God’s blessings poured on Israel’s family.

REFLECTION

• How can the story of Israel’s family bring hope to all sinners on earth?

April 4

GENESIS 45

¹⁰ You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ ¹² And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” ¹⁴ Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him. – Genesis 45:10-15

GENESIS 45 JOSEPH’S PROVIDENCE FOR HIS FAMILY

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers

They were speechless from panic and surprise

Then Joseph laid down his plans for all of them

God placed him in authority so they can survive the famine.

It is to Goshen where their father and all their children will dwell

Joseph wanted them to be near him so he can look after them all

He needed to warrant that they have enough for the next years of famine

Then Joseph kissed all his brothers and their fears were all swept away.

I am curious as to what these evil brothers of Joseph were thinking now that Joseph is a powerful ruler in Egypt. It must have crossed their minds how they were going to explain to their father and confess the truth about their lies about Joseph’s death and how it would impact their relationship with him for the remaining years of his life. They must have panicked and feared what Joseph might do to them, but Joseph’s weeping and telling them his plan to bring them all in Goshen so they can be provided for all the next five years of famine must have comforted them and given them peace. Now they can speak freely and know that Joseph has truly forgiven them and that he is still their younger brother. Joseph’s generosity and providence come from God’s grace.

REFLECTION

• What does 1 Timothy 5:6 say about taking care of your own family?

April 3

GENESIS 45

⁶ For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. ⁸ So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ⁹ Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. 

                                                             – Genesis 45:6-9

GENESIS 45 JOSEPH EXPLAINS GOD’S PLAN

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verse

When Joseph revealed about his true identity to his siblings

He explained to them the famine that had been in the land

God gave Joseph wisdom to interpret Pharaoh’s dream

Which also landed him that position to save the land.

In those years of famine, God wanted to preserve remnants

It was through Joseph that many will be kept alive and survive

Joseph explained God’s plan to his brothers and told them to hurry

He commanded them to get their father Joseph quickly down to Egypt.

In this account, we clearly see God’s wisdom through Joseph. If God wasn’t with him, he would not be able to discern the famine and how to go about preserving God’s people. It was in Jacob’s descendants that God promised a Messiah to save the world. It was through Joseph that he preserved the twelve tribes of Jacob, who is also called Israel. Who would have thought of that brilliant plan if it didn’t come from God? God prepared Joseph for this big task of managing the resources of Egypt all those seven years of plenty so that when the seven years of famine came, it would sustain those remnants of Israel.

It must have left the brothers dumbfounded. This younger brother of theirs knew God’s plan. This brother whom they mocked and plotted to kill is the one saving their lives and has all the authority over them now. What a twist of circumstances.

REFLECTION

• As Christians, do we know God’s plan for our lives? What is his plan for you?