BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22

Summary of Genesis 48:15-22:

Jacob/Israel blesses Joseph. Joseph tried to move his father’s hands, being displeased that Jacob had switched the order. Jacob refused, saying Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh. Jacob told Joseph that God would be with him, take him back to his fathers, and he gives him the ridge of land he took from the Amorites.

BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22

13a) God is the God of Abraham and Isaac, has been his shepherd, and now may the boys be called by the names of Abraham and Isaac, too.

b) God has led him his entire life. To find his wife, Rachel, and now back to Joseph.

14) Jacob knows more than Joseph and he tells him so.

15) He used COVID-19 to move us so we can start a new life.

16) God would be with him, take him back to his fathers, and he gives him the ridge of land he took from the Amorites. Jacob believed God enough to switch the blessing and tell Joseph he would be taken back to Canaan too when he died.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22

Cruised through this lesson till I got here. This one is most definitely difficult to interpret because it involves God’s ways and not ours.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22

By Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons, he is blessing Joseph as well. Ephraim would be the greater tribe and that name was even used occasionally to refer to all of the northern portion of Israel.Isaiah 7:8, 7:17, and 11:13).

Fun Fact: We see the first time God as a shepherd is used in the Bible.

We see here that firstborn is more meaning first in position rather than a direct connection. For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9).

David was the youngest son as well. (1 Samuel 16:11 and Psalm 89:27).

Jesus was firstborn, but he was not created. (Colossians 1:15),

We see the last of the three patriarchs dying.

Joseph is now one portion above his brothers since his two sons each got a portion. On maps of the 12 tribes of Jacob, you will see that Joseph’s name has been left out, replaced by his two sons.

This Amorite land is not recorded in Scripture as being taken. Joseph’s descendants will see this land.

Spurgeon called Joseph the best picture of Jesus in the Bible. Indeed, there are many similarities. The highlights are here:

• Both were hated and rejected
• Both were condemned
• Both were sold
• Both were falsely accused
• Both were betrayed
• Both were given a Gentile bride
• Both began their life’s work at the age of 30
• Both blessed the world
• Both saved the world

The firstborn normally receives the priesthood, the kingship, and the double inheritance. Here, Jacob’s 11th son, Joseph, receives the double inheritance. His 4th son, Judah, receives the kingship via the Messiah, and Levi, his 3rd son, gets the priesthood.

Jacob led a blessed life, indeed. He embraces his stages in life and made the most of them.