Gen 48:16 | KingComments | STEP | When Joseph brings his sons to his father, his father asks who they are. The answer is the same as the answer Jacob once gave to Esau ( ). Although Jacob cannot see the sons of Joseph, his grandsons, he embraces them. He loves them, as a grandfather loves his grandchildren. They are his crown ( ). He acknowledges God’s goodness that he was able to see not only Joseph, but also his children, while he thought Joseph was dead for so long. He says that God has blessed him abundantly. “By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph” ( ). It has been said that Jacob has never walked as powerfully as here where he is sick in bed, and has never seen as clearly as here while his eyes have become weak. It is possible that when blessing the youngest before the eldest he thought of the deceit he committed as the youngest to get the blessing of the eldest ( ). Jacob also blesses Joseph himself in Joseph’s sons ( ), confessing God as his Shepherd. He knows that God has led him, even though he has not thought of Him so often. He knows that God has saved him from all need (cf. ), in which he has ended up through his own fault. In the blessing which Jacob pronounces, he uses three designations for God: 1. First he speaks of “the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked”. With this he indicates that he knows God as the God of the covenant. 2. He then speaks of “the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day”. In this he indicates that God took care of him all his life and has never let him be wanting for anything. 3. Finally, he calls God “the angel who has redeemed me from all evil”. Jacob is also aware of God’s protection and deliverance from all the tribulation he has experienced. With these three special names for God he prays for God’s gracious blessing for both boys.

‏ Genesis 48:16

Jacob Blesses Joseph and His Sons

When Joseph brings his sons to his father, his father asks who they are. The answer is the same as the answer Jacob once gave to Esau (Gen 33:5). Although Jacob cannot see the sons of Joseph, his grandsons, he embraces them. He loves them, as a grandfather loves his grandchildren. They are his crown (Pro 17:6a). He acknowledges God’s goodness that he was able to see not only Joseph, but also his children, while he thought Joseph was dead for so long. He says that God has blessed him abundantly.

“By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph” (Heb 11:21). It has been said that Jacob has never walked as powerfully as here where he is sick in bed, and has never seen as clearly as here while his eyes have become weak. It is possible that when blessing the youngest before the eldest he thought of the deceit he committed as the youngest to get the blessing of the eldest (Gen 27:19).

Jacob also blesses Joseph himself in Joseph’s sons (Gen 48:15), confessing God as his Shepherd. He knows that God has led him, even though he has not thought of Him so often. He knows that God has saved him from all need (cf. 2Tim 4:18), in which he has ended up through his own fault.

In the blessing which Jacob pronounces, he uses three designations for God:

1. First he speaks of “the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked”. With this he indicates that he knows God as the God of the covenant.

2. He then speaks of “the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day”. In this he indicates that God took care of him all his life and has never let him be wanting for anything.

3. Finally, he calls God “the angel who has redeemed me from all evil”. Jacob is also aware of God’s protection and deliverance from all the tribulation he has experienced.

With these three special names for God he prays for God’s gracious blessing for both boys.