Grace observes not the order of nature, nor doth God prefer those whom we think fittest to be preferred but as it pleaseth him. And he often gives most to those that are least likely: he chuseth the weak things of the world, raiseth the poor out of the dust. God, in bestowing his blessings upon his people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts, graces and comforts, and more of the good things of this life. The tribe of Manasseh was divided, one half on one side Jordan, the other half on the other side, which made it the less powerful and considerable. This displeasedJoseph, who was willing to support the reputation of his first - born and would therefore have removed his father's hands, Genesis 48:17 ,18, but Jacob gave him to understand that he knew what he did, and that he did it neither by mistake nor in a humour, nor from a partial affection to one more than the other, but from a spirit of prophecy.Įphraim shall he greater - When the tribes were mustered in the wilderness Ephraim was more numerous than Manasseh, and had the standard of that squadron, Numbers 1:32 ,33,35 - 2:18,20, and is named first, Psalms 80:2. Joseph had placed his children so, as that Jacob's right - hand should be put on the head of Manasseh the eldest, Genesis 48:12 ,13, but Jacob would put it on the head of Ephraim the youngest, Genesis 48:14. It becomes the servants of God, when they are old and dying, to witness for our God that they have found him gracious. Christ, the angel of the covenant is he that redeems us from all evil. The angel who redeemed me from all evil - A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God had graciously kept him from the evil of his troubles. He that has fed us all our life long will not fail us at last. Our bodies have called for daily food, and we have never wanted food convenient. The God who fed me all my life long unto this day - As long as we have lived in this world we have had continual experience of God's goodness to us in providing for the support of our natural life. Jacob saith here, God hath shewed me thy seed - Our comforts are then doubly sweet to us, when we see them coming from God's hand.
Joseph saith, They are my sons whom God has given me - And to magnify the favour he adds, in this place of my banishment, slavery and imprisonment.
I had not thought to see thy face, (having many years given him up for lost) and lo God hath shewed me also thy seed? - See here, How these two good men own God in their comforts. Strong affections in the enjoyment cause long afflictions in the loss. The removal of dear relations from us is an affliction, the remembrance of which cannot but abide with us a great while. Mention is made of the death and burial of Rachel, Joseph's mother, and Jacob's best beloved wife. See how he blessed them by faith in that which God had said to him Hebrews 11:21. And Joseph's sons, pursuant hereunto, should each of them multiply into a tribe, and each of them have a distinct lot in Canaan, equal with Jacob's own sons. God had promised him two things, a numerous issue, and Canaan for an inheritance. God blessed me - And let that blessing be entailed upon them. He leaves a particular legacy to Joseph, ver.He explains and justifies the crossing of his hands in blessing them, ver.Jacob solemnly adopts his two sons, and takes them for his own, ver.
Joseph hearing of his father's sickness goes to visit him, and takes his two sons with him, ver.
God's gifts and graces shine forth much more in some than in others upon their death - beds. In this chapter Jacob's dying words are recorded, because he speaks by a spirit of prophecy Abraham's and Isaac's are not.
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