#018 Genesis 48-50

Day 18 of the podcast, reading Genesis 48-50 NET, read along at: https://netbible.org/bible/Genesis+48-50/ This is day 18 of our journey. Today we finish the book of Genesis! The first book of the Bible closes with Jacob's final words of blessing on his sons. First, he specifically blesses Joseph and establishes that Joseph's sons have equal status with his own sons, thus granting Joseph a double portion of the inheritance. Then, Jacob speaks a blessing on all 12 of his sons. Each blessing is specific to the son and tells something about his character AND about the future place of their tribe within the nation of Israel. Most prominently, he grants to Judah, his 4th son, the crown and a prophecy of a permanent kingship over the entire world. As we read these blessings, think back on what you know about these sons and the things they have done. In the last chapter, Jacob dies and is taken home to be buried with Abraham & Isaac. Then, Joseph speaks a blessing on his brothers, granting them full pardon for the evil they enacted upon him, pointing to God's complete sovereignty! Join me in Genesis 48-50 as we see a picture of God's grace within the final blessings of Jacob and Joseph. Key verses: Genesis 48:20 So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you will Israel bless, saying,‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”So he put Ephraim before Manasseh. Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him. Genesis 49:28 These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each of them an appropriate blessing. Genesis 50:19-20 But Joseph answered them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day. All Scriptures are from the NET.