Genesis 48:8-22

⁸ Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and 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.”

¹⁰ The eyes of Israel had grown dim with age, so that he could not see well. 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 see, 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 ground.

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 stood 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 (because 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 these 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 huge number in the midst of the earth.”

¹⁷ When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it upset him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

¹⁸ And Joseph said to his father, “Not like this, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.”

¹⁹ But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be numerous. But his younger brother will become more numerous than he, and his family will become a number of nations.”

²⁰ So he blessed them that day, saying, “Because of you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and as Manasseh.'”In this way he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph, “See, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.

²² Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I personally took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” _______________________

passing on a spiritual legacy

Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, giving the greater blessing to Ephraim, and he also

bequeaths a mountain slope in the promised land to Joseph’s tribes. Jacob was able to

see beyond his own death to the lasting spiritual legacy he would leave.

There is something wonderful and surreal about looking into the eyes of your grandchildren. They are so full of hope and joy and potential. Jacob saw that in these two boys. He also saw beyond their present situation, living in and depending on Egypt. Jacob passed on the spiritual title deed to a piece of land that only the descendants of these boys would see. But he was able to see beyond his own limitations, and perceive the legacy that he could impart.

That legacy was more than simply a parcel of land. He told them about the God of his fathers who was his God as well, shepherding him all his life, and redeeming him from evil. It was his relationship with the LORD that he sought to pass on to his grandchildren. That is an inheritance of great value.

LORD, grant it for us to leave a spiritual legacy among our children and others we influence.