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Genesis 48b:

Reading #156  The twelve tribes

Jacob continued with his speech to Joseph . . .

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Genesis 48:

5 “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; as [in place of] Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine [they are going to be counted as my inheritors].”

6 “And your issue [children], which you beget after them [who are born in the future], shall be yours, and [yet] shall be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance [they will become part of the two new tribes].”

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Another important matter demanded attention before Jacob’s death.  Under the direction of the Spirit the sons of Joseph were to be adopted by their grandfather.

Joseph, coming for a last interview with his father, had brought with him his two boys, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were in their mid-twenties. These youths were connected, through their mother, with the highest order of the Egyptian priesthood.  Genesis 41:45.  The position of their father in Egypt also opened to them many avenues to wealth and distinction, should they choose to connect themselves with the Egyptians.  It was Joseph's desire, however, that they should unite with their own people. To this purpose, he made public his faith in the covenant promise (Genesis 12:1-3), on behalf of his sons renouncing all the honours that the court of Egypt offered, for a place among the despised shepherd tribes, to whom had been entrusted the writings of God.  As Moses two centuries later followed His heavenly Father’s desire, the young men accepted their earthly father’s wish and chose a family system instead of a political one, a fifth generation success.  See Hebrews 11:24-25.

Said Jacob, "Your two sons . . . shall be mine." They were to be adopted as his own, and to become the heads of separate tribes. Thus one of the birthright privileges, which Reuben had forfeited, was to fall to Joseph - a double portion in Israel.  Ephraim and Manasseh would take the leading positions of Reuben and Simeon in the twelve tribe association as heads of tribes in place of Joseph.  (The tribe of Levi dropped out later when they became the priesthood but for a time there were thirteen tribes.)  Any other children Joseph might have, and Joseph himself, would henceforth belong to one of these new tribes.  Thus we see again that the birthright is NOT necessarily passed on by the blood line.  This is because it is a spiritual affair based on faith and must be accepted by spiritual people forming a spiritual family.

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Romans 4:

13 For the promise, that he should be THE HEIR OF THE WORLD, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law [of a bloodline], but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they [only] which are of the law be heirs [his physical descendants], faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect: 15 because the law works wrath [its job is to show condemnation]: for where no law is, there is no [knowledge of] transgression. 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to ALL the seed [of Christ];

not to that ONLY which is of the law [blood relations are not excluded],

but to that ALSO which is of the faith of Abraham [but faith is the criteria];

who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, “I have made you a father [to the people] of many nations [all those who become Christians],”) before [in the eyes of] Him whom he believed, even God, who quickens [resurrects] the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.

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This changeover meant that Ephraim and Manasseh then moved into the land of Goshen and married Hebrew women, and Judah gave up his place as “firstborn” in favour of Ephraim.  Thus we see that, like sand in the desert, the tribal positions were constantly changing, yet looking the same to the casual observer.

Then Jacob continued by referring to Joseph’s mother, she who had been the highlight of his life. 

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Genesis 48:

7 “And as for me, when I came from Padan [more than 50 years before], Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.” [See Genesis 35:19.  Yet Jacob was to be buried with Leah.  Genesis 49:31.]

8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons [in the background], and said, “Who are these?” 9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”  And he said, “Bring them, I pray you, to me, and I will bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see [clearly, for he was near-sighted]. And he [Joseph] brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face [ever again]: and, lo, God has showed me also your seed [Rachel’s grandchildren].”

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Jacob had not at first been aware of the presence of the young men; but now, catching the outline of their forms, he said, "Who are these?" On being told, he added, "Bring them . . .  and I will bless them."  As they came nearer and knelt before him, the patriarch embraced and kissed them, then solemnly stretched out his hands towards the heads of his grandsons in benediction as was the custom.

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Genesis 48:

12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees [from behind him], and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim [the younger] in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh [the older] in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near to him.

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This was a very important moment in front of all the assembled people of Jacob’s family.

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Genesis 48:

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly [crossing them over deliberately]; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed [addressed] Joseph [not the boys], and said, “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long to this day, 16 the Angel [the LORD God] which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow [in their characters] into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

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When he uttered the prayer, "God . . . the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads", there was no spirit of self-dependence, no reliance upon human power or cunning.   He acknowledged that the Son of God had been his preserver and support. There was no complaint of the bad days in the past. Their trials and sorrows were no longer regarded as things that were “against” him. Memory recalled only the mercy and loving-kindness of Him who had been with him throughout his pilgrimage.  He understood the ways of God!

Then, knowing which was which of the young men, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God he chose to give the greater blessing to the younger son, for such a blessing is rightfully given in the light of the character of the receiver.

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Genesis 48:

17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put your right hand upon his head [his humanity wanted to keep to the protocol, as so many still want to].” 19 And his father refused, and said, “I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 And he blessed them that day, saying, “In you [in this fashion] shall  [the rest of] Israel bless [from now on], saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’:” and he set Ephraim before Manasseh [giving him the blessing of the firstborn].

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It was in this way that the tribe of Ephraim became the foremost amongst the representative people of God.  What a pity that the majority of his descendants did not continue to live up to the blessing!  But for quite a while the saying held true, and any major blessing in Israel was made in Ephraim and Manasseh’s names.

We can see from this that the old patriarch was given insight into their characters by the Spirit of God, and some inkling of their prospects in the future.  But, no matter how hard the Son of God tries, the end result is ALWAYS in our hands.  We can accept, or reject, the blessings as the tribe of Ephraim eventually did.  One day Jesus had to say:-

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Hosea 11:

8 “How shall I give you up, Ephraim?  How shall I deliver you, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah? How shall I set you as Zeboim? [They were cities near Sodom and Gomorrah and perished with them, Genesis 10:19.]” 

“My heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together. 9   I will not execute the fierceness of My anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of you: and I will not enter into the city.” . . .  [Ephraim will destroy himself, see Hosea 13:9!] 

12 “Ephraim compasses Me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet rules with God, and is faithful with the saints.” [Jesus was born into the family of Judah.]

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In the final picture of the Revelation chapter 7 sealing, the character of Ephraim is replaced by that of Joseph while Dan’s is missing and exchanged with Manasseh’s.

Many will come from the grossest error and sin, and will take the place of others who have had opportunities and privileges but have not prized them, for “the last shall be first.”  Matthew 19:30.  They will be accounted the chosen of God, elect, precious; and when Christ shall come into His kingdom, they will stand next His throne.  Mark 10:40. But that is not necessarily the end of it.

We are told, "see that you refuse not Him that speaks." Hebrews 12:25.

And Jesus said, referring to some men He had used as illustrations, "None of those men which were bidden shall taste of My [marriage] supper."  Luke 14:24.  See also Matthew 22:1-14.  They had rejected the invitations, and none of them were to be invited again, for there are only two invitations to be the “bride” of Christ (not “to be saved” for that invitation never ceases).  Rejecting the offer to be the “bride” does not remove our eternal salvation, but refusing to be a “guest” does!

We must always keep clear in our minds the difference between the “bride” and the “guests” at the wedding/judgment.  See Matthew 22.

In rejecting Christ, the Jews AS A GROUP were hardening their hearts, and giving themselves into the power of Satan so that it would be impossible for them to continue to accept His grace.  They refused to become the “bride”, and finish the work by “bringing in everlasting righteousness” etc. (a six point plan) which is the spiritual equivalent of “consummating the marriage”.  See Daniel 9:24.

So it is now.

If the love of God is not appreciated and does not become an abiding principle to soften and subdue our hearts, we are utterly lost.  Yet the LORD can give no greater manifestation of His love than He has given. If the love of Jesus shown in His sacrifice at Calvary does not subdue our heart and keep it that way, there are no other means by which we can be reached. Every time you refuse to listen to the message of mercy, you strengthen yourself in unbelief. Every time you fail to open the door of your heart to Christ, you become more and more unwilling to listen to the voice of Him that speaks. You diminish your chance of responding to the last appeal of mercy and therefore are refusing the positions of both “guest” and “bride”.

It is written that the position of “bride” is now to be fulfilled by the last generation of Christians, sometimes known as the 144,000, operating as one person.  Revelation 14:1-5 and Leviticus 16:21.

In the meantime, let it not be said of you, as of ancient Israel, "Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone." [This is the individual, the guest.]  Hosea 4:17.  

Our Saviour told us about them.

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Matthew 8:

11 And I say to you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

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Let not Christ weep over you as He wept over Jerusalem (the group, the “bride”, the “jewel” in His crown), saying, "How often would I have gathered your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not [let Me]! Behold, your house is left to you desolate." Luke 13:34-35. 

Our story continues:-

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Genesis 48:

21 And Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to you one portion [of the land] above [more than] your brothers [the double portion], which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

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The blessing ended, Jacob gave his son the valued assurance to hold on to through the long years of bondage and sorrow - leaving this testimony to his faith also for the generations to come – “God shall be with you.”

Would that we all would accept that!  And follow only His way!

Bye

RonP

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