Foundations Week 6, Day 1

 Scripture Read:  Genesis 48 - 49
Title: Jacob Blesses His Sons
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "And Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.'"."  Gen. 48:11

(E) Explain: In Chapter 48 Jacob blesses his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh.  In this emotional chapter Jacob adopts them as his own sons.  A beautiful moment happens in verse 11 where Jacob says to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”  God’s grace is evident in this reunion because not only does Jacob live to see his son whom he thought dead alive but he also sees and blesses his own grandchildren. 
Jacob blesses his grandsons and in the vain of what goes around comes around he blesses the younger over the older.  Joseph tries to correct his father but his father continues to bless the younger.  He declares that Ephraim will become a greater nation than his brother.  Incidentally Ephraim does become a great tribe and they are one of the leading tribes with Joshua in bringing the people to the Promised Land. 
In Chapter 49 Jacob gathers all 12 of his sons so he may speak final words to them.
He speaks blessings to 9 of his sons (Judah, Zebulon, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin).  Most notable he speaks a prophecy concerning the future human king of Israel and the eternal King (Jesus the Lion of the Tribe of Judah) was given to Judah.  He chastises three sons… Reuben who’s lust burned so hot that he committed the sinful act of having sex with his dad’s wife.  Simeon and Levi were chastised for their violent reaction to the men of Shechem.  They would still prosper but their tribes would be scattered among the other tribes. 
At the conclusion of Chapter 49 Jacob dies and his sons return him to Canaan where he is buried in a cave with his wives.
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(A) Application:   God has blessed me/us.  It is God’s nature to drench us with his blessing.  God wants to bless you and you are a blessing to Him.  Author Bruce Wilkinson writes in his book THE PRAYER OF JABEZ, “Why not make it a lifelong commitment to ask everyday to bless you – and while He is at it, bless you a lot?” 
You are God's child, you are  his son or daughter.  Just like any father who loves his children He wants to bless you abundantly, more than you know what do with.  Most of all He wants you to say, “Father, I am yours and whatever you have purposed for me and my life is what I want.  I want more of you in my life.  I want all of you and you can have all of me.”  There is no limit to God’s goodness and blessing and He wants to pour out these blessings on us.  When we ask God to bless us, we are giving Him our complete submission and we throw ourselves at His mercy to do as He pleases in our lives for his glory and our benefit.  We are blessed by God.

(R) Respond:  Lord, you have blessed me all of my life.  You often give me more than I ask for and more than I deserve.  Thank you for your blessings, especially those that I never expected or deserved.  Your grace is truly amazing.