Old Testament - Genesis 47 & 48 - March 17, 2022

 3/17/2022 – Genesis 47 & 48

Genesis 47

Pharaoh so values Joseph, that he not only welcomes Joseph’s large family, but he gives them some of the best land in Egypt. He has such great faith in Joseph’s entire family that he suggests Jacob’s family could also manage some of Pharaoh’s cattle herds—for he knows they will expand more quickly as Joseph’s herds do. (v 6) 

I think it is interesting and touching that when Joseph introduces his father Jacob to Pharaoh, that Jacob gives Pharaoh a blessing. (v’s 9-10)  We also learn that Joseph takes good care of his family: “And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread…And there was no bread in all the land.” (v’s 12-13)

Joseph continued to administer the affairs of Egypt, and in the middle of this great famine over all the lands. As he saved the lives of the people, and he gathered great wealth for Pharaoh. When the famine began, people came from everywhere for food which they purchased with money. When their money was gone, they brought their livestock in and traded cattle and horses and flocks for food. When their livestock was depleted, Joseph bought their land in exchange for food. He allowed them to stay on their land, then he gave them seed, and told them that in return they were to give 20% of their increase to Pharaoh. In v 25 we learn that the people were thankful to Joseph as he literally saved their lives from would have been death from starvation.

Jacob, too, is thankful for their life saving move to Egypt. It has not been easy. In v 7 we learn that his wife Rachel had died and been buried during their trip from Canaan to Egypt. Jacob then asks Joseph to promise that upon Jacob’s death, he will take Jacob’s body and bury him in the land of his fathers. (v’s 29-30)

Genesis 48

Time as passed, and in v 1 Joseph learns that his father Jacob is sick. With this news, Joseph goes to his father, taking his two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob, and the patriarch blesses these two young men to become the same as Jacob’s own children, instead of his grandchildren. 

The Joseph Smith Translation (in the Bible appendix) gives a clearer report of Jacob’s blessing to Manasseh (the eldest) and Ephraim (the younger).  “Therefore, O my son [Joseph], he hath blessed me in raising thee up to be a servant unto me, in saving my house from death; In delivering my people, thy brethren from famine which was sore in the land; wherefore the God of thy fathers shall bless thee, and the fruit of thy loins, that they shall be blessed above they brethren, and above thy father’s house. For thou hast prevailed….For thou shalt be a light unto my people, to deliver them in the days of their captivity, from bondage; and to bring salvation unto them….” (v’s 8-11) This was a patriarchal blessing!

I remember Elder Eyring giving a talk in which he told us that the promises in a patriarchal blessing are conditional on the recipient’s faithfulness to the Lord. I need to read my blessing more often, for that should be my life-map; and I do want to stay my course—for that is when I am my happiest.

V's 17-20 tell us that once again, a patriarch gives the younger son the blessing that would normally go to the older son. Manasseh was the older and Ephraim was the younger. Jacob responds to Joseph: “I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And as I read this, I am remembered that all those who are baptized into the Church automatically become part of the house of Ephraim. My understanding is that Ephraim lived closer to the Lord’s commandments than Manasseh. 

I know I am known by my Heavenly Father, and that he blesses me. I find His blessings more plentiful when I am working harder to be closer to him. I don’t want to fall short of any wonderful things I might have been worthy of. I want so much to live in a way that my promised blessings may be given to me more swiftly, and that I will recognized them as blessings, then go to my Father in Heaven with my deep thankfulness.


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