Read Genesis 48:8-22
Verse 8-22 -
The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says, They are my
sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath showed me thy seed.
Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God's
hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jacob
mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his
days. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God
kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now he was dying, he looked
upon himself as redeemed from all sin and sorrow for ever. Christ,
the Angel of the covenant, redeems from all evil. Deliverances from
misery and dangers, by the Divine power, coming through the ransom
of the blood of Christ, in Scripture are often called redemption. In
blessing Joseph's sons, Jacob crossed hands. Joseph was willing to
support his first-born, and would have removed his father's hands.
But Jacob acted neither by mistake, nor from a partial affection to
one more than the other; but from a spirit of prophecy, and by the
Divine counsel. God, in bestowing blessings upon his people, gives
more to some than to others, more gifts, graces, and comforts, and
more of the good things of this life. He often gives most to those
that are least likely. He chooses the weak things of the world; he
raises the poor out of the dust. Grace observes not the order of
nature, nor does God prefer those whom we think fittest to be
preferred, but as it pleases him. How poor are they who have no
riches but those of this world! How miserable is a death-bed to
those who have no well-grounded hope of good, but dreadful
apprehensions of evil, and nothing but evil for ever!
Return to Outline
Henry's Genesis 49
