Genesis 48:1-7: a reflection

1After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine. 6Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”

As Jacob nears the end of his life, sick and dying, his son Joseph comes to him; and Jacob, gathering his strength, recalls the promise God had made him long before. God Almighty appeared to me, he says, and blessed me, and said, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and give this land to your offspring for an everlasting possession. At the end of his life, Jacob's mind and heart return to the promise of God, the faithfulness of God that had run through his whole life.

Notice what fills Jacob's mind as he nears the end: the promise and faithfulness of God. Dying, he does not dwell on regrets or fears, but recalls God's promise to him, and rests on it. The faithfulness of God, which had accompanied him through all his years, is what he returns to at the end; God's promise is the ground on which he stands as he faces death. His dying testimony is a testimony to the faithfulness of God.

That is a good pattern for how to face the end, and indeed how to live: with our minds and hearts on the promise and faithfulness of God. As we near the end of life, or of any season, we can dwell on regrets, fears, or losses; or we can, like Jacob, return to the promise of God, the faithfulness that has run through our lives, and rest on it. When you face the end of life, or of any chapter, do not dwell only on regrets or fears; recall God's promises and faithfulness, and rest on them, as Jacob rested on the promise of God as he died. The faithfulness of God, which accompanies us through all our years, is the ground on which we can stand as we face the end. Let your mind return, as Jacob's did, to the promise and faithfulness of God; rest on it now, and at the end, making God's faithfulness your testimony and your hope, as Jacob made it his, recalling the promise of God as his life drew to its close.

Lord, as Jacob neared the end of his life, sick and dying, his son Joseph came to him; and Jacob, gathering his strength, recalled the promise you had made him long before: God Almighty appeared to me and blessed me, and said, I will make you fruitful and give this land to your offspring forever. At the end, Jacob's mind and heart returned to your promise, and rested on it. Show me what filled his mind as he neared the end: your promise and faithfulness. Dying, he did not dwell on regrets or fears, but recalled your promise, and rested on it. Your faithfulness, which had run through all his years, is what he returned to at the end. Let that be a pattern for how I face the end, and how I live: with my mind and heart on your promise and faithfulness. As I near the end of life, or of any season, I can dwell on regrets, fears, or losses; or I can, like Jacob, return to your promise, the faithfulness that has run through my life, and rest on it. When I face the end of life, or of any chapter, keep me from dwelling only on regrets or fears; help me recall your promises and faithfulness, and rest on them, as Jacob rested on your promise as he died. Let my mind return, as Jacob's did, to your promise and faithfulness, Lord; help me rest on it now, and at the end, making your faithfulness my testimony and my hope.