Genesis 48:8-16: a reflection

8Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?” 9Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” He said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” 10Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him. 14Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16the angel who has 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. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

Old and nearly blind, Jacob gathers his failing strength to bless Joseph's two sons. He had not expected to see Joseph again, let alone his grandchildren, and he marvels: I never thought I would see your face, and now God has let me see your children too. There is deep gratitude in the moment, an old man who has known much sorrow now overwhelmed by God's kindness in giving him more than he dared hope.

His blessing is worth listening to closely, because it sums up his whole life with God. He calls on the God before whom his fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been his shepherd, feeding him all his life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed him from all evil. Three phrases, a lifetime of faith: the God of his fathers, the God who shepherded him, the God who redeemed him. As he blesses the next generation, he hands them the God who had been faithful to him.

This is how faith is meant to pass from one generation to the next, not as a set of rules but as a testimony to the God who has been real in your life. Jacob could look back over a hard, complicated life and name God as his shepherd and redeemer. Consider how you would sum up God's faithfulness to you, and how you might hand that testimony to those who come after you. The best inheritance you can give is the God who has fed and redeemed you all your life long.

Lord, like Jacob I can look back and call you my shepherd, who has fed me all my life, and my redeemer, who has kept me from evil. Thank you for a lifetime of your faithfulness. Help me to hand that testimony on to those who come after me, not merely rules but the living God who has been real to me. Be their shepherd and redeemer as you have been mine. Amen.