It’s no surprise that a story that began as “these are the generations of Jacob” (Genesis 37:2) would end with telling about Jacob’s last request. And our passage today, Genesis 47:27—48:22, does just this by repeating some of the key themes we’ve seen throughout Genesis. (If you feel like these messages are a bit “repetitive,” you’re on the right track!) Genesis reminds us over and over again: the Lord was faithful to be with his people and God fulfills his promises.

Before turning directly to Genesis, we need to start in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 11 presents the “hall of faith,” the record of how many of God’s people demonstrated their faith. It’s also no surprise that Jacob shows up in Hebrews 11. What is a little surprising is that Jacob is noted for his faith by what he does in today’s passage, Genesis 47:27—48:22. Hebrews 11:21 reads, “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.” Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s sons demonstrated his faith. When we read Jacob’s blessing in Genesis, we see that Jacob had faith for the future of his people. The first readers of Genesis needed to hear this message. They needed to know that their ancestor demonstrated faith in the future because they were being called to have faith. We need to learn the same lesson: have faith!

Have faith: God will fulfill his promises…

Jacob is confident his people will return back to the land promised to their family. This confidence leads him to do two things. First, Jacob makes his son Joseph swear an oath that Joseph will bury Jacob back in their land of Canaan (Genesis 37:27–31). Joseph agrees (and will make good on this promise in Genesis 50). Second, Jacob foretells that the Israelites will return back to their land (Genesis 48:21–22). In another affirmation that “the Lord was with” his people (v. 21), Jacob says God “will bring you again to the land of your fathers.” This will take a long time, but it will happen.

Have faith: God will fulfill his promises, but maybe not in the way you expect

God keeps his promises, but sometimes the manner in which he does so takes us by surprise. We see this in two ways.

Unexpected fulfillment: the events

God has been working in the life of Joseph from the very beginning, but how strange a story it has been! Joseph was sold into slavery, had success, and then was thrown in prison. Joseph finally rose to power (just in time for a worldwide famine) and was in position to rescue his family from certain starvation. Who would’ve guess that God would use the sin of Joseph’s brothers and a famine to save God’s people? (Side note: seems like God used a lot of sin for good when it came to the death and resurrection of Jesus!)

So here’s the question: are there events in your life you need to reevaluate in light of this truth? Have you written off difficult, trying, or hard-to-understand circumstances as “outside” of God’s control or care? Might God be using the events in your life in unexpected ways?

Unexpected fulfillment: the people

Jacob elevated Joseph’s younger son, Ephraim, over Joseph’s older son, Manasseh. In this ancient culture, and still today in the Middle East, the right hand is the hand of honor. Although Joseph doesn’t see it coming, Jacob intentionally crosses his arms and places his right hand on Ephraim’s head for the blessing.

This is not the first time in Genesis the younger son has been elevated over the older (think of Abel, Isaac, Jacob, and Perez). But it is again significant because it reminds us that God often chooses to use the ones we least expect. God is not looking for the strongest, smartest, or most talented student to use for his glory. In fact, many of the characters in the Bible had major issues that might’ve “excluded” them from being used by God.

So here’s the question: do you need to reevaluate yourself in light of this truth? Do you consider yourself the “less-likely” to be used? If you do, you need to place your faith in God who often uses people just like yourself. Do you consider yourself the “more-likely” to be used? If you do, you also need to place your faith in God—not yourself—as the one working in the world.

We are all in one of these two categories: the “less-likely” or the “more-likely.” Jacob had faith for the future of his people based on the past promises of God. Where is your faith?

Discussion questions

• How did Jacob demonstrate faith in his blessing?
• Is there something happening in your life right now (like a family, school, or friend issue) that you need to reevaluate in light of how God sometimes works?
• Do you consider yourself “less-likely” or “more-likely” to be used by God? Why?
• Have you been demonstrating faith in God, regardless of which category in which you would place yourself? How can you do this?