Eastside Missionary Baptist Church

Reflecting On a Life
Genesis 48:1-22
PASTOR TOM
Introduction   The Book of Genesis is a book of life, but it is also a book of death. I some ways, the Book of Genesis is a graveyard. It tells us how death started. From the mutilated body of Abel to the unbroken litany of death in chapter 5, to the destruction of the world in chapter 6, the Book of Genesis is a book of death. Every one of the heroes introduced in the book, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph also died in its pages. It is a book of death.  Chapters 48 and 49 chronicle the death of the great patriarch Jacob. He lived for 147 years on this earth, but eventually the hour of his death came.  Hebrews 9:27Let's notice these four areas that held the mind of Jacob as he died.
I. Jacob Reflected on The Past 
A. He Remembered a Spot    Genesis 48:3-4
B. He Remembered a Spouse   Genesis 48:7
C. He Remembered a Spirit    Genesis 48:16
II. Jacob Reflected on  Providence
A. He Remembered God's Providence Genesis 48: 3, 11, 21
B. He Remembered God's Provisions  Genesis 48:15 
C. He Remembered God's Power   Genesis 48:2  
III. Jacob Reflected on the Present
A. The Evidence of Grace Genesis 48:8-11
C. The Economy of Grace Genesis 48:12-20
In these verses, Jacob blesses Joseph's sons. But Jacob gives the blessing of the firstborn to Ephraim instead of Manasseh. Joseph tries to intervene, suspecting that Jacob just couldn't see what he was doing, v. 18. But Jacob was carrying out the will of the Lord and he knew exactly what he was doing, v. 14, 19.
In the kingdom years, Ephraim became the most powerful and populous tribe in Israel, with Manasseh being second. 
IV. Jacob Reflected on the Promises
A. Their Heritage   Genesis 48:21
B. Their Helper   Genesis 48:21, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20. 
C. Their Hope   Genesis 48:21, 1 Thess. 4:16-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52, John 14:1-3
Conclusion   I praise God that I can remember some great things the Lord has done in my life. I praise Him that I can look around today and see His hand at work right now. I bless His name that I have some promises for my future. Like Jacob, I can go to my death knowing that I have been blessed by my Lord.  What about you? Are you saved?  Can you see the providential work of God in your life? Are you surrounded by His blessings today? Are you “standing on the promises”? 
Sunday PM
Genesis 48    BLESSINGS
I. The Summons for the Blessings
Genesis 49:1,2
1. The Explanation in the Summons Genesis 49:1
• The contents of the message explained. 
• The character of the message explained. 
2. The Exhortation in the Summons  Genesis 49:1,2
• The assembling exhortation. "Gather yourselves together." 
• The attentiveness exhortation. "Hear... hearken." 
II. The Style in the Blessing  Genesis 49:3-28
1. The Poetic Feature  Genesis 49:3-27
2. The Play on Words Feature Genesis 49:3-27
3. The Parts Feature  Genesis 49:3-27
4. The Proportion Feature Genesis 49:8-12,22-26
5. The Portrayal Feature Genesis 49:3-27
The benedictions in this patriarchal blessing by Jacob are rich in imagery. Five of the sons are portrayed with features of various beasts. Judah is compared to a lion, Issachar to a donkey, Dan to a serpent, Naphtali to a deer, and Benjamin to a wolf. Also in other imagery, Joseph is compared to a branch and tree, Simeon, and Levi to instruments of cruelty, and Reuben to the instability of water. Again, the literary excellence of the Scripture is emphasized in this feature of the blessings.
6. The Punishment Feature Genesis 49:3-28
III. The Specifics of the Blessings  Genesis 49:3-28
1. Reuben    Genesis 49:3,4
The privileges of Reuben.  He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.  He had position ("firstborn"/birthright), prestige ("dignity"), and power ("might," "strength," "power"). But privileges will be lost when character is lacking.
The problem of Reuben. "Unstable as water" (Genesis 49:4). 
The pollution of Reuben. "Thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it" (Genesis 49:4). 
The punishment for Reuben. "Thou shalt not excel" (Genesis 49:4). Reuben's immorality crippled him as it always does anyone. 
2. Simeon and Levi (Genesis 49:5-7)
The sin of these sons   Their sin is fourfold.  First, meanness. "Cruelty" (Genesis 49:5). This and their other sins refer to their massacre of the Shechemites (Genesis 34).  Second, madness. "Anger" (Genesis 49:6). Repeatedly Jacob mentions this sin in this patriarchal blessing of these two men. This was not righteous indignation but a loss of temper. Third, murder. "Slew a man" (Genesis 49:6).  They slew many Shechemites.   Fourth, merriment. "In their self-will [this word indicates delight or pleasure] they digged down a wall [better translated, "houghed oxen" which means they hamstrung oxen]" (Genesis 49:6).
The separation from these sons. "Come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united" (Genesis 49:6). 
The sentence upon these sons. "Cursed be their anger... I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel" (Genesis 49:7). 
3. Judah Genesis 49:8-12
When Jacob comes to Judah's blessing, the mood • Praise   Genesis 49:8, Power. Genesis 49:8,9, Position   Genesis 49:8, Prosperity  Genesis 49:11
4. Zebulun  Genesis 49:13
5. Issachar Genesis 49:14,15
6. Dan Genesis 49:16-18
Sovereign Genesis 49:16,  Serpent Genesis 49:17, Salvation Genesis 49:18
8. Asher Genesis 49:20
9. Naphtali  Genesis 49:21
10. Joseph  Genesis 49:22-26
His fruitfulness Genesis 49:22,  His fighting Genesis 49:23,24,  His favors, Genesis 49:25, His fellowship. Genesis 49:26
11. Benjamin  Genesis 49:27
IV. The Sepulcher After the Blessings  Genesis 49:29-33
1. The Prospects for a Sepulcher Genesis 49:29
2. The Place of the Sepulcher Genesis 49:29,30
3. The People in the Sepulcher Genesis 49:31
4. The Purchase of the Sepulcher Genesis 49:30
5. The Passing for the Sepulcher Genesis 49:33
The grace in his dying, The ghost in his dying,  The gathering after his dying.