Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Genesis 48:14-16; 20

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
"The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."

20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
"By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'"

Hebrews 11:6, 21

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

Jacob, to the end of his life, is an ordinary man. There are no heroic acts of faith such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, or the good king Josiah accomplished. His commendation in Hebrews 11:21 is very pedestrian.

This is what points up the life of Jacob to be such an accomplishment of faith. In the ordinary walk of life, with the trials and blessing of it, Jacob lived by faith.

By faith he sought both the birthright and the blessing. By faith he obeyed his parents and went to Padan Aram. By it he made a commitment of the tithe to the covenant God who had come to him in a dream. And this would be continued throughout his life.

Jacob was fearful, selfish, and conniving. But these weaknesses are not where the identity of Jacob is. Jacob is best known by his confession in Genesis 35:3 NKJ.

3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.”

Again we have a glimpse of Jacob’s spiritual discernment in Genesis 37:11 NKJ.

11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Read the context and think about what Joseph has just said.

And does he not make our common confession in Genesis 48:15-16 “The God who has been my shepherd all my life-long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil.”

Amen Jacob! We, with you claim Colossians 1:13-14 NKJ

13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.