Genesis 48:1 Commentary and Bible Study

Joseph is told that his father is sick. They are living separately and Joseph is continuing to act as governor and to run the affairs of state during the famine; he must therefore travel to Goshen to see his father. Jacob would have had in mind the word of God to him that Joseph would put his hands on his eyes, and therefore sent word to his son that he was close to his end. The children of Israel are still under the favour of Pharoah at this time, and Joseph is willingly serving as governor of the land, but nevertheless it is vital that he identify with his people, rather than be assimilated into Egypt. In that respect, this is the equivalent of Moses ‘[refusing] to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; ²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season’ (Hebrews 11:24-25). Joseph too knows that his people are in Egypt only for a time, and this is but a phase in God’s purposes for them. Like his father, he sees Canaan as the promised land and the place to which he is going, Canaan being a type of heaven. Joseph has had two sons in Egypt, and has been married to the daughter of Potipherah priest of On, but he has maintained his faith, and he has taught his sons to worship the true God. That is apparent even from their names, for they celebrated God’s recompense of children to Joseph to make him forget his past suffering (Manasseh – ‘Causing to forget’), and his fruitfulness in his adopted land (Ephraim – ‘Two-fold increase’ or ‘Very fruitful’. Their names showed Joseph’s mind was on the Lord even though he was far from home. They are evidence to him of the goodness of God towards him (Genesis 41:51-52). They are included in the count of the house of Jacob that has come down to Egypt, even though they were born there, and their descendants will be counted among those who leave Egypt at the time of the exodus. He comes to his father and he brings his sons with him to receive the blessing of God. Manasseh and Ephraim must be formally recognised as members of the family of Jacob. Jacob is weak and at end of life, but he does his best to prepare by sitting up in his bed. In his weakness he was, by the strengthening of the Lord, about to do something momentous for the future of the nation.