Daily Reading:
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Monday, November 19—Bring Your Father (Genesis 45:16-20)
Tuesday, November 20—God’s Reassurance (Genesis 46:1-4)
Wednesday, November 21—The Reunion (Genesis 46: 28-34)
Thursday, November 22—A Blessing (Genesis 47: 7-12)
Friday, November 23— Joseph’s Promise (Genesis 47: 27-31)
Saturday, November 24— A Grandfather’s Blessing (Genesis 48: 8-21)
Sunday, November 25—The Greatness and Goodness of God (Psalm 145:1-13)
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Devotional Reading: Psalm 145:1-13
Devotional Reading: Psalm 145:1-13
Background Scripture: Genesis 46; 47; 48:1-21
Lesson Text: Genesis 48:11-19
“Like father—like son;” “The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree;” “He’s a chip off the old block.” There are so many clichés that implies that a characteristically portrayed legacy has passed from one generation to the next. Usually, those axioms refer to a passive inheritance. In this weeks lesson, Israel (a.k.a. Jacob) takes God’s promises that he had inherited from his grandfather and father (Abraham and Isaac) and executes a deliberate (active) transference to Joseph’s two sons.
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Jacob blesses the boys with his name in addition to his forefathers. Now, and henceforth, the triangular moniker, “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” becomes part of the legacy. Jacob also, knowingly and with conscience intent, give the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim and the lesser blessing to the older Manasseh, by purposely crossing his hands before administering the blessing—in spite of Joseph’s protest. Tradition dictates that the older son should receive the greater blessing bestowed by the right hand. But looking back, the younger Isaac received the greater blessing over his older brother Ishmael; the younger Jacob received the greater birthright over his older brother Esau; and the younger Joseph was promoted over his older brothers. In blessing the younger Ephraim over the older Manasseh, Jacob was following the format laid out during previous generation.
“Like father—like son;” “The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree;” “He’s a chip off the old block.” There are so many clichés that implies that a characteristically portrayed legacy has passed from one generation to the next. Usually, those axioms refer to a passive inheritance. In this weeks lesson, Israel (a.k.a. Jacob) takes God’s promises that he had inherited from his grandfather and father (Abraham and Isaac) and executes a deliberate (active) transference to Joseph’s two sons.
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Jacob blesses the boys with his name in addition to his forefathers. Now, and henceforth, the triangular moniker, “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” becomes part of the legacy. Jacob also, knowingly and with conscience intent, give the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim and the lesser blessing to the older Manasseh, by purposely crossing his hands before administering the blessing—in spite of Joseph’s protest. Tradition dictates that the older son should receive the greater blessing bestowed by the right hand. But looking back, the younger Isaac received the greater blessing over his older brother Ishmael; the younger Jacob received the greater birthright over his older brother Esau; and the younger Joseph was promoted over his older brothers. In blessing the younger Ephraim over the older Manasseh, Jacob was following the format laid out during previous generation.
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In regards to most matters in Egypt, Joseph was so highly ranked that any command he gave would have to be followed, without question, by everyone except the Pharaoh. However the bestowing of blessings is a personal thing. By deliberately crossing his arm, Jacob conscientiously defied man’s law. The law states that the first will receive the greater portion and the last shall receive the lesser. But through the “Cross” the latter receives the greater portion. “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”—Matt 20:16
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Life Application Discussion Questions
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Leaving a legacy is a deliberate act. You have the opportunity of choosing both the benifits and the beneficiary. What legacy are you deliberately leaving behind? Young parents, start a simple tradition with your children—such as quoting a scripture at the dinner table for Sunday dinner; or writing a simple statement or paragraph saying for what you are thankful and reading it on Thanksgiving Day. It does not have to be elaborate. Older saints, it is not too late to work on leaving a legacy. Just start doing something simple, like jotting down a wise saying in a journal, on a daily basis.
Leaving a legacy is a deliberate act. You have the opportunity of choosing both the benifits and the beneficiary. What legacy are you deliberately leaving behind? Young parents, start a simple tradition with your children—such as quoting a scripture at the dinner table for Sunday dinner; or writing a simple statement or paragraph saying for what you are thankful and reading it on Thanksgiving Day. It does not have to be elaborate. Older saints, it is not too late to work on leaving a legacy. Just start doing something simple, like jotting down a wise saying in a journal, on a daily basis.
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Consider what legacy of blessings you intend to leave for future generation?
