‘Behold,
I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’
Genesis 48:4
Genesis 48 [1.] After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine. Your issue, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance. As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”
Meaning:
In Genesis 48:4, Jacob recalls God's promise to him and extends it to Ephraim, saying, "Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession." This promise encapsulates the covenant blessings that God had previously bestowed upon Jacob and his ancestors, Abraham and Isaac. By passing this promise on to Ephraim, Jacob ensures that the covenant blessings would continue through future generations.
The significance of Genesis 48:4 lies in its portrayal of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. Throughout the Bible, God consistently demonstrates His faithfulness by fulfilling His promises to His people. The promise of fruitfulness, multiplication, and inheritance of the land of Canaan is a tangible expression of God's commitment to bless His people abundantly. This promise serves as a reminder of God's covenant relationship with His chosen people and His desire to fulfill His purposes through them.
Furthermore, Genesis 48:4 underscores the importance of passing on blessings and spiritual heritage from one generation to the next. Jacob's act of blessing Ephraim and Manasseh represents the transmission of God's covenant promises and the spiritual legacy of faith from fathers to sons. This theme of generational blessing is echoed throughout Scripture, emphasizing the responsibility of parents and grandparents to teach their children about God's faithfulness and to instill in them a love for God's Word.
One cross-reference that sheds light on the significance of generational blessings is found in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, where Moses instructs the Israelites, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." This passage emphasizes the importance of passing down God's commandments and teachings to future generations, ensuring that they remain faithful to God's covenant.
Another cross-reference that highlights the significance of inheritance and blessing is found in Psalm 78:4-7, where the psalmist writes, "We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of Yahweh, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done. For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children." This passage underscores the importance of passing on the stories of God's faithfulness and the lessons of His Word to future generations, ensuring that they continue to trust in God and follow His ways.
As we reflect on Genesis 48:4, we are reminded of the enduring nature of God's covenant promises and the importance of passing on blessings and spiritual heritage to future generations. The promise of fruitfulness and inheritance serves as a testament to God's faithfulness and His desire to bless His people abundantly. May we, like Jacob, be faithful in transmitting the blessings and promises of God to those who come after us, ensuring that His covenant continues to be fulfilled in the lives of His people.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible