Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 Gray hair: Crown of glory

Genesis 48: 1-22
Verse:48 9b,10: Then Israel said, Bring them to me so I may bless them. Now Israel's eyes were failing because of old age and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him and his father kissed them and embraced them.
 
In Hebrews 11:21 also we read - by faith Jacob as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of the staff. The writer of the epistle thinks it is an important thing in the life of Jacob,  the conviction of the things that are not seen. In Genesis 48, we see Abraham's grandson  Jacob is handling his heritage in God to his son Joseph and two grandsons Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob performed an adoption of his grandsons and elevated them as peers with  Israel's other eleven sons. However, Joseph is not listed as one of the tribes of Israel, because he got a double inheritance through his sons as Jacob adopted them. Here we need to ponder upon few important  incidents: 

1. Joseph as a god-fearing and faithful son, responds to the report of his father Jacob's failing health.  
2. Jacob gathers his strength to communicate his final blessings to Ephraim and Manasseh
3. Jacob reminded Joseph of the divine revelation of God and His promises, posterity, power, and of the upcoming possession of the promised land. It is worth noting that  Jacob's decision to transfer his legacy to His grandsons and became his number one and two sons, over Reuben and Simeon.  Jacob's reflection on the death of his dear wife Rachel who was the mother of Joseph and Benjamin was made with deep sorrow and grief. Joseph witnessed the deep love manifested in his parents.

Surprising reversal of the blessing to  Ephraim and  Manasseh. Joseph brought his sons placed to the left and right respectively. Jacob though having a weak sight,  because of faith and God's plan revealed to him, crossed over the hands to bless Ephraim before Manasseh who is older. Ephraim was God's chosen tribe over his brother Manasseh. God blesses whom he will. God chooses one over another without explanation. Whatever we get is just by His Grace.  

The grace that was active in Jacob’s life flowed from him to the successive generations.  Because of the grace of God that was on him, he was able to hand down a heritage, a legacy, to those following him. Just as Jacob handed down his blessings to his grandchildren, we ought to strive to hand over the gifts of Grace to our next generation.
 
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us to live fruitfully to the old age, and hand over a heritage, a legacy, and gifts of God's grace to our children and grandchildren. Amen.

Thought for the Day
Any blessing of God in our lives is pure Grace. Anytime God uses us at all, it is pure grace.  We need to look around and thank God for all His gifts of Grace. 

Dr.John K.Thomas
Tabor MTC

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