Joseph III: "The Covenant Continues..."

Genesis 47-50

The more I read the book of Genesis the more I am impressed with how masterfully it is both compiled and written. Scholars have known for a long time that there are four different writing styles inside the book (with different names for God and different emphases), one of which is the style of the compiler himself. The title given the compiler is often "the deuteronomist." When you read the book of Deuteronomy, you will see that is mostly a compilation of material that is already present in earlier books. Here, in the closing chapters of Genesis, the story of Joseph not only closes the whole story of Jacob's family, but also prepares us for the enslavement of the people in Exodus. Joseph uses the extreme famine to consolidate Egyptian wealth and power, including subjecting the whole land of Egypt to servitude. It is that move that later becomes the network for the creation of the pyramids and the great cities of Egypt with a slave labor force. In the meantime, his own family is wonderfully taken care of from Pharoah's own choice land and housing.

It is worth pausing to note that Joseph's spiritual gifts of administration and leadership are starting to become corrupted. Generations of Jews will suffer for his abuse of power, most of all, his own countrymen.

Genesis 48 tells the story of the blessing of Joseph's sons. Just a quick note. You may know that eventually the tribes of Israel were named for Jacob's sons. But one son is not represented. Interestingly, Joseph is the one that's left out. Why? Because he is the chosen heir of the sons and so, receives a double portion. There are actually two tribes named after Joseph, through his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. This was the issue way back with Jacob and Esau with the stolen blessing. The oldest child was to receive twice what the other children received in inheritance. Now we see it again, as Jacob blesses the second-born over the first. Joseph tries to correct his dear old dad, but Jacob is acting on purpose. The pattern of the younger ruling over the older continues.

Genesis 49 is a powerful description of Jacob blessing the rest of his children. You will notice that several are as much curse as blessing. But the point for parents and grandparents is obvious. We have the power to bless and empower children to become what God has created them to be.

Jacob dies and the patriarchal story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is now finished. All of them were gifted, though not equally so. All were heirs of the promise and children of God's covenant. All we critically flawed, as well. There story is ours and ours is theirs.