41_Faith is seeing the hand of God

Gen 48:8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?

9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.

Heb 11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

1Chr 5:2 Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.

Faith is not a leap into the dark. It is stepping forward confidently into God’s way, hand in hand with the God who sees all and knows all. As we navigate life’s uncertainties, the words from the poem “The Gate of the Year” are so meaningful:

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown,”
and the reply:

“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

This faith is the heartbeat of Scripture. It is the essence of lives transformed by God’s promises, seen clearly in Jacob’s final days. His life, marked by human struggle and divine grace, testifies to the enduring faithfulness of God and the power of His promises.

Jacob’s journey of faith reaches its pinnacle in Genesis 48, where he blesses Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. At the outset, Jacob is introduced as an old man nearing death, yet his faith burns brighter than ever. Seventeen years earlier, he had stood before Pharaoh describing his life as “few and unpleasant” (Genesis 47:9). Yet, in these final moments, we meet a man satisfied with God and assured of his promises. Jacob’s last words testify his trust in the promises of God, a faith that remained steadfast through years of hardship and uncertainty.

As death approaches, Jacob summons Joseph to ensure that his body would be buried in the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and their descendants. This was not just sentimentality; it was a declaration of faith. Jacob knew that God’s covenant was not tied to Egypt’s riches but to the Promised Land, the inheritance of his people. He died in faith, just as Abraham and Isaac before him, confident in God’s unchanging promises.

Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob. Their names reflect Joseph’s journey. Manasseh, meaning “forgetting,” symbolizes God’s grace in helping Joseph move past the pain of betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Ephraim, meaning “fruitfulness,” celebrates the abundance God provided in Joseph’s life, making him a preserver of life to Egypt, his family, and the surrounding nations during famine. These names testify to God’s power to turn all things to good for those who love him.

Jacob’s encounter with these grandsons is remarkable. Though they were born in Egypt and had little connection with Jacob’s family, he adopts them as his own, saying, “They are mine, like Reuben and Simeon.” In doing so, Jacob bestows upon them the rights of sons and secures for Joseph a double portion of inheritance. This adoption also foreshadows a greater truth: the God who accepts us not because of our merit but because of His love for His Son, Jesus Christ. Just as Ephraim and Manasseh were blessed because of Jacob’s love for Joseph, we inherit the blessings of God through Christ, the Firstborn of all creation.

Joseph’s life points us to Jesus in profound ways. Like Joseph, Jesus was rejected by His own but became the Savior of His people. Joseph’s elevation to Pharaoh’s right hand mirrors Christ’s exaltation to the right hand of the Father. Through Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God and made heirs of His eternal promises. In Christ, we find our true inheritance, far greater than any earthly riches or recognition.

Jacob’s faith is further highlighted in the way he blesses Ephraim and Manasseh. With his physical eyesight failing, his spiritual vision is keen. He deliberately places his right hand—the hand of greater blessing—on Ephraim, the younger son. Joseph protests, assuming this is a mistake, but Jacob reassures him: “I know it, my son, I know it.” Guided by God, Jacob discerns the destiny of these two boys, emphasizing that God’s purposes are not bound by human expectations. His actions echo a theme throughout Scripture: God often chooses the least, the last, and the overlooked to accomplish His plans.

In his blessing, Jacob declares:

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys.”

This beautiful prayer encapsulates Jacob’s testimony. He acknowledges the God of his forefathers, affirming the continuity of God’s covenant. He recognizes God as his Shepherd, who has faithfully led him through life’s twists and turns. And he praises the Angel who redeemed him from all evil—a foreshadowing of Christ, the ultimate Redeemer. Despite his flaws and failures, Jacob’s life bore the fruit of God’s grace, and his blessing over Joseph’s sons is a proclamation of God’s enduring faithfulness.

Jacob’s faith-filled declaration, “God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers,” reveals his deep conviction in the promises of God. This promise, passed down from Abraham, shaped the identity and destiny of God’s people. Joseph, years later on his deathbed, would echo this same faith, instructing his descendants to carry his bones to the Promised Land. Such unwavering trust in God’s promise sustained their faith across generations, even in the face of suffering and waiting.

The faith of Jacob and Joseph challenges us to examine our own lives. Are we holding fast to God’s promises, even when circumstances seem bleak? Are we teaching the next generation to trust in God, introducing them to spiritual mentors and godly influences who can impart wisdom and faith? Like Jacob, are we leaving behind a legacy of faith that testifies to God’s goodness?

It is also a reminder that success and prosperity are not ends in themselves but tools for God’s purposes. Joseph’s life, marked by both suffering and triumph, demonstrates that true greatness lies in seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness. When we prioritize His will, He faithfully provides all we need, often in ways that far exceed our expectations.

Jacob’s story also teaches us the value of divine discipline. His earlier years were marred by deceit and self-reliance, but through a lifetime of God’s refining work, he became a man of deep faith and wisdom. This transformation encourages us to welcome God’s discipline, trusting that it will produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness in our lives.

As we reflect on Jacob’s final blessing, we are reminded that faith sees the unseen. It looks beyond the immediate and grasps the eternal. Jacob’s physical eyes were dim, but his spiritual sight was clear. He trusted in the God who redeems, leads, and fulfills His promises. This is the faith we are called to emulate—the faith described in Hebrews 11:21, where Jacob, by faith, blesses Joseph’s sons, leaning on his staff in worship. His posture of dependence and adoration is a powerful picture of a life surrendered to God.

Faith is not merely intellectual assent but an active trust in the character and promises of God. It is the hand that reaches out into the unknown and grips the hand of the Almighty. It is seeing God’s hand at work, even when circumstances are uncertain. It is living in the assurance that His promises are true, His plans are good, and His purposes will prevail.

Let us then live and die in faith, as Jacob did, holding fast to God’s promises. Let us rejoice in the grace made available to us through Christ, our Redeemer. And let us teach the next generation to trust in the God who is faithful from generation to generation. May we, too, declare with confidence: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” For in His hand, we find the light that guides us, the strength that sustains us, and the hope that never fails.