Today I read Genesis 48 thru 50, in which Jacob blesses his children and foretells their future before he dies. Israel told of the Messiah coming through his child. Joseph took care of his family the rest of his life. Today I considered how the Bible tells the story of Christ in every book and how one person was used to nourish a nation.
Foretelling of Christ
Jacob blesses his sons, telling their futures including which one is in the lineage of Christ. Jacob identified the tribes of Israel, adopting Joseph’s sons Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:5). Jacob predicted his sons’ fates including that Shiloh would come from the line of Judah to take up the scepter (Genesis 49:10). We see that the Messiah is coming from the first book of Genesis in the Bible.
Nourishing of the Tribes
God nourished the tribes of Israel for over 70 years through Joseph. Joseph was around 37 years old when the famine brought his family to the land. Even after Joseph’s father died Joseph promised to nourish his brothers and their children (Genesis 50:21). Joseph did so until he died at 110 years of age (Genesis 50:26). God can use the life lessons, hardships, and trials of one person to nourish a nation. We do not know how God will use us until he does.
Questions and Thoughts for Today
Can you tell the story of someone you know who was used by God to help many people?
I want to continue to read about what happened to the Israelites so I will now begin reading the book of Exodus.