Today’s scripture: Genesis 48 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Robert Hicks-Ferguson):
Have you ever found yourself so preoccupied with daily living, and the tasks that come with it, that you forget the promises of God? Sometimes I find it hard to see what God is doing. I believe that most of us have heard someone say, “God has a plan for your life.” But at times it’s hard to know what God is up to. In my own life, there are times when all I can see is what is directly in front of me. But, if we would dare to see the world based on God’s promises for our lives, perhaps we could see beyond our present circumstances and situations.
In our reading today, we find Jacob nearing the end of his life and bestowing one last blessing on his children — a blessing that was rooted in a promise God made to Jacob many years before. This is the same Jacob who wrestled with an angel one the side of a mountain in Genesis 32. That story happens to be one of my favorites. All night, Jacob wrestled a mysterious stranger that turned out to be the angel of God. Jacob was determined to hold the angel, not by physical strength but by the power of living faith. He cried out, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” God was so impressed by this show of faith in Jacob, in spite of being confronted with his own sin, that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which showed that he had struggled with God and had overcome. Because of his faith, Jacob — now Israel — was an overcomer!
Now at the end of his days, Jacob once again displays for us his great faith in the word of God. On his deathbed, Jacob reminds his children of his own spiritual journey. He tells the stories of God and he speaks of the importance of relationship. When Jacob testified that the Lord had been his shepherd all along, he did not deny his sufferings. But he had come to see them in a different light. Jacob realized that every event in his life was a part of the will of God and that God was guiding him and shaping him through adversity. Now with failing eyes he could hardly see. And when he chose to bless Joseph’s youngest son over the firstborn son, Joseph was displeased. Joseph thought his father was just confused and simply making a mistake. But the patriarch Jacob was very aware of what he was doing. This reverse blessing was exactly what God intended Jacob to do. Jacob was once again using his spiritual vision based on his faith as opposed to his physical eyesight.
Sometimes the world says we should be last when God says we should be first. Sometimes the world says our time has passed when God says our best days are ahead of us. Sometimes the world says we are the sum of our past mistakes and our bad decisions when God says, “In spite of what you have done, I will exalt you and make you ruler over your enemies.” God has again and again chosen the weak. God is sovereign and seems often to choose to go against mankind’s preference. Could it be that God wants to prevent anyone from thinking blessings automatically follow the line of natural privilege?
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. And the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:27-29.
Prayer for the day: Lord, thank You for Your grace, Your unmerited favor, Your unearned gift of life given to me this day. May I live my life today, in the light of that great truth in everything said and done.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.