"Then Jacob called together all his sons and said, ‘Gather around me, and I will tell you what is going to happen to you in the days to come. Come and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.'"
Genesis 49:1 & 2

Today we witness the very embodiment of dynasty - the dying patriarch calls and all his sons come to his room to listen to his last words. We'll come to see that nobody is missing, all obeyed the call. Some will hear things that prick their consciences, things they would probably rather not hear! Others will be bowled over by what their father says to them, comments which are perhaps beyond their wildest expectations. We should share something of what Jacob's sons must have experienced every time we are with the body of Christ, whether worshipping in our local congregation or at a Christian conference. The difference is that our Father is not on his death bed! If that isn't our experience perhaps we're in the wrong place because we're called into a living relationship with Jesus. He speaks to us directly and through His word, worship, preaching, teaching and conversations.

"Then Jacob said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to Canaan, the land of your ancestors. And I give you an extra portion beyond what I have given your brothers—the portion that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.'"
Genesis 48:21

Back on 3rd August we discovered that God, speaking privately to Jacob, said, "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will see to it that you become a great nation there. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring your descendants back again." He didn't blab it out to any old person but waited for the right one to share it with. Clearly as Jacob spoke to Joseph he recognised that this was the right moment to share what God had promised Him. The point of waiting was because God's words require the right moment for them to achieve their maximum impact. Timing is everything in the Kingdom of God, that's one reason why we can tell someone about Jesus and our words fall on deaf ears and yet the same words spoken on another occasion can bring life-changing results.

"But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father had laid his right hand on Ephraim's head. So he lifted it to place it on Manasseh's head instead. ‘No, Father,' he said, ‘this one over here is older. Put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused. ‘I know what I'm doing, my son,' he said. ‘Manasseh, too, will become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. His descendants will become a multitude of nations!' So Jacob blessed the boys that day with this blessing: ‘The people of Israel will use your names to bless each other. They will say, "May God make you as prosperous as Ephraim and Manasseh." ‘ In this way, Jacob put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh."
Genesis 48:17 - 20

Today as we witness Jacob moving in the prophetic concerning Ephraim and Manasseh it's time for us to recognise the impact that the Holy Spirit makes upon our own lives. Walking in the prophetic today is all about walking in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, one of which, according to 1 Corinthians 12:10, is prophecy. Study out what the New Testament says about the gifts of the Spirit and it becomes clear that God's attributes become available to us as they become a necessity/desirable in our lives in this or that situation. That's why Jesus could say, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12 NKJV) Anybody think I've gone too far? Then any argument is with Jesus, not me!

"Then he positioned the boys so Ephraim was at Jacob's left hand and Manasseh was at his right hand. But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boys' heads. So his right hand was on the head of Ephraim, the younger boy, and his left hand was on the head of Manasseh, the older. Then he blessed Joseph and said, ‘May God, the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life, and the angel who has kept me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May they preserve my name and the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac. And may they become a mighty nation.'"
Genesis 48:13-16

There is a difference in intent between the general good wishes of a grandparent for the happiness of their grandchild and what we see Jacob doing today. We may speak out what we hope to see happen in a child's life but as we look carefully at Jacob's words we actually read words of steely determination. "May God…" is spoken in an active sense not passive; not in a "God might…" sense but rather declaring what will happen. In English we use "may" when permission to do something is granted. Seen in this light Jacob is declaring a blessing that releases the resources of heaven over his two grandsons. He is able to do just that by virtue of his relationship with God and his position as head of the house of Jacob/Israel. We can do the same because of our relationship with Jesus.

"Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. ‘Are these your sons?' he asked. ‘Yes,' Joseph told him, ‘these are the sons God has given me here in Egypt.' And Jacob said, ‘Bring them over to me, and I will bless them.' Now Jacob was half blind because of his age and could hardly see. So Joseph brought the boys close to him, and Jacob kissed and embraced them. Then Jacob said to Joseph, ‘I never thought I would see you again, but now God has let me see your children, too.' Joseph took the boys from their grandfather's knees, and he bowed low to him."
Genesis 48:8 -12

Unashamedly today's reading speaks straight to a grandparent's heart. So I apologise to all who are not grandparents and confess freely that until the moment that I saw my children's children I would have glossed over such a passage as we read today. But I know what it's like to have a grandchild on my knee and identify with the inexpressible joy that Jacob must have felt. Obviously not everybody is called to create a dynasty like Jacob but we are reminded that family is important. However, if we know Jesus then we will belong to a greater family, that of God. Loving my grandchildren came naturally but loving my fellow members in God's family requires determination on my part - setting my will to do what Jesus would do. It's all a bit like riding a bike, hard to begin with but suddenly, unexpectedly, it all falls into place.

"As I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died in the land of Canaan. We were still on the way, just a short distance from Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). So with great sorrow I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath."
Genesis 48:7

Yesterday Jacob began to talk to Joseph about his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Suddenly without warning he begins to talk about Joseph's mother. We shall see from tomorrow's reading that his comment is entirely isolated, without introduction or any declared purpose. Perhaps talking to Joseph about his sons took Jacob back to the saddest of all days for him when he laid the love of his life to rest. At one level the memories of an old person can appear disjointed almost irrational but let's determine to cut them some slack. Sometimes something happens which makes me ache for the loss of my mother (who died when I was 19 years old) or my father or step mother. I don't plan such moments they just happen, life is so fragile and even 100 years seems short to those who live it…praise God that eternal life is everlasting!

"One day not long after this, word came to Joseph that his father was failing rapidly. So Joseph went to visit him, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. When Jacob heard that Joseph had arrived, he gathered his strength and sat up in bed to greet him. Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said to me, "I will make you a multitude of nations, and I will give this land of Canaan to you and your descendants as an everlasting possession." Now I am adopting as my own sons these two boys of yours, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born here in the land of Egypt before I arrived. They will inherit from me just as Reuben and Simeon will. But the children born to you in the future will be your own. The land they inherit will be within the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.'"
Genesis 48:1-6

I love it that Jacob, "gathered his strength and sat up in bed to greet" Joseph. We know he was very old and failing but still he has the determination to sit up and greet his favourite son. I often mention my step mother and one reason is that she lived to a great age, 100 years 8 months, and she, having something of Jacob's spirit, "did for herself". Whenever my wife and I visited she always arranged tea with cake for us. It was only in the last year or so of her life she asked for help to carry things in. She would tell us that living in her own home and preparing her meals was what kept her going and lamented the situation with friends in old people's homes whom she had seen deteriorate before her eyes because everything was done for them. Determination brings dignity.