02/09/2025
"JACOB'S JUKE AND THE BLESSING OF JOSEPH"
"48:1 Some time later Joseph was told,"Your father is ill." So he took his twosons Manasseh and Ephraim along withhim.2When Jacob was told, "Your sonJoseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.3Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.' 5"Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim andManasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem). 8 When Israel saw the sons of Joseph,he asked, "Who are these?" 9"They are the sons God has given mehere," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I maybless them."10 Now Israel's eyes were failing becauseof old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him,and his father kissed them and embraced them.11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too." 12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.13 And Joseph took both of them,Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left 83 hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him.14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms,he put his left hand on Manasseh's head,even though Manasseh was the firstborn.15 Then he blessed Joseph and said,"May the God before whom my fathersAbraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life tothis day,16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm -may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of hisfather's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.18Joseph said to him, "No, my father,this one is the firstborn; put your righthand on his head. "19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too willbecome great. Nevertheless, hisyounger brother will be greater than he,and his descendants will become agroup of nations." 20He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' " So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.22 And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword andmy bow."
(GENESIS 48)
Messiah's invites you to worship with us this Lord's Day. Each Sunday, we meet at the China Lake Camp and Conference Center located at 255 Neck Rd. China, ME.
TODAY, WE MEET IN THE DINING HALL.
Our order of Sunday events are as follows:
𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗦:
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺. - 𝟭𝟬:𝟰𝟱 𝗮.𝗺. (CANCELED TODAY)
𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝟭𝟭:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺.
We hope you will join us. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us; we'd be happy to connect.
Blessings,
Messiah's Congretion,
