Much of Jacob’s concluding seventeen years in Egypt is passed over with little or no commentary. However, irrespective of our interpretation of Jacob’s earthly sojourn, there is widespread agreement that these final years outline some of the most striking narrative found in Scripture. Therefore, as the introductory book of the Bible is drawn to a close, it is appropriate that Jacob – now indisputably the man of faith and God’s approved servant – is given due prominence. Consider the servant in a number of aspects.
Labouring
I suspect that if Jacob visited his local GP during his twilight years in Egypt he would have been instructed to "Take things easier"! He had every reason to be more leisurely in his outlook but remained active until the end. Think about some of the impediments he faced. Age was certainly not on his side for he had completed almost ninety percent of his pilgrimage by the time he reached Egypt (Gen 47.28) but he was still able to bless his sons (and Ephraim and Manasseh, Gen 48-49). Retirement for the believer can only come when we reach glory, and not before! He was also bed-ridden toward the end (Gen 47.31; 48.2) but, like Jacob, we can remain spiritually active and alert despite enforced periods of incapacitation. Prayer, for example, is possible no matter where we are, and the story is told of Harold St John that as he made his way to meetings he often talked to the Lord in what he termed perambulatory prayer.
Then, alongside the restrictions of age and ill-health, Jacob’s eyesight had also deteriorated (Gen 48.10) and he felt the general weakness of the body ("sick" in Genesis 48.1 is rendered "weak" elsewhere in the Old Testament – Judges 16.7,11). Other limiting factors for Jacob include the loss of his wife, Rachel, who had occupied a special place in his heart (Gen 48.7, RV), and residence in Egypt which, for all its conveniences, was still not where his heart lay (Gen 50.5). Nonetheless, despite the limitations of the body he remained spiritually perceptive (Gen 48.14,19) and allowed the Lord to work through him. Whereas Noah ended his life on a negative note (Gen 9.20-23), Jacob’s concluding years were particularly spiritual. As someone has remarked on the subject of Christian steadfastness, despite growing older we should not grow colder!
Leaning
Jacob found physical support from his bed (Gen 47.31) – and staff (Heb 11.21) – but his spiritual resources were in God. He knew that God would fulfil the promise he received at Bethel (Gen 28.14) and that the family would one day return to the land of promise (Gen 48.21). Our primary source of strength is the Lord and His promise to abide with us (Heb 13.5) and ultimately take us to be with Him (Jn 14.1-3). There is no doubting the truth of the hymn:
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms!
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Failure to derive strength from the Lord can only arise from a lack of faith and wisdom on our part. Given His power and stature the Lord should be the first "port of call" for those believers faced with stormy seas. Furthermore, Joseph was also a vital support, holding his father’s thigh in his closing moments (Gen 47.29 – cf. 24.2) and undertaking to bury him in Canaan. The companionship of Christians, especially in a local assembly context, is one of the more practical blessings emanating from salvation. Certainly Paul was conscious of the need for fellowship and the comfort to be derived from sensitive and caring saints (2 Cor 7.6). Then the memory of the past was also uppermost in Jacob’s mind (Gen 48.15-16) and he drew on the memory of God’s goodness as his support for the present and future. The Psalmist (David) was equally able to draw strength in his old age by dwelling on the divine protection received along the pathway (Ps 37.23-25). The passage lays particular emphasis on the name "Israel" rather than Jacob (Gen 48.2,8,10-11,13-14,20-21). Whereas the old name acted as a reminder of the sinful nature and the depth to which God had descended to bless him, "Israel" indicated the height to which he had been raised. We can similarly derive comfort from the elevation that divine grace has wrought in us (Jn 1.12; Rom 8.16-17). Ultimately, however, Jacob was comforted with the knowledge that death is the gateway into eternity and fellowship with the redeemed (Gen 49.33). Rather than being the end of the road, death represents only a bend after which the believer can enter into the joy of the Lord (Ps 16.11).
Learning
Despite old age Jacob still displayed a capacity to absorb and impart divine truth. His understanding of God’s power is clear given the memory of Bethel (Gen 48.3) and the strength of Jehovah to redeem (Gen 48.16). Moreover, being in Egypt, seeing Joseph and his seed (Gen 48.11), further illustrates the omnipotence of God. The Apostle Paul could also testify that God’s power often exceeds our petitions and thoughts (Eph 3.20). A further impression of Jacob relates to God’s promises (Gen 48.4) for he was evidently in no doubt that God would keep His word and do the same for his offspring (Gen 48.16,20). The believer needs to keep the Scriptures close to the heart (Ps 119.11) for in a changing world our dependence is on the changeless Word (Ps 119.89). God’s presence was equally real to Jacob – and his forefathers (Gen 48.15) – for walking with God was not an abstract doctrinal truth but rather an every-day experience. The believer is to enjoy abiding fellowship with God but also tell forth His glories to the world. Jacob also enjoyed God’s provision for His own during their earthly pilgrimage (Gen 48.15). His children would later (and literally) experience this in the provision of the manna (Ex 16.35). We too now feed on that which the manna typifies – the Lord Himself (Jn 6.35).
In the blessing of Joseph’s son and the emphasis on Ephraim rather than the firstborn (Manasseh, Gen 48.17) we learn that Jacob was alert to God’s pattern to establish priority for the second – in the main to prepare for Messiah, the second Man (1 Cor 15.47). Then, as highlighted in Hebrews 11.21, Jacob was aware of God’s principle that the just live by faith.
Living
Jacob’s words to Joseph in Genesis 48.15-16 provide a code for Christian living. Jacob initially speaks of the guidance of God: like his father (Isaac) and grandfather (Abraham), he had walked before God in that the major steps of his life moved in accord with the Word (Gen 28.15; 31.3; 35.1; 46.3-4). During my early schooling years, I recall summer holidays being filled with innocent games of which a particular favourite was "Follow-the-leader". The participants were to mimic the leader’s actions and any who failed to do so were out of the game. For all its complexities, the Christian pathway has the same basic feature – God leads and we follow Him and the example set by His Son.
Jacob also testified to the goodness of God: he experienced the feeding shepherd care of Jehovah. As a shepherd himself Jacob was acutely aware of the time and effort needed to feed sheep and he was grateful that God did the same for him. We too enjoy the devotion of the Shepherd (Ps 23.1; Jn 10.11; Heb 13.20-21). Jacob’s redemption by the "Angel of the Lord" highlighted the grace of God: the reference is taken as a pre-incarnate reference to the Lord Jesus (Gen 48.16). Redemption, a crucially important Bible principle, is mentioned for the first time here in Scripture and provides a real stimulant to worship. The patriarch also spoke concerning the glory of God: the chosen people (here referring specifically to Ephraim and Manasseh) would grow into a multitude. According to Keil & Delitzsch, the word used for "grow" refers to the remarkable rapidity by which fish multiply! In a coming day, the nation will again display God’s glory on earth (Rom 11.26-27). However, every believer is a temple of God (1 Cor 6.19) and ought to be a continual display of His glory.
Loving
In Genesis 48 we observe Jacob as a devoted husband, speaking of his beloved Rachel, whose death brought him much sorrow (Gen 48.7, RV). He is also a loving father in that he speaks with tenderness to Joseph (Gen 48.3,15,19), giving him a portion above his brothers (Gen 48.21-22). In blessing Ephraim and Manasseh we see Jacob as a wise and caring grandfather – they become sons to Jacob (Gen 48.5-6) and thereby Joseph, effectively the firstborn (1 Chr 5.1-2), receives the double portion. Finally, and perhaps most significant of all, Jacob is the dedicated pilgrim who displays a remarkable devotion to Jehovah throughout his closing moments.
To be continued.
