And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
Israel spoke out of joy and gratitude when, after long believing Joseph was lost to him forever, he was allowed not only to see Joseph's face again but also to see Joseph's children. The saying stands near the close of Genesis in the finishing of Joseph's story, after his dreams were fulfilled and his father was brought down into Egypt, as Jacob blessed Joseph's sons and adopted them among the tribes before his own death and burial. It is a lesson in God's providential care, where what was meant for harm was turned to good for the preserving of Jacob's house, and where the promises concerning his seed find their center in Christ, in whom those who belong to Him are Abraham's seed and heirs. It shows that God gives more than was asked or expected, leading by a longer way yet bringing His purpose to pass, so that long affliction and despair give place to unexpected joy when His working for good is seen.
Narrative Setting and Meaning
Genesis 48:11 belongs to the account of Israel in Egypt, when Jacob took his journey with all that he had and all his seed down from Canaan into Egypt. It belongs to the closing chapters of Genesis, the Book of Beginnings, which finish the story of Joseph and his brethren. That closing section includes Israel's journey to Egypt, the reception by Joseph and Pharaoh, and Jacob's prophetic blessing upon Joseph's sons and his own sons before Jacob's death and burial.
It belongs to the completion of the story of Joseph, after his meeting with his brethren, the fulfilment of his dreams, and the bringing of his father down into Egypt, and before the death of the old patriarch and finally the death of Joseph. It stands with Jacob's blessing upon his sons and the adoption of Joseph's sons among the twelve tribes. It belongs to the account of God's care for Israel's descendants and the adoption of Joseph's sons.
The verse records Jacob's joy and gratitude that, after having thought he would never see Joseph's face again, God allowed him not only to see Joseph again but also to see Joseph's children. It shows grateful surprise at reunion beyond expectation, God granting the unexpected blessing of seeing his descendants. In this it shows God's care for the preservation of the promised Seed and of the progenitors of the Seed.
Providence Doctrine and Application
The story of Jacob and Joseph is a lesson in God's providential care, in which what Joseph's brothers intended for harm God turned to good for the preservation of his relatives, and its words concerning Jacob's descendants belong to prophecies about his seed that are centered in Christ, the true stock of Israel in whom Israel finds root and nourishment, so that those who belong to Christ are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Jacob had not expected to see Joseph's face again, yet God not only restored his son to him but also let him see Joseph's children, illustrating that God can lead people by a longer route and still bring them to the purpose He intends.
The verse expresses grateful surprise at reunion with Joseph and at seeing his children after believing that loss and sorrow had overtaken him, recognizing that God had given more than was expected, and it illustrates that God's wise providence can bring unexpected joy after a long period of affliction. It shows Jacob's later joy and gratitude in seeing Joseph and his descendants after once despairing that his troubles were against him, leading him to recognize that God had worked for his good.
The surrounding passage shows that Manasseh was older than Ephraim yet the birthright was given to Ephraim, so that firstborn standing means God's appointment, pre-eminence, and rightful heirship and not age alone. This shows how Jesus Christ is the Firstborn from the dead even though others were raised before Him, because all are brought from the dead by virtue of His offering and work. The verse belongs to the survey of the life of Joseph that yields striking lessons and underlying principles for dealing with the various contingencies of life, recording a human experience that still has its counterpart in experiences people go through, so its example helps and guides anyone called to pass through a similar experience. Its practical lesson is to be as familiar as one's own name, for the good of one's own soul and for giving counsel to others in similar difficulties, as part of the Word of God that is a daily guidebook to be trusted to the very end.
Israel spoke out of joy and gratitude when, after long believing Joseph was lost to him forever, he was allowed not only to see Joseph's face again but also to see Joseph's children. The saying stands near the close of Genesis in the finishing of Joseph's story, after his dreams were fulfilled and his father was brought down into Egypt, as Jacob blessed Joseph's sons and adopted them among the tribes before his own death and burial. It is a lesson in God's providential care, where what was meant for harm was turned to good for the preserving of Jacob's house, and where the promises concerning his seed find their center in Christ, in whom those who belong to Him are Abraham's seed and heirs. It shows that God gives more than was asked or expected, leading by a longer way yet bringing His purpose to pass, so that long affliction and despair give place to unexpected joy when His working for good is seen.
Narrative Setting and Meaning
Genesis 48:11 belongs to the account of Israel in Egypt, when Jacob took his journey with all that he had and all his seed down from Canaan into Egypt. It belongs to the closing chapters of Genesis, the Book of Beginnings, which finish the story of Joseph and his brethren. That closing section includes Israel's journey to Egypt, the reception by Joseph and Pharaoh, and Jacob's prophetic blessing upon Joseph's sons and his own sons before Jacob's death and burial.
It belongs to the completion of the story of Joseph, after his meeting with his brethren, the fulfilment of his dreams, and the bringing of his father down into Egypt, and before the death of the old patriarch and finally the death of Joseph. It stands with Jacob's blessing upon his sons and the adoption of Joseph's sons among the twelve tribes. It belongs to the account of God's care for Israel's descendants and the adoption of Joseph's sons.
The verse records Jacob's joy and gratitude that, after having thought he would never see Joseph's face again, God allowed him not only to see Joseph again but also to see Joseph's children. It shows grateful surprise at reunion beyond expectation, God granting the unexpected blessing of seeing his descendants. In this it shows God's care for the preservation of the promised Seed and of the progenitors of the Seed.
Providence Doctrine and Application
The story of Jacob and Joseph is a lesson in God's providential care, in which what Joseph's brothers intended for harm God turned to good for the preservation of his relatives, and its words concerning Jacob's descendants belong to prophecies about his seed that are centered in Christ, the true stock of Israel in whom Israel finds root and nourishment, so that those who belong to Christ are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise. Jacob had not expected to see Joseph's face again, yet God not only restored his son to him but also let him see Joseph's children, illustrating that God can lead people by a longer route and still bring them to the purpose He intends.
The verse expresses grateful surprise at reunion with Joseph and at seeing his children after believing that loss and sorrow had overtaken him, recognizing that God had given more than was expected, and it illustrates that God's wise providence can bring unexpected joy after a long period of affliction. It shows Jacob's later joy and gratitude in seeing Joseph and his descendants after once despairing that his troubles were against him, leading him to recognize that God had worked for his good.
The surrounding passage shows that Manasseh was older than Ephraim yet the birthright was given to Ephraim, so that firstborn standing means God's appointment, pre-eminence, and rightful heirship and not age alone. This shows how Jesus Christ is the Firstborn from the dead even though others were raised before Him, because all are brought from the dead by virtue of His offering and work. The verse belongs to the survey of the life of Joseph that yields striking lessons and underlying principles for dealing with the various contingencies of life, recording a human experience that still has its counterpart in experiences people go through, so its example helps and guides anyone called to pass through a similar experience. Its practical lesson is to be as familiar as one's own name, for the good of one's own soul and for giving counsel to others in similar difficulties, as part of the Word of God that is a daily guidebook to be trusted to the very end.