Genesis 49:24
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
The verse belongs to Jacob's Spirit-inspired dying blessing and prophecy over his sons and their tribes, spoken when they gathered about him to receive his blessing and hear his last words of advice. He spoke by inspiration with the Spirit of the Lord resting upon him, his mind elevated by the spirit of prophecy above natural paternal love and tenderness, with angels around him and the power of God's grace shining upon him. His words laid open past lives and future history reaching far into the future, to reveal the purposes of God and to present how God viewed human deeds. They were prophetic truth and not an expression of resentment or an unforgiving spirit, for he had forgiven his children's unfilial conduct and wicked treatment of Joseph and loved them to the last even when the truth he uttered was painful. In this he showed that God would punish sin for their sins and would by no means sanction cruelty or wickedness.
While his prophetic words to some sons were gloomy, including condemnation of Simeon and Levi for violence, his words to Joseph were eloquent and of happy character, predicting a cheerful future for him and not as gloomy as for the others. Joseph is pictured as fruitful, showing the good purpose God had for Israel. He receives the double portion of the inheritance. Though archers would sorely grieve Joseph and shoot at him and hate him with fierce and grievous assault, his bow abiding in strength means he held firm and did not break. The arms of his hands being made strong means God Himself, the mighty God of Jacob, the Mighty One of Jacob, gave strength to his hands so that he would withstand hatred and attack.
From that divine source comes the shepherd and the stone of Israel. The secret of Joseph's greatness when hated and attacked was loyalty to God and faith in the Unseen as his anchor, in which lay the hiding of his power. Strength is therefore to be sought in God rather than in oneself, and God will be all that one can desire. The mighty God of Jacob is to be trusted wholly in the time of trial when Satan's temptations are greater than ever before because he knows his time is short and very soon every case will be decided for life or for death. Such trust means bearing up under all afflictions instead of sinking beneath discouragement and trial, encouraging and comforting one another, with grace sufficient for even greater trials so that every temptation can be overcome and victory gained.