The Blessing of Joseph

I was studying Joseph, the son of Jacob. As I was reading through Jacob’s blessings of his sons at the end of his life, I had a fresh perspective on the blessing of Joseph.

As you may be aware if you’ve read this blog for any length of time, the meaning of the name “Joseph” is “May God add” or “May God/He increase.” Jacob/Israel calls Joseph “a fruitful bough,” for it was through Joseph that many in the land at that time were saved from famine.

HT: MEMRI

Below is the passage from Genesis that documents Jacob’s blessing to Joseph. Of all the blessings Jacob gave, Joseph’s is the most eloquent of all.

“Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; its branches run over a wall.

The archers bitterly attacked him, and shot at him and harassed him; but his bow remained firm, and his arms were agile, from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel), from the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb.

The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; may they be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers.”

–Genesis 49:22-26.

It’s a marvelous passage and one, I think, to keep in mind if you ever feel like the enemy is trying to ever sucker-punch you. God is the one who keeps your bow firm even when you don’t realize it.

One thing to keep in mind about Joseph–and I encourage you to read his story in Genesis 37:1-50:26 (which is the end of Genesis)–Satan tried his best to kill-off Joseph. You have to understand, at that point in history, God didn’t reveal which one of Jacob’s sons would be the ancestor of Jesus. Since Satan does not see the future, he only assumed that it would be through Joseph that the Messiah would come. So what did he do? He did everything he could to thwart the plan of God by putting up roadblocks and devious plans to get rid of Joseph.

But God is bigger than that. Indeed, Joseph would explain it like this:

“As for you [ed. note: Joseph's brothers], you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” –Genesis 50:20.

Joseph’s brother, Judah, was Jesus’ ancestor. Jacob’s blessing to Judah prophesied this. Satan failed then and he’s going to fail at the end of this age. But in the meantime, he is still prowling around like a lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Let it not be you.

May He Increase!