Tuesday, Sept. 10
Genesis 47:13 – 48:20 Read it here
Some of the deviousness that characterized most of the early stories of Jacob and his family return with today’s reading.
Joseph clearly inherited the family talent for turning a profit at the expense of others, taking advantage of the famine to reduce most Egyptians to servitude (and making them grateful for it). In his case, though, he does it on behalf of his own master, the Pharaoh. He proves himself a shrewd and faithful manager of the work he has been entrusted with.
Sometimes people try to find guidance in the Bible for the best economic system or the best political system, but in passages like this one there seems to be little suggestion that the system is inherently good or inherently evil. Justice and integrity seem to be more important for seeing what is in someone’s character.
When Jacob nears the end of his life, Joseph asks him to bless his sons. In a repeat of what we saw with Jacob’s own beginnings, he says both will father great nations, but the younger will prevail over the older.
Even though failing eyesight is again part of the account, the switched blessing seems entirely deliberate this time. Jacob, it appears, is just as unconcerned with convention now as he has ever been.
Jacob also gets Joseph to promise that he will be returned to his own land for burial. He will be buried with his ancestors and with his first wife, Leah. His beloved Rachel was buried elsewhere as she died during a journey.