“Joseph Visits Jacob”

Jacob is ill, and Joseph brings his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to see him. Jacob recalls God’s promise to him in Luz: “I will give this land to your descendants forever.” Jacob declares that Ephraim and Manasseh will be counted as his own sons, just like Reuben and Simeon, an act of adoption and elevation. He tenderly remembers Rachel’s passing, emphasizing his lingering sorrow and the journey’s cost.

It reads in Genesis 48:1–7 Easy: After some time, someone told Joseph, ‘Your father is ill.’ So, Joseph went to see Jacob and he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him. Someone told Jacob, ‘Your son Joseph has come to see you.’ Jacob’s body became stronger, and he sat up on the bed. Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz, in Canaan. God blessed me there. He said to me, “I will give you many children, so that your descendants are many. In that way, you will become the ancestor of many nations. I will give this land to you so that it belongs to your descendants forever.” ’ Jacob continued to say to Joseph, ‘You have two sons that were born to you in Egypt before I came here. They will become my own sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be my sons, just like Reuben and Simeon are my sons.Any children born to you after them will be your own children. They will receive part of the land that belongs to their brothers, Ephraim and Manasseh. As for me, I was very sad when your mother Rachel died on our journey from Paddan. She died near to Ephrath. So, I buried her there, next to the road to Ephrath (that is now called Bethlehem).’

Father God, You appeared in Luz with promises wrapped in mercy, land, lineage, and the unfolding of nations. You spoke destiny into Jacob’s weary soul, and even as his strength faded, Your covenant remained unshaken. In the quiet of that sacred moment, You gathered sons and grandsons close, linking Egypt to Canaan with hearts full of inheritance. Jacob embraced Ephraim and Manasseh not just with words, but with a love that defied convention, a love that bridged distance. We remember Rachel’s sorrow, the quiet grief that lingers from the loss of a loved one. Even in mourning, You guided Jacob on the road to Ephrath, birthing compassion within his blessing. Lord, bless the generations we carry, the sons of our journey and the daughters of our hope. Let the adoption of grace surpass expectations, and may we bless with a vision that sees beyond tradition. Teach us to rise in weakness, to speak legacy, to love deeply, and to remember Your promises made when we were still becoming. Love You, thank You, praise You, and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus’ Precious Name, amen.