766. GEN 48:16. JACOB’S PRAYER FOR THE SONS OF JOSEPH

Gen_48:16. Jacob’s Prayer for the Sons of Joseph

"The angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads."’97Gen_48:16.

The text places before us a very interesting and striking scene,’97it is the dying chamber of a man of God. A man laden with years, bending with holy fruit, like a shock of corn quite ripe for the garner of glory. The tabernacle is beginning to be taken down,’97the vessel it about to be moored in the haven of rest,’97the gates of heaven are opening,’97kindred spirits are waiting; and the dying Jacob has only two things to do, and the consummation of his blessedness is realized. He has to bless his posterity, and to commend his spirit into the hands of God. His sons and grandchildren are summoned, the room is thronged, the dying patriarch is raised in his bed, and then filled with prophetic influence, he announces the intentions of heaven concerning them. The sons of Joseph are presented, he lifts up his soul to God, and says, in reference to them, "The angel who redeemed me," &c. Notice,

I. The glorious personage addressed.

"The angel," &c. Now, here we have two things: the title and achievements of this glorious personage.

1. The angel.

It cannot refer to that order of created intelligences who worship before the throne, &c. There are no instances of adoration and prayer being presented to them, &c. The text refers to the same person, as Gen_48:15. Now this is none other than the Son of God. It is highly probable that God never did hold any intercourse with our world but by his Son,’97he created all things by and for Christ, and he rules it, &c. Angel signifies a messenger. As such he appeared to Hagar, Gen_21:17; to Abraham, on Mount Moriah, Gen_22:12; to Jacob, when he wrestled, &c.; to Moses in the bush, Exo_8:2, and Exo_32:28; to Joshua, Exo_5:13. These passages will show how appropriate is this title to Jesus. Jesus is the head’97the Lord of angels. Angels are wise; Christ is the wisdom of God. Holy; Christ is the fountain of holiness. Benevolent; love is the essence of Christ’s nature. Powerful; Christ is almighty. They are sons; Christ is the Son, of God. "From everlasting to everlasting," &c. "The same yesterday, today, and forever." "God over all," &c.

2. The achievements of this angel. "Redeemed me from all evil."

(1.) Let us look at this literally. Jacob had to flee from the face of Esau; and the angel had to guide and protect him. When he returned, pursued by Laban, the angel appeared to Laban, and said, "Speak not to Jacob either good or bad." When Esau came forth to meet him, the angel interfered, and Esau is pacified, &c. When famine had spread its sable mantle, and Joseph was not, Simeon, was not, &c.; and when concentrated evil was hanging over his aged head, at eventide, it was light, &c.; the angel was now redeeming him, &c.; all possible good was at hand. Yes! he was redeemed from all evil. Full of years he died, leaving a numerous posterity; and full of faith and hope he expired, saying, "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord!" Jesus is still the Lord of providence. He has redeemed us in numberless instances from the temporal evils of the present life. Let us look at this,

2. Spiritually.

The redemption of man’s body and soul. How? By assuming our nature, by becoming our surety, by magnifying the law, by shedding his blood. From what? From evil,’97the evil of sin, its power, love, defilement, the evil of the curse of the law. From the power of the devil, from the evil of death, the evil of the grave, and from the evil’97the extreme evil of the wrath to come. Yes! from all evil, internal and external; present and future. Redeemed to God, to his reconciled favor, to the possibility of receiving the offer of pardon, grace, and eternal glory.

Now this redemption is to be remembered. It ought to be gratifying and consolatory to our souls; it ought also to inspire faith and hope. This leads us then to notice, in the second place,

II. The interesting prayer presented.

"Bless the lads." Now Jacob’s prayer had particular respect to the sons of Joseph. It may with propriety include both sexes. Man is generally addressed, woman included. We ask,

1. What is sought?

"Bless," &c. This expression is very comprehensive. The outline we may fill up according to circumstances, &c. Three things we should especially seek on their behalf.

(1.) Knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is power. "For the soul to be without knowledge," &c. Science, literature, &c., important; knowledge of Christ, the most important. The wisdom that cometh from above. Knowledge and wisdom combined. There are many intellectual profligates, skeptics; devils are intellectual; they know God and tremble, &c. That they may be wise to salvation.

(2.) Genuine religion. It begins with knowledge evidenced by fruits of piety: it must be the religion of the heart, and of the life.

(3.) That God may make them extensively useful. The world is to be evangelized. These are to be the instruments. We labor and die. The millennial temple is to be reared by these hands.

2. Who should thus pray?

(1.) Those who profess to be lovers of their species. If you want man to be free, happy, and great, kneel down and adopt this prayer.

(2.) Those who are called patriots,’97lovers of their country. What can exalt a nation more than this, &c. Bend before the God of nations, and thus pray. These are to fill our civil offices, &c.

(3.) Parents. You love your children, show it by your example. Take them with you to the throne of grace, and pray as in the language of the text.

(4.) Sunday-school teachers. Teach and impress divine truth upon your scholars; but, after all, pray for them in the spirit of the text.

(5.) Fellow-Christians,’97all who love Jesus Christ,’97Christ says to each of us, and to all, "Suffer little children to come unto me," &c. "Feed my lambs."

3. The manner of presenting this supplication.

This must be done under a consciousness,

(1.) Of the necessity of the divine blessing. "The watchman may keep the city," &c. "The builder may build the house," &c. "Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but Christ alone can cause to grow."

(2.) In strong faith. We have promises and examples: Abraham for Ishmael; the father for his dumb child; the nobleman for his daughter.

(3.) In connection with our own efforts; God’s blessing with, and following the employment of right means; God’s blessing with our own exertions. Observe,

The obvious bearing of the text on Sabbath-school institutions.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS