Questions:
10.
a.
He bi-passed Joseph and gave blessing to his 2 sons, Ephraim and Manasseh
b.
Cane and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Shem Japheth Ham
11.
47:31 – Every agreement Jacob made was not only with another man but with and through God. Important to remember in dealings with other – also and always includes God and praise should always go to Him.
12.
Angel of the Lord – Pre-incarnate Christ
13.
May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh
14.
21-22I am about to die, but God will be with you[h] and take you[i] back to the land of your[j] fathers. 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land[k] than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.
My Daily Journal:
I was convicted by Jacob in the agreement he formed with Joseph regarding burying him in the tomb of the patriarchs. It wasn’t the agreement itself or his desire to be buried back in the promised land. But it was his approach to the agreement as related to us in verse 31. Jacob approached every agreement he made with another to be not only an agreement with that person but also one bound by God. And, why not? Should we be making agreements without God? Should God be a part of everything we commit to? Verse 31 says “”Swear to me,” he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff (or Israel bowed down at the head of his bed).”
I make a lot of agreements. I’m making promises and agreements every day at work. I make commitments to my wife and children and to my friends and church. I make a lot of deals. If my word reflects my faith, then I should ask God to be a part of each of those agreements and I should praise Him for each of them. I’m convicted to how this would affect both the deals I make and my behavior and commitment to them. Too often I’ll agree to something, but become distracted and not give it my all. But if worship and prayer were part of every commitment I make, then what extra power and strength I would have in more court to honor those and reflect God’s glory in my word and actions.
We talked in our circle about doing more to point the glory to God alone in our daily lives and dealings. I believe this passage helps teach us that begins in the beginning of those dealings, by prayer and praise before and as we make the commitments. By including God here, it is only natural that the glory for the work accomplished also go to Him.
The Notes are Good 