By Faith Jacob Blessed

In the New Testament, Hebrews 11:21 says that by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshiped, leaning on his staff. Near death, in Egypt, Jacob looks back to God's promise at Bethel and forward to its fulfillment in Canaan.

Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, equal to Reuben and Simeon. Joseph thus receives the double portion normally given to the firstborn (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). Then, despite his dim eyes, Jacob deliberately crosses his hands, giving the greater blessing to Ephraim, the younger. When Joseph objects, Jacob replies, I know, my son, I know. The old deceiver, who once took a blessing by trickery from his blind father, now gives a blessing with clear sight and full knowledge of God's will.

Jacob's blessing is one of the richest descriptions of God in Genesis: the God before whom Abraham and Isaac walked; the God who had been his shepherd all his life long (as many translations put it); and the angel who has redeemed me from all evil. This is the first time the Bible uses the word redeem of God's action. Jacob's final words to Joseph, God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers, keep the promise alive for the next generation.