Joel M Bradshaw

29…In these [cities and towns] lived the sons of Joseph the son of Israel.–1 Chronicles 7

1. Sometimes in a genealogy, we need to remember the stories that come with the names.
2. The second half of the book of Genesis is the story of how God delivered Israel (once named Jacob) and his sons from a famine and settled them into Egypt.
3. Joseph, whose story saw him rise to power in Egypt, would have two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
4. Students of the Torah notice that there is no tribe or land allotment for Joseph.
5. Instead, Jacob blessed Manasseh and Ephraim and proclaimed that his name would carry on in them (Genesis 48).
6. This meant that Joseph got a double honor. He became two tribes. Manasseh and Ephraim would carry on not only as sons of Joseph, but as official tribes of Israel/Jacob.
7. Joseph’s story was at times horrible. But God not only used that story for His glory, but also accomplished His will (Genesis 50:20). What is God accomplishing through your story?–JMB