A Greater Blessing

The blessing of Jacob’s 12 sons really begins at the end of Genesis 48 with the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh – newly adopted by Jacob. Ephraim would inherit the birthright and he and his brother Manasseh would come to represent all of Israel. But later Old Testament passages speak of the horrible sins of their descendent tribes, even while Jeremiah speaks of their restoration. How can this come about? The answer may be surprising and centers on a somewhat mysterious bequest of a “shoulder of land” given to Joseph. See the significance of this gift to Joseph and how it becomes the focal point of the restorative work of a greater Jacob, Jesus Christ.