Post by fred on Aug 17, 2022 3:39:50 GMT -8
Genesis 48:15-16
(15) Then Jacob blessed Joseph, “May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may God, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day,
(16) may the Messenger, who has rescued me from all evil, bless these boys. May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.” (GOD'S WORD Translation)
The Hebrew word for "Messenger" in v. 16 is mal'ak. It could refer to created supernal beings (Psalm 148:2), people (Joshua 6:17), and based on the fact that He is prayed to by Jacob in this blessing demonstrates this 'Messenger' is God. For when believers bless one another it is a prayer to God (2 Chronicles 30:27).[1]
1. Jacob credited the Messenger for redeeming him from all evil.
This is what Paul claimed the Lord Jesus does in the New Testament (cf. Galatians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 4:18).
2. Jacob asked the Messenger to bless Joseph's children.
This Messenger is not the same Person as the Father (cf. 2 Samuel 24:16; cf. 1 Chronicles 21:27).[2]
3. Jacob asked the Messenger to cause his descendants to grow into a multitude which only God can do.
[1] Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: the OT does not portray a blessing as magical, but as a prayer offered to a sovereign God (Bless, page 67).
[2] The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible: He introduced himself as Deity and yet as distinct from God (1:186, Angel, G. B. Funderburk).
(15) Then Jacob blessed Joseph, “May God, in whose presence my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac walked, may God, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day,
(16) may the Messenger, who has rescued me from all evil, bless these boys. May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.” (GOD'S WORD Translation)
The Hebrew word for "Messenger" in v. 16 is mal'ak. It could refer to created supernal beings (Psalm 148:2), people (Joshua 6:17), and based on the fact that He is prayed to by Jacob in this blessing demonstrates this 'Messenger' is God. For when believers bless one another it is a prayer to God (2 Chronicles 30:27).[1]
1. Jacob credited the Messenger for redeeming him from all evil.
This is what Paul claimed the Lord Jesus does in the New Testament (cf. Galatians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 4:18).
2. Jacob asked the Messenger to bless Joseph's children.
This Messenger is not the same Person as the Father (cf. 2 Samuel 24:16; cf. 1 Chronicles 21:27).[2]
3. Jacob asked the Messenger to cause his descendants to grow into a multitude which only God can do.
[1] Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: the OT does not portray a blessing as magical, but as a prayer offered to a sovereign God (Bless, page 67).
[2] The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible: He introduced himself as Deity and yet as distinct from God (1:186, Angel, G. B. Funderburk).