“²²So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. ²³Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also * brought up on Joseph’s knees.”

– Genesis 50:22-23 (NKJV)

“So Joseph dwelt in Egypt (in the land of exile, that foreign place that he had been called to subdue, rule and reign over, having since been gloriously colonised for The Kingdom of God, a whole country become new [2 Cor 5:17], and set apart unto God in this season), he and his father’s household (how peculiarly the tables have turned Beloved Friend, the brothers having once cruelly conspired to drive Joseph as far away as possible from their dwelling place, now come unto him as little children – needy, dependent, humbled – to abide under his wings in his ordained dwelling place; notice also the far-reaching consequences of how The Promise of the multiplication of The Children of Israel is now set to continue from this once hostile, pagan place, and in hindsight is quite precarious when we consider that Egypt will again become hardened under new rule and oppress and persecute these selfsame Children; nevertheless as the theme of Genesis 49:20 is perpetuated, we know that this in turn will become an even more glorious display of The Power of God when He then leads them out of Egypt in an historical act of the most epic proportions, that is not only celebrated by the Jewish people to this very day, but has become an important narrative, message, analogy and image of the Christian life throughout The Scriptures, to edify and instruct the walk of every True Child – there ultimately being no longer Jew nor gentile but all One in Christ [Gal 3:28] – with The LORD). And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation * (and most assuredly the Blessing, Mercy and Love of God upon them for surely, surely Joseph and his fathers “loved Him and kept His commandments” [Ex 20:6]). The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees (we recognise here not only a reiteration and deliberate calling to remembrance of that blessed intimate scene where Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh: “so Joseph brought them from beside his knees . . . so he blessed them that day” [Gen 48:12-20], but also a profound harbinging of the age to come where The Children’s Children’s Children will enjoy the sweetest and most blessed intimacy with God the Father in Christ, in the innermost sanctum, in the very Holy of Holies, with The One Who has subdued, rules and reigns over ALL).”

* It is also worth marveling Dear Friend at the very Gentle care taken in the Scriptures to esteem both of Joseph’s dear children (in themselves harbingers of the Gal 3:28 coming together of Jew and gentile as One In Christ, having Joseph as father and dear Asenath as mother) and the intimacy their offspring and in turn their offspring enjoyed with Joseph himself in a most creative and tender manner as we behold that the phrase “[t]he children of Machir, the son of Manasseh” effectively echoes the sentiment “Ephraim’s children to the third generation” for Manasseh’s sake, for verily “the children of Machir” is of course “Manasseh’s children to the third generation” 😊.

Let us also rejoice at the fulfilling of a promise come to pass in Joseph’s life – a promise not yet even formally spoken by God [Heb 8:10] – “honour your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth ” [Eph 6:2-3], at the very moment that we are prompted to remember that touching scene in Genesis 48 where Joseph’s not only profoundly honouring-, but deeply Loving relationship with his father Jacob is perhaps most beautifully and awe-inspiringly illustrated.