Genesis 48
"And [Jacob] blessed Joseph and said, 'The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys [Ephraim and Manasseh]. And in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” - Genesis 48:15-16
Jacob, nearing his death, has called the two sons of Joseph to him in order to bless them. He blesses the younger (Ephraim) above the older (Manasseh), just as he was blessed above his older brother (Esau). Who is the angel that redeemed him from all evil, who seems to be equal with God? It must be Jesus in preincarnate form. Perhaps Jacob understands this angel will also be the seed of the woman predicted in Genesis 3:15-16.
The biblical story is so incredible. About 1800 years before Jesus was born, we already see significant clues that one day the Messiah, who will be both God and man, will redeem mankind from sin and death.
Father, thank you for the truth of the Bible. One indication of its truth is the many types of Christ we see in the Old Testament. Jesus certainly is the centre-point of the Bible. He is the main character in the great story we are living in. Thank you for the predictions of his arrival and that he fulfilled those predictions literally and accurately. May we spread the good news about him today so that people may be saved from sin and experience eternal life, which is to know you. In Jesus' name, amen.
- Jeff Coleman