Chronological Reading Plan for Jan 29

Today's reading is Genesis 48-50. Tomorrow's is Exodus 1-3.

In Gen 48, Jacob moves on his faith. Not having seen the tangible end of the promise God gave him, he blesses Joseph's sons, passing on the promise that was given to him. Jacob does a strange thing, though. He deliberately confers a greater blessing upon Ephraim, the younger son, designating both boys as “his” sons, just as are Reuben and Simeon (Gen 48:5). Once the descendants of the twelve return to Canaan  and the land is divided up among the twelve resulting tribes, Joseph's descendants will be divided into two halves, Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim will become the greater of the two. As the tribes settle into their respective areas in the Promised Land, Ephraim will eventually become synonymous with the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This will not turn out to as great a blessing as it sounds. 

Jacob then blesses each of his twelve sons with prophetic blessings. The promise is passed on to them. But, they will each have their own struggles and victories. The path forward will not be easy. Still, in all Jacob proclaims over his sons, it is clear they will each have land. In this, the 12 tribes of Israel are identified. 

Jacob also mentions locations in the Promised Land (Canaan). We see a foreshadowing of the next major phase as we are about to move into the exodus from Egypt and the conquering of Canaan. Jacob refers to Bethel but calls it Luz, the name it had before Jacob changed the name. See the map for more.