(Genesis) Genesis 48:7-13

Verse 7, And as for me, when I came from Paden, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan, in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ethrath, and I buried her there in the way of Ethrath, the same is Bethlehem. Now, you may today at Christmas time sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and you think of the birth of Jesus. You know what old Jacob would think of if he heard you singing, O Little Town of Bethlehem at Christmas time? He'd think of the death of Rachel, not the birth of anyone except Benjamin, but he would think primarily of the death of his beloved and beautiful Rachel.

And right here on his deathbed, he goes right back there where he buried her. That was his heartbreak, as you know. He said, I buried her there, and it's Bethlehem.

And verse 8 now, And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Whose are these? Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I'll bless them. Have you noticed both Isaac and Jacob, when they got old, they had difficulty seeing? There's an eye trouble that's been in that land for years, and it does affect the old.

The brightness of the sun, I guess, had a great deal to do with it, but it's still true, I think, even over there today. I noticed that a great many in the Arab countries, I should say, that there were a great many old people that seemed to have difficulty getting around. They weren't entirely blind, but they certainly couldn't see very well.

You'd see them being led by someone, or they'd be sort of feeling their way along. I suppose it's been characteristic in that land. We notice it here.

He didn't recognize the two boys at all. Verse 10, Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

And the fellows are a little embarrassed by their grandfather showing such affection for them. And I read, And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. You see, they tried to get away from him when he lavished his affection upon these boys.

And he reaches out for them and finally finds them. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. Now he's doing that that they might be blessed, and the right hand would be the one that would have priority.