By the supply of God’s grace, all the dealings in Jacob’s life caused him to be transformed and matured.  Firstly he was transformed, that is, metabolically changed in life. Secondly he was matured, which is to be filled with the divine life that changes. Finally, at the end of his life, Jacob became a person of blessing.  Blessing is the overflow of this life to others, and is the top manifestation of a mature believer.

In chapter 47, Jacob, full of blessing ability, blessed Pharaoh and blessed Joseph’s two sons. In his blessing of Pharaoh, we see that the lesser is blessed by the greater. In his blessing of Joseph’s two sons, we see that God’s blessing crosses over man’s maneuvering.

The lesser is blessed by the greater

Hebrews 7:7 says that the lesser is blessed by the greater. Hence Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh showed that Jacob was greater than Pharaoh. What made Jacob greater than Pharaoh? It was not his age or his status; it was his measure of God.  If we want to become great persons, persons of blessing, we need to gain more God. We need to experience and enjoy Christ in a definite way. Then, we will have something of Christ to minister to others. This will become the blessing to them.

God’s blessing crosses over man’s maneuvering

When Joseph brought his two sons to Jacob to be blessed, he naturally put the older son at Jacob’s right hand and the younger son at Jacob’s left. “But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim’s head—although he was the younger—and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding (or crossing) his hands with insight” (Genesis 48:14). Jacob was one with God to do this. In this we see that God’s blessing crosses over man’s maneuvering. We always have a natural preference, a natural choice, and we want God to bless this choice. However, God’s blessing crosses over our maneuvering. In the gospel work, we may consider that certain people are more promising and pray for them more. However, God has a way to bring His blessing to those we do not consider highly. This actually should be a strong encouragement to us. Although we are nothing, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). While we were in a low position, God’s hand crossed over, come upon us, and blessed us.