²¹ By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Next in the “Hall of Faith” is Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. One would think Judah would be son in focus here, since it was through him that Jesus would come. But this chapter does not follow the Messianic line, as does the Gospel of Matthew and Luke. In fact, the key figure in the Messianic line is King David, and he is given only brief mention here in verse 32. So why is the faith of Jacob so significant, especially when we see that most of his life he was a man of less than sterling character?

Our text points out two notable things about Jacob, both happening at the end of his life. William MacDonald writes, “There were many inglorious chapters in the life of Jacob, but he is honored as a hero of faith nevertheless. His character improved with age and he died in a burst of glory.” This illustrates the parable Jesus taught: “A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” [The chief priests and elders] responded to Jesus, “The first.” He then said incisively, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you” (Matt 21:28–31). God delights in sinners who come to faith, and that covers over a sinful past life. Jacob’s shady life was consummated in the end with two supreme acts of faith.

The first mentioned act of faith was his blessing Joseph’s sons (see Genesis 48). Of all the twelve sons, it was this one whose sons Jacob blessed. To be sure, the rest of the eleven sons were given prophecies about their futures, but Joseph was special in his father’s eyes. To our 21^st century ears it seems strange that God would center on this kind of favoritism, which, even in that day, went against the norm of the fatherly blessing going to the eldest son. Moreover, Jacob himself received the blessing from his father Isaac even though he was younger than his brother Esau. God is certainly not bound by cultures or sensibilities of men, either of Jacob’s time or of ours. He is a God of grace.

Notice also his other acts of faith as seen in his dying image, “leaning on the top of his staff.” His transition from worshiping the Lord by faith here in the flesh to immediately worshiping Him in heaven was a seamless experience! What a way to go!

Lord, I look forward to continuing my worship of You in heaven.