So that day Jacob blessed them and said: "By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim before Manasseh. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 48:20? 2. How does Genesis 48:20 demonstrate God's blessing through Jacob's words to his grandsons? 3. What significance do Ephraim and Manasseh hold in Israel's future, according to Genesis 48:20? 4. How can we apply the principle of blessing others in our daily lives? 5. How does Genesis 48:20 connect to God's covenant promises to Abraham and Isaac? 6. What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Jacob's blessing in Genesis 48:20? 7. Why does Genesis 48:20 emphasize Ephraim over Manasseh despite birth order? 8. How does Genesis 48:20 reflect God's sovereignty in choosing leaders? 9. What is the significance of the blessing in Genesis 48:20 for Israel's tribes? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 48? 11. What is the Tribe of Ephraim? 12. What is the significance of the Tribe of Joseph? 13. Genesis 48:14 - How can Jacob's crossing of his hands and reversing birth order be reconciled with typical ancient customs? 14. Genesis 48:5 - Why does Jacob adopt Joseph's sons as his own, and does this practice have any verifiable historical precedent? Discussion Questions 1. How does the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh reflect God's sovereignty in choosing whom He blesses?2. In what ways can we ensure that we leave a faithful spiritual legacy for future generations? 3. How does Jacob's faith in blessing his grandsons inspire us to trust in God's promises today? 4. What are some examples in your life where God's plans have defied your expectations, similar to the blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh? 5. How can we apply the principle of God's grace in reversals to our understanding of His work in our lives and the lives of others?1. What significance does Jacob's blessing hold for Ephraim and Manasseh? How would you interpret this in today's context? 2. How does Jacob's reminiscing about Rachel affect the understanding of his family ties? 3. How do you understand the symbolism of Jacob crossing his hands while blessing Ephraim and Manasseh? 4. What does Jacob's prophecy about Ephraim and Manasseh suggest about divine plans and human expectations? 5. How does Jacob's assurance of God's guidance comfort Joseph? How can this be applied in today's life during times of loss? 6. What does Jacob's passing teach about legacies and death? 7. How does the narrative portray the dynamics between Joseph and his father, Jacob? 8. How does the patriarchal blessing relate to the modern practice of writing a will? 9. Why does Jacob emphasize Ephraim's greatness over Manasseh's, despite Manasseh being the firstborn? 10. What is the importance of inheritance in this context, and how does it reflect in contemporary society? 11. How does the divine promise influence Jacob's decisions and actions throughout his life? 12. How would you react if you were in Joseph's place, seeing your father bless the younger son more? 13. How does Jacob's faith in God's promise shape his actions towards his grandsons? 14. How do you think Joseph felt when Jacob claimed his sons as his own? 15. How does the narrative portray the values of faith, family, and legacy? 16. How can the narrative's themes of divine guidance and faith be applied to personal decision-making today? 17. How does this story redefine the norms of blessing and inheritance? 18. How does the narrative shape our understanding of God's providence? 19. How does Jacob's acceptance of his impending death inspire an understanding of life's impermanence? 20. What lessons on dealing with death and grieving can be learned from this narrative? Links Genesis 48:20 NIVGenesis 48:20 NLT Genesis 48:20 ESV Genesis 48:20 NASB Genesis 48:20 KJV Genesis 48:20 Commentaries Bible Hub |



