Genesis 48:11

When at last he had to part with Benjamin, he poured out his grief: "All this has come against me." Were they against him? He could not see far enough. Little did he think that the shadow of dreaded loss resting on his spirit was in reality the clouds breaking. Instead of losing Benjamin he was about to regain Joseph. In regaining Joseph, every pinch of want would be a thing of the past. He would live in the land where Joseph supplied the food, and receive from his plenty, even though all the rest of the earth was suffering famine. Ask Jacob, "Does God care?" Hear him say to Joseph for answer, "I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also."

The very things that he thought were against him were working for richest blessing, both for him and for his children. Not only was Joseph alive, but very soon he would see Joseph, and also his sons. God used the loss of Joseph to preserve Jacob and his house, and also to preserve the lives of many more.

In Genesis 48:11 we have a very beautiful example of the way our God always rises above all our thoughts, and proves Himself better than all our fears… To nature's view Joseph was dead; whereas in God's view he was alive, and seated in the highest place of authority, next to the throne.

In his days of vigour he had too often walked by the sight of his own eyes. Now at the close he begins to walk and act by faith and not by sight. At the same time he realizes the exceeding kindness of God toward him. He had spent weary years thinking he would never see the face of his beloved son again. Now he has seen not only him but his offspring as well.

Jacob has spoken up to now, but from this point in the story he speaks as Israel, the prince with God… As Jacob he has seen death ending the plans of man. As Israel he looks beyond death and unfolds the purpose of God. But the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. If heavenly things are opening to him, earthly things are fading from him. And so he no longer thinks of the sorrows along the way, but of the goodness of God that had never forsaken him. He owns that God had been better to him than all his natural thoughts.

He then adopts the sons of Joseph. This was needed to give them the rights of children, because in a great legal sense they were strangers to Abraham. Their mother was an Egyptian. They were offspring whom the law would, in its day, have put away. But Jacob adopts them. He takes them into the family.

With the goodness of God filling his soul, Joseph and his two sons pass from his thoughts for the moment. In the presence of God "he bowed himself with his face to the earth." He has reached the highest moment in his spiritual life — he is a worshipper. We know from the Holy Spirit's comment in Hebrews 11 that this was the crowning act of faith in the life of Jacob… The scheming, the pushing of others out of their place, the selfishness, and the independence that so often marred his path had passed away. At last Jacob shows faith, dependence, and worship.