How to Shoot Strong
But his bow remained in strength,
And the arms of his hands were made strong
By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
(From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),
By the God of your father who will help you,
And by the Almighty who will bless you (Genesis 49:24-25a)
Genesis 49 records Jacob’s wonderful, prophetic blessing pronounced over the sons of Israel. This section from the blessing over Joseph presents at least two beautiful things to notice.
The first is the picture behind the phrase, the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob. Earlier, Jacob poetically described how Joseph’s enemies were like archers who shot at him (49:23). Yet Joseph was not defeated, because his bow remained in strength. Why did his bow stay strong? Because his hands were made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.
Consider this picture: a father helps his son to shoot with bow and arrows. The son isn’t strong enough to skillfully handle to bow, so the father reaches around him, places his stronger hands on his son’s smaller hands, and helps him shoot the bow. The idea is that God’s hands were on Joseph’s hands, giving him strength and skill to work the bow expertly. God was there, even when Joseph did not know it. This is true also for you.
The second wonderful thing is found in the five great titles Jacob used for God in these verses. These titles show that Jacob did come to an understanding of who God is. As you read these, ask yourself: “Do I know God this way?”
– The Mighty God of Jacob: He is the God of true power and might, and the personal God.
– The Shepherd: He is the God who faithfully and tenderly cares for His people.
– The Stone of Israel: He is the God who is the stable foundation for His people, both individually and collectively.
– The God of your father: He is the God has an amazing record of faithfulness in past generations.
– The Almighty: He is the God who can do anything, who is powerful and sovereign over all. It is this Almighty, wonderful God who will bless you, bringing His goodness and grace to your life.
Taken together, this is much better than when Jacob earlier referred to God as the God of Abraham or the Fear of his father Isaac (Genesis 31:53). Those titles focused on how God related to Abraham and Isaac, not on how God related to Jacob. Now, in Genesis 49, these five wonderful titles for God shows that Jacob knew who God was for himself.
The same God Jacob promised would make Joseph bend the bow with strength and skill is the God revealed in these five wonderful titles. God wants you to know Him this way, both by the truth of His word and the experience of your life. Do you know Him?
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