Movatterモバイル変換

Genesis 48:5,13,14,18-20
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt,are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine…

Deuteronomy 33:17
His gloryis like the firstling of his bullock, and his hornsare like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and theyare the ten thousands of Ephraim, and theyare the thousands of Manasseh.

Manasseh.

Genesis 41:30
And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

Psalm 45:10
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the soulswhich I have made.

forget.

Psalm 30:5,11
For his angerendureth but a moment; in his favouris life: weeping may endure for a night, but joycometh in the morning…

Proverbs 31:7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Isaiah 65:16
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

saying, “God has made me forget
Joseph attributes his ability to forget his past hardships to God, emphasizing divine providence. This reflects a common biblical theme where God is seen as the source of healing and restoration. Joseph's statement is a testament to his faith and recognition of God's sovereignty in his life. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God is portrayed as a comforter and redeemer, as seen in passages likeIsaiah 43:18-19, which speaks of God doing a new thing and making a way in the wilderness.

all my hardship
Joseph's hardships included being sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and imprisoned. These events are chronicled inGenesis 37 and 39-40. His ability to forget these hardships signifies a deep spiritual and emotional healing. This phrase highlights the biblical principle that God can transform suffering into blessing, as seen inRomans 8:28, where it states that God works all things for the good of those who love Him.

and all my father’s household.”
This part of the verse indicates Joseph's estrangement from his family, which was a significant source of his earlier pain. The mention of his father's household underscores the depth of his past wounds, as his brothers' betrayal was a pivotal moment in his life. However, it also foreshadows the eventual reconciliation with his family, which occurs later inGenesis 45. This reconciliation is a type of Christ, who reconciles humanity to God, as seen in2 Corinthians 5:18-19.

Joseph, now second only to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:41-44), receives his first son during the season of abundance that precedes the famine. Naming this child is an unmistakable act of testimony: the same man who was stripped of his robe (Genesis 37:23) now publicly acknowledges God’s sovereignty over his story, much like Hannah later dedicates Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20). By giving his son a God-centered name, Joseph proclaims that the Lord, not Egypt’s power, has authored his new beginning.

The name points to the lifting of remembered pain. Just as Abram became Abraham to mark a covenant shift (Genesis 17:5), Joseph chooses a name that captures his personal turning point. Manasseh would grow up hearing his own name as a daily reminder that God heals wounds and rewrites destinies, foreshadowing Joseph’s future reassurance to his brothers: “God sent me before you to preserve life” (Genesis 45:5).

Joseph credits the Lord alone for the inner release he now enjoys. The phrase echoesPsalm 34:4, “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears,” and anticipates Paul’s attitude inPhilippians 3:13, “forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead.” This is not selective amnesia; it is the miracle of pain losing its power. God’s grace reframes Joseph’s memories so that the past no longer chains his heart.

Consider the catalog of suffering God has now overshadowed:

• Betrayed and sold by brothers (Genesis 37:28)

• Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:17-20)

• Forgotten in prison by Pharaoh’s cupbearer (Genesis 40:23)

Psalm 105:17-19 later summarizes these years as iron shackles that “tested” him until God’s word proved true.Romans 8:18 affirms the pattern: present sufferings are “not comparable to the glory” God reveals.

Joseph is not disowning Jacob’s family; rather, the sting of their rejection is removed. He will soon embrace them in compassion (Genesis 45:14-15) and provide for them during famine (Genesis 47:12). The phrase mirrorsIsaiah 43:18-19, where the Lord urges His people to “remember not the former things,” inviting them into the new work He is doing. God’s healing enables genuine reconciliation without the baggage of bitterness.

Genesis 41:51 shows Joseph capturing a lifetime of divine restoration in one child’s name. Manasseh embodies the truth that God can transform betrayal, slavery, and prison into purposeful blessing. When Joseph says, “God has made me forget,” he is testifying that the Lord replaces painful memory with redeemed perspective, freeing him to serve faithfully in the present and to bless the very family that once harmed him.

Parallel Commentaries ...