Day 114 – Genesis 49:22-26
His Bow Abode in Strength
Scripture Reading – Genesis 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
Genesis 49:22 KJV
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
Genesis 49:23 KJV
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Genesis 49:24 KJV
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
Genesis 49:25 KJV
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Genesis 49:26 KJV
Scripture Review
Joseph is called a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall. Archers have sorely grieved him, shot at him, and hated him, yet his bow remained strong and his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob. From that same God come the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel, help, and blessings reaching beyond those of Jacob’s fathers.
Joseph’s fruitfulness does not mean he was never wounded. The arrows are named before the strength. His endurance did not arise from a naturally unbreakable personality; his hands were made strong by God. The well supplied the bough, and the mighty God sustained the bow. Hatred could grieve him without gaining the authority to determine his fruit.
Joseph’s enemies meant to grieve, hate, restrain, and remove him through arrows of envy, betrayal, falsehood, and neglect.
God meant to strengthen Joseph’s hands, make him fruitful beyond his confinement, and turn sustained faithfulness into blessing for many.
What this asks of me
Strength is not pretending that arrows never hurt. I can acknowledge grief while depending on God to steady my hands. If I remain near the well of His Word and look to the mighty God rather than my own toughness, pain does not have to make my life barren or bitter.
Consider
- Which arrow has tempted me to believe I can no longer be fruitful?
- Am I trying to keep my bow steady through self-reliance or through the strength God supplies?