Genesis 49:22-24

“Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.”

Several times in our married life, Joyce and I have gone about our normal activities just a few feet from people to whom we never spoke a word to them nor they to us. In fact we acted as if the others did not exist. Does that sound like we are being stand-offish? Not really!

We could often hear the sounds they made, and they in turn must have heard us. You see, Joyce and I lived in an apartment or townhouse. This was true in the case of military housing, but also the times we lived in apartments or townhouses. For those of you who are not familiar with apartment or townhouse living, there is only a wall separating one family from another. In fact in some apartments there are people living beside you, below you and above you. Regardless, there are walls from one family to another. Ahhh! There it is! The wall of separation.

How many times we experience walls that separate us from those around us. Not just in the places we live, but in our relationships with others. These walls may separate us from wives, husbands, children, neighbors, or any number of other individuals. The most devastating wall is the one we erect which separates us from God.

In today’s Scripture, Jacob is near the end of his life. He is surrounded by his twelve sons who will become the twelve tribes of Israel. He is pronouncing a blessing upon each son although some of the blessings are filled with judgment and condemnation.

As he pronounces this blessing upon Joseph, he describes him as a vine. It is interesting to recall the words of Jesus in John 15:5; “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Not only does Jacob describe Joseph as a vine, but Joseph is described as a vine near a spring. A vine is able to go over or through the strongest wall. Wow! I hope you are able to see the visual picture that is presented here!

During His earthly ministry, Jesus had asked a woman of Samaria for a drink of water. It was not customary or proper for a Jewish man to speak to a woman, much less a Samaritan woman. In their exchange of words, listen to what Jesus says to her as well as to us in John 4:10; “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

Our vine will never grow strong nor we be able to climb the walls of our life if we do not remain near to the spring of living water. There may be bitter adversaries that may attempt to cause us harm, but as with Joseph, we need to know that the spring of living water which gives us life and strength is our Rock, the Mighty God, who is our defender!

Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.

- - - Pastor Cecil