Genesis 1:26-28A AMP
“Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful,
Having created man in His own image and likeness, the first blessing God pronounced upon mankind was fruitfulness.
When man fell, this blessing was withdrawn from man.
Genesis 3:17-19 AMP
“Then to Adam the Lord God said, “Because you have listened [attentively] to the voice of your wife, and have eaten [fruit] from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’; The ground is [now] under a curse because of you; In sorrow and toil you shall eat [the fruit] of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.””
At the new birth however, believers again received this blessing from God through the redemption blood of Jesus Christ.
John 15:4-5 AMP
“Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.”
Such that as believers, we ought to be fruitful. We can desire to be fruitful, believe God to be fruitful, pray for it, and pray for others to be fruitful also.
What is fruitful?
Something that is producing good results.
Something that is producing fruit, especially in abundance.
Something that is fertile. Land, life, body, brain, tree, etc.
Something characterised by plentiful production.
Ability to produce an abundance of new growth.
While fruitfulness can mean ability to produce offspring, it however goes beyond that. Fruitfulness is God’s blessing upon mankind to produce good results and enjoy abundance of yield or harvest in whatever one does.
In this year 2023, God will make you more fruitful.
God will revisit His first blessing upon your life.
Your life will become more fertile.
Your destiny will yield fruits in abundance.
Your ability to produce yield will increase.
Your creative ability will become sharper.
Grace to be fruitful all round will be given to you by God.
Patriarch Jacob was a fruitful man in every sense. For example, while his father – Isaac, and grandfather – Abraham had to fight infertility in the area of childbirth for many years, Jacob did not. His own quiver was full. He had 12 sons and a daughter.
Jacob was also blessed with livestock in great numbers, to the extent that he insisted Esau to have some. He was blessed with plenty male and female servants also.
When Jacob was even still an apprentice in the house of Laban his uncle, the blessing of fruitfulness upon his life was being enjoyed by Laban, to the extent that Laban wanted to keep him working for him forever.
When Jacob was about to die, he needed to pass that patriarchal blessing of fruitfulness upon one of his 12 sons. The question was which one would it be?
Genesis 49:1-2 AMP
“Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves [around me] that I may tell you what will happen to you and your descendants in the days to come. Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel (Jacob) your father.”
I thought it was wise that he asked all of them to come at once, and not blessing them one by one. If he had done that, he might not have lived to pass on the patriarchal blessing.
Why I said that, I remember a particular bad example I watched in a film called Gladiator. Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the Gladiator film had two children, a daughter and a son: Lucilla and Commodus. He wanted to hand over the government of the empire to his Army commander – Maximus, for an election to the conducted by the Senate. The plan failed, as his son killed him.
Jacob started the blessing with Reuben, his firstborn. Reuben’s blessing was however a curse. It is good to be good at all times.
Things Jacob’s children did when they were younger, became a determining factor for their blessing as their father was about to draw his last breath.
Children, young people and whoever still has a parent/parents, honour them. They may not be the best Dad or the best Mom you would love to have.
As believers, we equally have spiritual parents, honour them. A day will come that they will need to say something over your head. Even if the parent tries to curse you, because of your goodness, they will instead bless you.
Reuben had slept with his father’s concubine before (Bilha). Jacob did not do anything at the time, but he did not forget. He waited till he was about to die and cursed Reuben because of it.
Genesis 49:3-4 AMP
““Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might, the beginning of my strength and vigor, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power [that should have been your birthright]. But unstable and reckless and boiling over like water [in sinful lust], you shall not excel or have the preeminence [of the firstborn], Because you went up to your father’s bed [with Bilhah]; You defiled it—he went up to my couch.”
Reuben must have let the firstborn position entered his head. He must have thought he was now the Daddy in the compound, when his father was still alive. He must have been proud. He paid dearly for it.
The tribe of Reuben truly never excelled in Israel. No prophet, no judge and no king of Israel came out from Reuben descendant. No priest. Sad!
Jacob proceeded to bless his second son – Simeon. Surprisingly, he merged him with the third – Levi, as partners in crime. Their blessing was also curses. It was based on what they too had done when they were young. Many years before.
A man from Shechem raped their sister – Dinah, which was indeed an evil act. But the way the brothers revenged that act on behalf of their sister was even more evil. They tricked the men of Shechem to enter into a league with them, and then killed all the men. Just two of them did it.
Gen. 34: 25-29
If not for the favour of God upon their father – Jacob, other nations around them could become apprehensive and wiped them out.
Jacob prophesied that both Simeon and Levi would be divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel. So it happened that the tribe of Simeon truly became the weakest in Israel and also received divided inheritance within Judah. Even though they were the third biggest tribe when they left Egypt. In just three decades after the exodus, they had become few, because of this negative prophecy, they were dying in large numbers.
Num. 1:22-23
“Of the sons of Simeon, their descendants, by their families (clans), by their fathers’ households, their numbered men according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:”those of the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.”
Numbers 26:14 AMP
“These are the families (clans) of the Simeonites, 22,200.” 37,100 had died.
Joshua 19:1 AMP
“Then the second lot fell to Simeon, to the tribe of the sons of Simeon according to their families (clans), and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the sons of Judah.”
Levi was equally divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel. But because Levi sided with God at the rebellion at Mt. Sinai, God turned the curse into a blessing for Levi.
Exodus 32:25-26 AMP
“Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to the point of being an object of mockery among their enemies— then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the Lord’s side, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi [the priestly tribe] gathered together to him.”
They did not have any inheritance in Israel, as God said He would then become their portion. They would have otherwise suffered greatly.
Whatever the eleven tribes set aside for God, became their own.
Joshua 13:33 AMP
“But to the tribe of Levi, Moses did not give an inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He told them.”
Judah, the 4th son, was the first son to get a proper blessing. Even though himself was not a very good character as the twelve grew up. He was the one that suggested selling Joseph into slavery, which was better than those who suggested killing him.
Genesis 37:26-27 AMP
“Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood (murder)? Come, let us [instead] sell him to these Ishmaelites [and Midianites] and not lay our hands on him, because he is our brother and our flesh.” So his brothers listened to him and agreed.”
He was also the one who asked Joseph to detain him in Egypt, instead of Benjamin.
Genesis 44:33 AMP
“Now, therefore, please let your servant (Judah) remain here instead of the youth [to be] a slave to my Lord, and let the young man go home with his brothers.”
So, Judah was accorded the first position by Jacob. Jacob said Judah would be a ruler among his brethren until Messiah would come. The King of kings was to later come out of Judah.
Revelation 5:5 AMP
“Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.””
Jacob then jumped to his 10th and 9th sons. The remaining children of his first wife – Leah. Zebulun was tenth, and Issachar was ninth.
Jacob said Zebulun would settle by the sea. The tribe later occupied the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee.
Jacob said Issachar would be like a strong donkey, and yet would become a band of slaves. The tribe was truly large in number, but often raided for slavery, as they were endowed with great strength, but lacked courage. Under King David, they were said to be men of understanding.
Jacob said his 5th son – Dan (Zilphah) would be a judge in Israel. He would be honoured by his fellow brothers. Samson came from this tribe. A great judge in Israel.
Jacob also said Dan would be like a serpent by the way and viper by the path. The tribe did introduce idolatry into Israel (Jug. 18:30); and later became a centre for idol worship under King Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:26-30).
Jacob said his 7th son – Gad would be oppressed by armies, but he would triumphed at last.
Foreign armies truly harassed Gad. The Ammonites for example.
Jeremiah 49:1 AMP
“Concerning the sons (descendants) of Ammon. Thus says the Lord: “Does Israel have no sons [to reclaim Gad from the Ammonites]? Has he no heir? Why then has Malcam taken possession of Gad And [why do] his people live in the cities [of Gad]?”
Gad was known to be a constant supplier of valiant soldiers during the reign of King David.
1 Chronicles 12:14 AMP
“These from the sons (descendants) of Gad were captains of the army; he who was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest was equal to a thousand.”
Jacob said the land of Asher his 8th son would produce luxuries meant for royals. They inhabited the land along the Mediterranean coast.
Jacob said his 6th son – Naphtali would be blessed with great strides and beautiful words. This place occupied by Naphtali was an open and extensive country, and he was blessed with eloquence.
The region of Naphtali land was where Jesus preached many beautiful sermons during His ministry.
Matthew 4:12-16 AMP
“Now when Jesus heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested and put in prison, He left for Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He went and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee [in the district] of the Gentiles— The people who were sitting (living) in [spiritual] darkness have seen a great Light, And for those who were sitting (living) in the land and shadow of [spiritual and moral] death, Upon them a Light has dawned.””
I will take Benjamin first. The birth of this child led to the death of his precious wife – Rachel. Jacob said his 12th son would be fierce and cruel. He would devour his prey.
The tribe of Benjamin was truly fierce and violent. They were fearless warriors.
Ehud – Jug 3:15-23
King Saul – 1 Sam. 9:1; 14: 47-52
Looking at the blessing of these eleven sons, one would see that Jacob had reserved the blessing of fruitfulness for his 11th son – Joseph.
He said Joseph would be a fruitful vine planted by a fountain.
His branches would extend beyond the allotted fence.
Though archers would grieve him bitterly, shot at him and hated him; but his own bow would be stronger. He would overcome and would continue to still be fruitful.
The arm of his hands (bicep) would be made strong by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob.
God’s hands would be on Joseph’s hands to help him.
He would receive double portion of blessings, which was usually reserved for the firstborn:
Blessings from above – rain and dews.
Blessings from beneath – lakes, rivers, springs, minerals.
He would receive blessings of the breast and the womb – plenty sucklings and offsprings, both human and livestock.
As if those were not enough, Jacob then began to pray for Joseph.
That the blessing on Joseph’s life would be greater than his own, while his was greater than those of Abraham and Isaac.
That Joseph’s blessing would be lasting as eternal hills.
That Joseph would be the one who is the consecrated, separated and the prince among his brethren.
Jacob said God would manifest in the life of Joseph as:
Mighty God of Jacob.
The Shepherd.
The Rock of Israel.
The God of his father.
The Almighty.
What blessing will a man still need in life if he has received all of these? Nothing I believe. That is why I pray that God will rain upon your life the blessing of fruitfulness in Jesus mighty name.
Ten things that can make one become fruitful and remain fruitful
1. Repent completely and sincerely of previous bad deeds (Ps. 25:7), sowing and reaping law.
2. Restitute things you can (Gen. 20:1-18). Abimelech restituted to become fruitful again.
3. Plant good seeds henceforth (Gal. 6:7-8). Be not deceived. God can’t be mocked. Whatever a man sows, the same he shall reap.
4. Fear God and what He can do (Gen. 39:6-10). You can fear someone and not love them, but you can not love someone and not fear them. Otherwise, you will take them for granted. We must be careful with God. God can be an everlasting Lover and can also be a consuming Fire.
Mark 4:41 AMP
“They were filled with great fear, and said to each other, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?””
Luke 5:8 AMP
“But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!””
5. Obey the instructions of God (Gen. 26: 1-6; 12-14). Not too grievous.
6. Be good to people around you (Gen. 40:1-8; Gal. 6:9-10). Never can tell.
7. Use your gifts and talents well (Gen. 40:9-23; Prov. 18:16).
8. Cultivate the habit of saving and invest wisely (Gen. 41:33-37).
9. Pray for a good harvest. Having done all (Mt. 13:24-30; 2 Cor. 9:10).
10. Render the glory of your harvest and fruitfulness to God alone (Gen. 41:14-16; Luke 12:16-21).
In conclusion, as I was praying and meditating on the message for today, what God asked me to do is to pronounce on the church “The Blessing of Joseph”.
The blessing of fruitfulness.
The blessing of double portion.
The blessing of the consecrated, separated and distinguished prince/princess among the rest.
May the blessing stick to you in Jesus mighty name.
The Blessing of Joseph
In this year 2023, you will grow like a fruitful vine.
Your life will be like that tree that is planted by a fountain of well.
Your branches will extend beyond any wall around you.
No force, power or circumstance will be able to curtail your growth this year.
The powers of Hell, plans of the wicked, the inflation and the government will not affect your growth.
This year, your impact will increase.
Your influence will be greater.
Your reach will be wider.
Your followers will grow and your descendants will increase in Jesus mighty name.
Those who have hated you and have planned to attack you this year, your hands will be stronger than theirs in Jesus name.
Their arrows will backfire at them.
You bow and arrows will be strong and precise. None shall miss its target.
The Mighty God of Jacob shall give you strength this year.
The God of Israel will be your Shepherd and Rock.
The Almighty God, the Lord God of Abraham will help you.
Jehovah will bless you.
He will bless you with rain and dew from heaven.
He will grant you springs and minerals resources from beneath.
God will bless you with many and choice descendants.
Your life shall be better and greater than those of your predecessors in Jesus mighty name.
May the God of Joseph, the God that compensates, the God that can change what people meant for evil into good, may He be your God this year in Jesus mighty name.