Genesis 48. 06.11.26
SCRIPTURE
“But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head—though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head—even though Manasseh was the firstborn. When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.””
Genesis 48:14, 17, 19 NIV
OBSERVATION
We clearly understand at the end of Jacob’s life and by the end of the book of Genesis that God’s grace must never become captive to position or privilege or expectation or tradition. God’s grace is sovereign. It cannot be tamed. The economy of God’s grace operates on its own principles—humbling human wisdom and exalting the unlikely, so that the last are often the first, and the first last. This is repeated again and again in Genesis.
In primeval history, the older brother Cain had his offering rejected, while that of the younger, Abel, was accepted. Then Seth, the even younger brother became the chosen line (ch.4:25—5:8). In patriarchal times, young Isaac was chosen over Ishmael (ch.17:18, 19). Then Jacob was chosen over Esau (ch.27). Jacob’s son Joseph was chosen over his older brethren (ch.37:5-7, 9). And now Ephraim was chosen above Manasseh.
Indeed, the last are often first, even for Christ. The Jews rejected their Messiah and the Gentiles were offered Salvation through Christ.
“HE came to HIS own, and HIS own people did not receive HIM. But to all who did receive HIM, who believed in HIS name, HE gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).
APPLICATION
God’s Grace cannot be governed or managed. HIS Grace cannot be earned or even measured. It is Beyond our comprehension. His Grace is birthed out of His Love—a Powerful Force we can experience but never fully understand.
“For out of His fullness the superabundance of HIS grace and truth we have all received grace upon grace—spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift.”
(John 1:16 AMP)
We continually bring our deepest desires to God, again and again, and can feel disappointed when His “Hand of Blessing” seems to pass over them. Just as Joseph felt, we wonder, doesn’t God see what matters most to me—what I’ve carried the longest? HE does. To every protest HE answers as HE did to Joseph, “I Know it, My son, I Know it.”
HIS refusal to grant our exact request is never because HE misunderstands or ignores our longings. Instead, HE sometimes gives us blessings that differ from what we most wanted. Yet the blessings HE gives us are no less good. HE will give us EVERYTHING Christ has earned for us. Faith learns to Trust HIM with how, when, and what grace HE applies to our lives. What is God giving us that we haven’t earned? But God KNOWS it is a very great gift.
This kind of trust takes Faith.
Faith for surrendered salvation and Faith for a genuinely surrendered daily walk with Christ as our Lord gives HIM the right to Lead our Lives. Jacob learned this Faith and what it meant to “let go” of His own ideas and genuinely Trust God—even when it didn’t make sense to bless younger Manasseh over first born Ephraim. Jacob’s TRUST in God, resulted in his addition to the “hall of Faith” recorded as an Act of Worship in Hebrews (11:21).
God expects us to do the same. Demonstrate complete Trust—even when it doesn’t make sense.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Teach me more about total surrender and Faith in YOU. May my faith become a pleasing act of worship to YOU. Thank YOU for Your WORD that gives us such rich examples of Your amazing Love and endless compassion and extraordinary Amazing Grace that saved me when I didn’t even know I needed saving. Give me greater focus to be purposeful and prepared wherever I go—Filled with Your Joy and ready to give a reason for my hope.
In Jesus Name, amen!
Tina L Kudelka