So, he blessed them that day saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’” – Genesis 48:20a
REFERENCE:
By divine orchestration, Jacob his father, and all of Joseph’s brothers and their families relocated to Egypt. When Jacob was about to die, he sent for Joseph’s sons. First Manasseh (God has made me forget all my toil) and younger Ephraim (God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction). He adopted them as his sons, disconnecting them from Joseph’s pedigree as princes of Egypt and joining them to his pedigree as sons of Jacob; covenant children of Israel.
Joseph had to choose between a posterity in Egypt or a covenant posterity in Israel; so, he chose instead to hand the boys over to God and secure their placement in the divine program. He sought “the blessing of the blessed” knowing that that will outlast any position in Egypt. Through adoption, Ephraim and Manasseh were made equal to their uncles as heads of tribes. Subsequently, Joseph was represented throughout history by these two populous and powerful tribes. Their adoption into the tribe of Israel epitomized our adoption into the family of God through Christ. As sons of the Living God, we are joint-heirs with Christ and share in the same measure of His power, privilege, and position.
When blessing the brothers, Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim the younger son, and his left on Manasseh the older. He intentionally crossed his arms, changing the order of seniority. He knew by the spirit of prophecy that Ephraim’s seed would be greater than Manasseh’s. All through the scriptures, we see God prefer and choose the younger over the older – Abel over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Judah over Reuben, and Ephraim over Manasseh. Note that God’s choice of the younger is not dependent on His love for each man, but on His divine plans and purposes.
The crossing of the hands speaks of the cross of Christ and how God qualifies the unqualified making us who were no people, His people. Because to him who is joined to Christ, there is a hope and a future; there is posterity.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY
Ecclesiastes 9:11 & 1 Peter 2:9-10
CONFESSION
God has qualified me, the once unqualified. I am no longer a stranger but a citizen, and a member of the family of God. I am built upon the foundation laid by the Apostles and Prophets, the cornerstone being Christ Jesus himself. He is the one who holds the whole building together and makes it grow into a sacred temple dedicated to the Lord. In union with Him, I too am being built together with all the others into a place where God lives through His Spirit. Amen.
I thank you Father for I have been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, that I should be holy and without blame before Him. Glory hallelujah!
Powerful scripture. Amen!
I am blessed to be a joint heir with Christ.
Thank you Lord!
The race is not to the swift or blessings to the qualified, Jesus on the cross qualified the unqualified (me), and gave me everything by His grace not because of my understanding or wisdom or strength but all by His grace. Thank you Jesus !!!!! Nothing to boast of but everything to be grateful for. ❤️
Amen!
Joseph chose spiritual blessing over the physical, for therein lies posterity. I choose the spiritual blessings over anything else, I seek Gods kingdom first!
Exactly 👍🏼
Perfect choice we must all make.
Joseph’s legacy could have completely perished in Egypt had he chosen otherwise.
Amen 🙏🏽
Amazing! Thank you Father for this grace of adoption.
Because I am joined to Christ, there’s a hope and a future for me.
Amen! I am joined to Christ! Qualified by Him! He is truly my inheritance and my portion in the land of the living . There is no better legacy I can give my children than their being joined to Christ.