SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 48
BIBLE VERSES:
“Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm – may he bless theses boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth” (Genesis 48:15-16)
MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM (vs. 1-22)
Joseph had two sons – Manasseh and Ephraim born in Egypt. Jacob told Joseph to bring them so that he could bless them. Manasseh was the first born but Jacob put his right hand on Ephraim, the second born. Joseph told Jacob to change his right hand to Manasseh because he was the first born but Jacob refused. He said: “Manasseh will become great but his younger brother will be greater and his descendants will become a group of nations. While knowing that he was about to die, Jacob gave the ridge of land taking from the Amorites to Joseph as he was one who is over his brothers.
THOUGHTS:
Jacob lived 147 years spending the first 17 years with Joseph in Canaan and the last 17 years in Egypt. Because of old age, Jacob could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons to Jacob for him to bless them. During his blessing, Jacob crossed his hand by putting the right hand on Ephraim and left on Manasseh. This brought the cross into the picture. God crucified the old nature and establish the spiritual. He rearranges your spiritual birth.
When Joseph was sold as slave, Jacob thought that he was dead and wept in despair. But God allowed Jacob to seee not only his son Joseph but also his grandson. When circumstances seem to be desperate, we should never be discouraged. The loving God will always bring out a seemingly hopeless situation to a good one we never expect.