Daily Devotions
Genesis
"He also established them forever and ever. He made a decree which shall not pass away." Psalm 148:6
Text: Genesis 48:1-22
ALARMED AND DISPLEASED
It was Joseph who carefully arranged it such that Manasseh would have Israel’s right hand on his head and Ephraim on his left. The fact that Israel’s eyesight was failing him did not escape the notice of Joseph! He been the chief administrator for Pharaoh for about 2 decades now, and he was used to being obeyed without question. He was more than a little upset when he saw his father crossing his hands and reversed the order that Joseph intended. He attempted to move his father’s hands into the original position intended. Israel stopped him with these prophetic words.
“But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know.
He (Manasseh) also shall become a people, and he also
shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater
than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude
of nations.'”
GENESIS 48:19
Joseph, the interpreter of dreams, learned another lesson about God that day. He could still choose to speak through an aged man like his frail and dim-sighted father! Manasseh would not lose out! He too would become great. But Ephraim was destined for even greater things than his elder brother! God was not limited by the order of which child entered into the world first!
LOOKING AT DEATH WITH NO FEARS WHATSOEVER
Israel feared that he might be brought to the grave with sorrow when he lost Joseph. However, his whole outlook of life was changed permanently when he was reunited with his favourite son. He knew that he did not have very long to live, and he garnered all his strength together to specially bless his two grandsons and of course his beloved son Joseph. There were two special words of blessing that he wanted to give:-
1. A special word of blessing for the two grandsons
“So he blessed them that day, saying,
‘By you Israel will bless, saying,
“May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!” ‘
And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.”
GENESIS 48:202. A special word of blessing for Joseph
“Behold, I am dying, but God would be with you
And bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Moreover I have given to you one portion above
Your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorites
With my sword and bow.”
GENESIS 48:21-22
Once again, we witness the extraordinary love that Israel had for Joseph!