RPG Adults
THE BLESSING OF THE CROSSED HANDS
MONDAY, MARCH 24
Genesis 48:12-22
Psalm 45:1-8
“…Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith…”
THE BLESSING OF THE CROSSED HANDS
Jacob on his deathbed, under the inspiration of God’s Spirit, did two things: he blessed his son Joseph and Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh); and he appropriated the two boys to be his sons, thus promoting them to the same status as the twelve. This gave Ephraim and Manasseh an equal inheritance with Judah and the rest. In so doing, Jacob transacted a most important business. He adopted Joseph’s sons by his Egyptian wife, raised them to the status of sons, so that each of them became head of a tribe among the twelve in Israel. This ensured for them a share in the covenant blessing of God!
Joseph coveted his father’s blessing not only for himself but for his sons also. His natural expectation was that Manasseh the elder boy should receive the greater blessing by Jacob’s right hand. So he positioned them such that Manasseh was on Jacob’s right and Ephraim on the left. But Jacob crossed his hands so that his right hand was laid on Ephraim and the left on Manasseh. Jacob was very sure of what he was doing. He made it clear to Joseph that it was no mistake or accident or partiality. Jacob had acted in compliance with divine counsels, in the spirit of prophecy.
History upheld Jacob’s blessing of the crossed hands. Of course, both lads were blessed and Manasseh became great, but indeed Ephraim was the greater one. When the tribes assembled in the wilderness years later, Ephraim was more numerous, bore the standard of that squadron and was named first. From Ephraim came two leaders: Joshua and Jeroboam. Jacob had truly blessed “in the Spirit.”
God does not bless according to human expectation. He often chooses the weak things to perform mighty things for His glory. He is sovereign. He is all-wise and His ways are perfect. Acknowledging this, we then observe how God chose the younger before the elder: Abel above Cain, Isaac above Ishmael, Jacob above Esau, Judah above Reuben, David above all his brethren. These all had one thing in common: FAITH. Will you in FAITH also fall in the line of blessing?
THOUGHT: (Read Psalm 75:6-7.)
PRAYER: Father, may I never seek to promote myself.