13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his righttoward Israel‘s left hand and Manasseh on his left towardIsrael‘s right hand, and brought them close to him. - P96
17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right handon Ephraim‘s head he was displeased; so he took holdof his father‘s hand to move it from Ephraim‘s head toManasseh‘s head. - P96
19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son,
I know. He too will become a people, and he too willbecome great. Nevertheless, his younger brother willbe greater than he, and his descendants will become aof nations."
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20 He blessed them that day and said, "In your namewill Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make youlike Ephraim and Manasseh." So he put Ephraim aheadof Manasseh.
- P97
Joseph strategically positions his two sons in such a way that the elderwill be nearer to Jacob‘s right hand and the younger to his left. - P98
But Jacob crosses his hands and
lays his right hand on the younger son‘s headand his left hand on the elder‘s. - P98
He then blesses Joseph by evoking theblessing of the God of his forefathers, Abraham and Isaac, the God whohas watched over him like a shepherd and delivered him from all harm.
- P98
He places his grandchildren under the care of this same God. - P98
God‘sblessings flow from His unchanging character. - P98
The God of Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob is
also our God today, who watches over us and guidesus in His righteous ways. - P98
Joseph is displeased that his father has given Ephraim, the younger son,
preeminence over Manasseh. - P98
But Jacob asserts that he knows what heis doing. As we have seen in Jacob‘s own life, God‘s blessing does notconform to social norms or personal preferences. - P98
He does not bless uson the basis of our status but on that of His grace. - P98
Left to ourselves, wewould be doomed to eternal death. But God, in His mercy, has broughtus into His family and lavished His blessings on us even though wewere His enemies. - P98
Knowing that God freely offers His salvation andthe spiritual blessings that come with it, let us confidently tell others ofthe good news of His amazing grace. - P98
"We always are dependent on God for life and breath and mind and heart andemotions and intellect and energy and willpower to do what we‘re called todo." - John Piper - P98
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