Israel’s Intentional Blessing
Genesis 48: 12 So Joseph brought them
from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 And
Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand,
and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near
him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand
and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the
younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands
knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he
blessed Joseph, and said:
“God, before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
============
Joseph knew that Israel was about to speak the blessing from
GOD. He brought his sons in to receive the blessing. He made sure that
Manasseh’s head was in reach of Israel’s right hand and Ephraim’s head on his
left. Israel crossed his hands and blessed Ephraim and Manasseh.
My Observations:
- GOD
led Israel to cross his hands when blessing Joseph’s sons.
- Israel
blessed Joseph, but his focus was on Ephraim and Manasseh.
- The
Angel who has redeemed is the preincarnate JESUS.
Israel finally got it! His words did not contain any
complaint, only blessings. He knew that JESUS guided him and poured out a
blessing on Joseph and his sons. He intentionally crossed his hands being led
by the HOLY SPIRIT.
This intentionality would in fact, play out later in the
gifts given to each tribe. Israel adopted Joseph’s sons as his own and blessed
them with an inheritance that was greater than earthly wealth.
Challenge
- Why
did GOD tell Moses about Israel’s intentional crossing of his hands?
- Has
GOD intentionally put you somewhere so HIS blessing can be placed on you?
- What
blessing is GOD intentionally placing on you?
No comments:
Post a Comment