He chooses the least likely
“And when Jacob saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so my father for this is the first born; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused and said, I know it, my son, I know it, he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations? (Genesis 48: 17-19)
Joseph had finally been reconciled with his brothers and had requested that his father be brought to Egypt. Joseph found favor with Pharoah and was given permission to settle his family in the best part of Egypt so he settled them in the land of Rameses. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for about 17 years but not long after became ill. When Joseph heard of his father’s illness, he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to visit their grand-father.
The Bible tells us that in presenting his sons, Joseph placed the older, Manasseh, by the right hand of his father, Jacob, and the younger to the left because it is the older, the first born, that receives a double portion of the inheritance. However, much to the annoyance of Joseph, Jacob crossed his hand so that he laid his right hand on Ephraim and the left on Manasseh and would not change his mind even after Joseph tried to correct him.
Friend, we serve an usual God and His ways are not the ways of man. His Word says that His ways are not our ways. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). He is known to do things unconventionally. He can do whatever He wants to do, when He wants to do it and whichever way He wants to do it and no one can ask Him “what doest thou?” (Job 9:12). He is sovereign and needs no permission. Even though tradition says the older should stand to the right hand and receive the double portion of the inheritance, God decided to change the rules. He always does that which we least expect.
Throughout the Bible, we see God choosing, favoring and blessing the least likely individuals. God chose David the young shepherd boy over his handsome older brother and the other brothers. Joseph was favored over his brothers. Though a prostitute, God chose to favor Rahab and delivered her and her family from being killed. Who would have thought that Jesus would chose to dine in the home of Zacchaeus, a cheating tax collector. But our God always uses the base things of this world to confound the wise.
Friend, what is yours is yours and no one can stop it from getting to you.
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your goodness and faithfulness to your children, Thank you that you don’t seek a second opinion. You bless who you choose to bless. I thank you for your favor and blessing on my life. Cause me to position myself and be ready to receive that which you have for me. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.
