Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons

Jesus said to his disciples, I have  food to eat you know nothing about John 4:32.
The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

Clayt Sheridan, II

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons

Genesis 48:17–20 (The Message)17–18    When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought he had made a mistake, so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s, saying, “That’s the wrong head, Father; the other one is the firstborn; place your right hand on his head.”19–20But his father wouldn’t do it. He said, “I know, my son; but I know what I’m doing. He also will develop into a people, and he also will be great. But his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will enrich nations.” Then he blessed them both:Israel will use your names to give blessings:May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.In that he made it explicit: he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

   

Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head - He thought that because of his father’s near blindness, that he had made a mistake. Many  time in the O.T. history God chose the younger son over the older. He chose Isaac over Ishmael, (21:12);  Jacob over Esau, (25:23); Joseph instead of Reuben, 49:3-4; Ephraim instead of Manasseh. (14-20); David over his brothers, (1 Sam 16). This emphasizes that what is first among people is not necessarily first with God. God choses people on the basis of their sincerity, purity, and love, not their family position or status.

Matthew 20:26 (NKJV) Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

Yet it shall not be so among you - In this world, those with the highest  and most influential positions often “lord it over” others. However, in God’s kingdom greatness is not measured by authority over others, but by serving people and putting others above self. Believers must not try to reach the top in order to achieve power and influence over others. The greatest influence comes from humility and service. For this reason Believers must look for ways to help and benefit others,  working for the spiritual good of all people.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (NKJV) But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

But let us who are of the day be sober - A breastplate was a large piece of armor that protected the chest of a soldier during the battle. Having “faith and love as a breastplate” meaning that a loving and trusting relationship with Christ and a life that shows his love to others will protect one’s spiritual heart. Having the “hope of the helmet of salvation” implies that a believer’s mind would be protected by the assurance of being spared from God’s wrath and spending eternity with Christ. This same confidence should allow us to stay focussed on Christ’s return, be self-controlled and be at peace while we wait for Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

I know what I'm doing. - What a great truth - God  knows what he is doing..He has plans to take care of you - plans to give you hope and a future..

Psalms 33:11 (MSG)  GOD's plan for the world stands up, all his designs are made to last. 

 
Psalms 92:5 (MSG)  How magnificent your work, GOD! How profound your thoughts! 

 
Isaiah 55:9 (MSG)  "For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.