Blessings In Reverse

Scripture: Genesis 48:14

But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

Commentary:
Israel, whose name was Jacob at one time, was very ill; and knew that it was time for him to die. However, before he died he made sure to bless the children of his son Joseph, "Mannaseh and Ephraim." Israel felt so blessed by God that his son, Joseph was alive, and that he had also been able to see his son's sons. He thought that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal in his youth. But God, made advance provision for the family, through what appeared to be a traumatic experience. God used Joseph, the son in whom Israel loved dearly, to deliver his entire family in a time of famine; through the authority that he gained in a time of slavery.

Even though the sons of Israel were jealous of Joseph when they were younger, and it caused them to behave like animals. Joseph did not hold it against them at all. He allowed God to use him to take care of his family in whom he still loved, regardless of how they had treated him. He held nothing back from blessing them. He had learned the gift of blessing those around you from his father. However, he was still somewhat locked into the traditional order of things; in which he had learned as a youth.

Joseph thought that the blessing from the father should go to the oldest, as custom had always been. But Israel purposely crossed his hands to bless Joseph's sons, and his right hand landed on the head of Ephraim, the youngest son. When Joseph noticed this, he grasphed his father's hand, and told his father that his right hand was on the youngest, and it should be on the oldest. Israel  told him that he knew, but both sons would be blessed; and that the older would server the younger.

Joseph probably had a flashback at the time, and didn't want any incidents like he experienced as a youth; after all that he had been through with his own brothers, who hated him, and sold him into slavery. He loved his sons, and didn't want that kind of situation to repeat itself. However, his father commanded the blessing in reverse order, and he respected the wishes of his father.

Reflection:
There are many situations that arise that come into question, about the position of leadership. There are many hoops to go through that are man-made. There are many rules to follow in order for someone to move forward into a place of authority. One thing that is often considered, is the age of an individual, as well as their background history; and sometimes, even their financial status. However, when God places his hand on a person for his purposes, man-made rules go out the door. The age of an individual does not matter, nor does typical protocal come into play. The standard for what God himself approves, need only be approved by Him. He is the ultimate authority on who He puts into position. A person's history, financial status, age, or level of confidence, has nothing to do with it whatsoever.

Prayer:
Father God, I thank you for your divine order of putting things in order according to your perfect will. You are the ultimate authority on who will be placed in authority; for the purpose of building your kingdom. I thank you, and I praise your name; for a heart to deliver those that have been in captivity, to the point that they cannot see their way out. I thank you for the mercy, and grace, that you have shown in my life, in order for me to do the same. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

Strong's Concordance Definitions:
Israel: 3478
Israel = "God prevails"
1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel
2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob
a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split
b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah
c) the name of the nation after the return from exile

stretched: 7971
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
a) (Qal)
1) to send
2) to stretch out, extend, direct
3) to send away
4) to let loose
b) (Niphal) to be sent
c) (Piel)
1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
2) to let go, set free
3) to shoot forth (of branches)
4) to let down
5) to shoot
d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
e) (Hiphil) to send

and laid: 7896
1) to put, set
a) (Qal)
1) to put, lay (hand upon)
2) to set, station, appoint, fix, set mind to
3) to constitute, make (one something), make like, perform
4) to take one's stand
5) to lay waste
b) (Hophal) to be imposed, be set upon

it on the head:7218
1) head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
a) head (of man, animals)
b) top, tip (of mountain)
c) height (of stars)
d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
e) head, front, beginning
f) chief, choicest, best
g) head, division, company, band
h) sum

of Ephraim: 669
Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful"

1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh
2) the tribe, Ephraim
3) the mountain country of Ephraim
4) sometimes used name for the northern kingdom (Hosea or Isaiah)
5) a city near Baal-hazor
6) a chief gate of Jerusalem

the younger: 6810
1) little, insignificant, young

a) little, insignificant
b) insignificant, mean
c) young, younger, youngest

Mannaseh: 4519
Manasseh = "causing to forget"

1) the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh
a) the tribe descended from Manasseh
b) the territory occupied by the tribe of Manasseh
2) son of king Hezekiah of Judah and himself king of Judah; he was the immediate and direct cause for the exile
3) a descendant of Pahath-moab who put away a foreign wife in the time of Ezra
4) a descendant of Hashum who put away a foreign wife in the time of Ezra

crossed: 7919
1) to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper

a) (Qal) to be prudent, be circumspect
b) (Hiphil)
1) to look at or upon, have insight
2) to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent
3) to have insight, have comprehension
a) insight, comprehension (subst)
4) to cause to consider, give insight, teach
a) the teachers, the wise
5) to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely
6) to prosper, have success
7) to cause to prosper
2) (Piel) to lay crosswise, cross (hands)

his hands: 3027
1) hand
a) hand (of man)
b) strength, power (fig.)
c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
d) (various special, technical senses)
1) sign, monument
2) part, fractional part, share
3) time, repetition
4) axle-trees, axle
5) stays, support (for laver)
6) tenons (in tabernacle)
7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
8) wrists

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of Beginnings - Genesis 48 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 19 Jan 2010.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=48&t=NASB


HIgins, S. (2010). Blessings In Reverse. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com.