The Blessing Designed for You Should Never Be Diverted to Another
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we delve into a topic that resonates deeply with many of us: "The Blessing Designed for You Should Never Be Diverted to Another." For some brethren, the topic of our discussion might become a basis for warfare prayers, fervently praying, "My blessing should never be diverted." They might think someone wants to diabolically divert their blessing. This perception is misguided. The true message of our topic is not for warfare but for us to submit to the will of God and trust that His purpose will be fulfilled in our lives.
God, in His infinite wisdom and love, has designed specific blessings for each one of us. These blessings are tailored to our lives, our needs, and our purposes. The Bible assures us that what God has set aside for us cannot be taken by another. This is emphatic. Sometimes we pray amiss. Instead of praying rightly, we may find ourselves praying out of envy or misunderstanding. Why should you be angry with your younger brother because there happens to be a greater prophecy over his head? Troubling yourself and behaving contrary to God's will because of this is childish, immature, and even devilish.
Our topic, "The Blessing Designed for You Should Never Be Diverted to Another" is drawn from several biblical narratives that reveal the profound truth of God’s sovereign will and His unique blessings for each individual. We will explore the stories of Manasseh and Ephraim to understand how God’s blessings are intricately woven into His divine plan. But before we delve into these narratives, let us explore some profound truths through the Scriptures that will form the background of our study.
God's Unique Plan for Each Individual
God has a unique plan for every person, crafted with love and purpose. Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us of this: "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse highlights that God's intentions for us are specific, benevolent, and designed to give us a hopeful future.
Similarly, Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that we are created with a purpose: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Paul emphasizes that the good works and blessings prepared for us were designed even before we were born. God’s plans are tailored to our individual lives and purposes.
The Security of God's Blessings
The Bible assures us that God's blessings are secure and irrevocable. Isaiah 55:11 states: "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." This verse underscores that God's words and promises, including His blessings, will achieve the purpose for which they were given.
Numbers 23:19 reinforces this by saying: "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" This emphasizes the trustworthiness of God. His blessings, once promised, are certain and cannot be diverted.
No One Can Take What God Has Given You
The security of God's blessings extends to all aspects of our lives. In John 10:28-29, Jesus assures us: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand." This principle extends to all blessings from God; they are secure and cannot be taken away.
Finally, Romans 11:29 clearly states: "For God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable." Paul emphasizes that God's gifts and calling are permanent. What God has bestowed upon you cannot be revoked or reassigned to another.
So with this understanding, let us take on our golden text extracting it from the book of Genesis 48:10-21, where Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Genesis 48:10-21
Genesis 48:10-14: "Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.' Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him. But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn."
Genesis 48:15-16: "Then he blessed Joseph and said, 'May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.'"
Genesis 48:17-20: "When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to him, 'No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.' He blessed them that day and said, 'In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh."
Genesis 48:21: "Then Israel said to Joseph, 'I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.'"
Analysis of Genesis 48:10-21
Context
In Genesis 48, Jacob (also called Israel) is nearing the end of his life. Joseph, his son, brings his own sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob for a blessing. This passage is significant as it highlights themes of divine selection and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Text Analysis
Verses 10-11: Jacob’s Failing Eyesight and Joy
10 - "Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them."
11 - "Israel said to Joseph, 'I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.'"
Jacob's Physical Condition: Jacob’s failing eyesight signifies his old age and frailty, setting the stage for a moment of significant patriarchal blessing.
Emotional Reunion: Jacob’s joy at seeing not only Joseph but also his grandchildren emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s promises and blessings through generations.
Verses 12-14: Jacob’s Crossed Hands
12 - "Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground."
13 - "And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him."
14 - "But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn."
Joseph positions his sons according to tradition, with the right hand (signifying the primary blessing) on the firstborn, Manasseh.
Jacob intentionally crosses his arms to place his right hand on Ephraim, indicating a divine insight into their futures. This act signifies that the greater blessing is intended for Ephraim, the younger.
Verses 15-16: The Blessing
15 - "Then he blessed Joseph and said, 'May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,"
16 - "the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.'"
Jacob invokes the God of his fathers, highlighting the continuity of God’s covenant through Abraham, Isaac, and himself.
Jacob refers to God as his shepherd, reflecting a lifetime of guidance and protection.
The blessing requests that Ephraim and Manasseh carry on the legacy of Jacob’s family and grow into a multitude, emphasizing the transmission of the Abrahamic covenant.
Verses 17-18: Joseph’s Concern
17 - "When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head."
18 - "Joseph said to him, 'No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.'"
Joseph is surprised and displeased by Jacob’s action, as it goes against cultural expectations and traditions regarding the firstborn’s blessing.
Joseph tries to correct what he perceives as a mistake, reflecting a concern for tradition and proper order.
Verses 19-20: Jacob’s Reassurance and Prophecy
19 - "But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.'"
20 - "He blessed them that day and said, 'In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh."
Jacob reassures Joseph that his actions are intentional and prophetic. He acknowledges Manasseh’s future greatness but declares a greater destiny for Ephraim.
Prophetic Blessing: The blessing establishes Ephraim's preeminence, and Jacob’s words set a precedent for future generations in Israel.
Verse 21: Assurance to Joseph
21 - "Then Israel said to Joseph, 'I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers.'"
Jacob assures Joseph of God’s continued presence and the eventual return to the promised land, reaffirming God’s faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.
Theological Themes
The story of Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh encapsulates profound theological themes that resonate throughout the Bible. The basic themes such as Divine Sovereignty and Election, Continuity of God’s Covenant, Reversal of Human Expectations, and God’s Faithfulness—offer a rich understanding of how God’s plans and blessings unfold in ways that transcend human conventions and expectations. They encourage believers to trust in God’s sovereign will, recognize the enduring nature of His promises, and rely on His faithfulness through all generations. My beloved in Christ, let us explore these themes:
Divine Sovereignty and Election
Our first theme is Divine Sovereignty and Election. In the passage we have read, we see God’s choice of Ephraim over Manasseh, and it is not supposed to be so based on cultural norms. Hear this!
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the tradition of primogeniture played a crucial role in family dynamics. Primogeniture is a practice that emphasizes the state of being the firstborn child, where the right of succession and inheritance belonged exclusively to the firstborn son. Under this feudal rule, the entire estate of a deceased person without a will would pass to the eldest son, ensuring that he would lead the family and manage its resources.
However, in the biblical account of Ephraim and Manasseh, we see a divine interruption of this tradition. Despite the cultural expectation that Manasseh, the firstborn, would receive the primary blessing, God directed Jacob to bless the younger Ephraim instead.
This act of crossing his hands to place his right hand on Ephraim’s head was a deliberate move, signifying a greater blessing for the younger son. This choice was not influenced by human merit or societal norms but was rooted in God’s sovereign will, demonstrating that His plans often transcend human customs and expectations.
God's sovereignty means He has the ultimate authority and power to choose and bless according to His purposes. By selecting Ephraim, God demonstrated that His divine election is based on His will alone, not on human conventions; And this theme is recurrent in the Bible. For example, God chose Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and David, the youngest of Jesse's sons, to be king over Israel. These instances reinforce the concept that God’s choices are based on His sovereign purpose rather than human expectations.
Romans 9:15-16: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
Continuity of God’s Covenant
Our second theme is Continuity of God’s Covenant. Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh is a significant moment in the continuity of God's covenant with Abraham. This covenant included promises of land, descendants, and blessings, which were reiterated to Isaac and Jacob. By blessing his grandsons, Jacob ensured that this divine covenant would extend to future generations.
So if we look at Genesis 48:15-16, we will see that Jacob created a Covenantal Lineage: Jacob’s invocation of the God of his fathers Abraham and Isaac during the blessing ties his grandsons into the covenantal promises. This continuity underscores that God's promises are enduring and passed down through the generations. It did not end there. The blessing also points forward to the future fulfillment of these promises. Ephraim and Manasseh would become the progenitors of tribes within Israel, contributing to the nation’s growth and prosperity, as initially promised to Abraham.
Genesis 17:7: “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.”
Reversal of Human Expectations
Let's discuss our third theme. Our third theme is that of the Reversal of Human Expectations.
Jacob’s decision to bless Ephraim over Manasseh was contrary to the cultural norm of primogeniture. The act of crossing his hands to place the right hand on Ephraim’s head was a deliberate and divinely inspired decision, signifying the greater blessing for the younger son.
This reversal illustrates that God’s wisdom surpasses human understanding. Human customs and expectations are often based on social constructs and traditions, but God’s plans are based on His omniscient understanding of the future and His divine purposes.
Now, I want us to understand that this is not new but has become a ‘Pattern. The Bible frequently showcases God overturning human expectations. For instance, Jesus' ministry emphasized the first becoming last and the last becoming first (Matthew 20:16), and the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; and again, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” These examples underscore that God’s ways are higher than human ways (Isaiah 55:9).
God’s Faithfulness
Our fourth theme is God's faithfulness, vividly illustrated in the life of Jacob. Jacob's journey was fraught with numerous challenges and divine encounters. His blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh stands as a testament to his recognition of God’s constant guidance and unwavering faithfulness.
In Genesis 48:15-16, Jacob reflects on God as his shepherd, who has guided and protected him throughout his life. This acknowledgment serves as a personal testimony to God’s steadfast faithfulness. Jacob’s life, marked by struggle and divine intervention, illustrates that God remains true to His promises despite human flaws and failures.
By invoking God's name and blessing his grandsons, Jacob affirms that God’s faithfulness will continue with them. This act of blessing is a declaration of trust in God’s promises and His continued guidance and protection for Jacob’s descendants.
As the book of Lamentations beautifully captures, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Practical Application
1. Trust in God’s Sovereignty
Understand that God’s blessings for you are part of His sovereign plan. You may not always understand His ways, but you can trust that His will is perfect.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
2. Embrace Your Unique Blessing
God has a unique blessing designed for each of us. Do not compare your blessing to others, but embrace and be thankful for what God has given you.
Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
3. Pray with a Humble Heart
Instead of praying against others, pray for God’s will to be done in your life and in theirs. Seek God’s wisdom and guidance with a humble heart.
Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
4. Celebrate God’s Faithfulness
Reflect on how God has been faithful in your life and give thanks. Share testimonies of His faithfulness to encourage others.
Psalm 100:4-5: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Conclusion
As we reflect on the story of Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, we are reminded that God's blessings are uniquely tailored for each of us and are part of His sovereign plan. Let us embrace our blessings with gratitude, trust in God’s faithful provision, and rejoice in the knowledge that the blessings designed for us will never be diverted to another.
Let us pray:
"Lord, we thank You for Your sovereign will and Your faithfulness. Help us to trust in Your plans and embrace the blessings You have designed for each of us. May we live in gratitude and humility, always seeking to fulfill Your purpose in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen."
May God bless you all richly and guide you in His perfect will.
