God’s Plan Beyond Our Sight
It is hard to imagine how both Jacob and Joseph processed the remarkable turn of events that led them to be reunited during the famine. Jacob thought his son Joseph was dead. Joseph could never have imagined that he would one day be used by God to lead Egypt or save his brothers and their families from starvation in Egypt. Only God can write these kinds of stories.
In chapter 48 we see yet another plot twist that Joseph didn’t expect. When Joseph was told that his father was ill, he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to see Jacob who was near death.
When Jacob was told that Joseph was there, he summoned his strength and sat up in bed and delivered a message to Joseph. Jacob told Joseph about the time God appeared to him in a dream at Luz, which is also called Bethel in scripture. This moment was pivotal in Jacob’s life, and as he speaks his last words to Joseph, he shares how God revealed that the blessing promised to Abraham would continue through his prodigy. This must have been a great reminder to Joseph that God had used him through all of his suffering.
The twist in the plot comes when Joseph positions his sons before Jacob to receive his father’s blessing. Jacob switches his hands and blesses Ephraim the youngest with the greatest blessing, which normally would go to the oldest. Joseph tried to correct his father, but Jacob insisted he knew what he was doing.
Jacob did know what he was doing, though like us our view of what God is doing is often limited. We don’t know if Jacob thought about how often God used the youngest over the older when he gave Ephraim his blessing. This is at least the sixth time we find this to be true in Genesis. And as you continue through the Old Testament, we find it to be the case several more times.
In the case of Ephraim we later discover something very impactful in how God would lead Israel to the promised land. When Joshua was chosen to lead Israel into the promised land, guess which tribe he is from? Yep, Ephraim. God had used Joseph, a younger son, to save Jacob’s lineage from starvation. And God used Ephraim’s lineage to lead Israel into the promised land!
When things look bleak and you can’t find where God is working, we can rest assured that he works in ways we cannot imagine. When there seems to be no way, God always finds a way, and he often uses the most unlikely to do his kingdom work. And that just might include you!
Father, we are grateful that you are writing the grand story of redemption and renewal. Today, even as we may not see how you want to use us or what difference we can make, we surrender our lives to you. Use us according to your purposes and for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Genesis 48:1-22; Numbers 13:8 ESV
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