Have you ever felt the sense that the blessing passed over you? That someone else got the nod, someone younger, someone more obvious or simply someone who arrived first. People who are less ready have had more opportunities than you. They were less experienced and less deserving than you, and you wonder if your moment has passed you by. Jacob’s arms tell a different story.
“When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” 9 “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.” 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.” 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.” (Genesis 48 v 8-14)
Jacob could hardly see, but he had clearer vision than anyone there, for he saw what God had been doing all along.
How many times do we read of God blessing the younger and not the older? Being the youngest, I myself find this one of the best parts of the Bible!
Joseph, presuming that because of his father’s blindness, he has got it wrong, tries to correct it. But Jacob knows what he is doing.
Jacob had known what it was to be the wrong son, but he also knew that God doesn’t follow man’s protocols. God often reverses expectations and reaches beyond the expected candidates to the unexpected.
Grace does not respect the order of arrival.
This is the gospel.
Maybe today you feel like you are the wrong one. You have been overlooked. Maybe you feel retired before you’re retired, maybe now retired, you feel finished. Look at the Bible story again, and you will see that God’s grace never respected the order of arrival.
Missions Paul 