Some people like to think they are experts in knowing how God works. No one is. They think they know who God will use and which door He will open. No one does. These next few verses are an indicator of this.
“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.” 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 yourname will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.” (Genesis 48 v17-20)
The younger one over the elder. Jacob had lived this story; it was his story. Grace often moves in the opposite direction of human logic.
The old man Jacob, nearly blind, shows us that no cultural practice binds God. He doesn’t have to fit into any hierarchy. His choice often arrives unnoticed.
Joseph was watching the hands whilst Jacob was watching God. We have all been Joseph in this moment, reaching out to correct what God is doing because it doesn’t match our understanding of how things should go.
Joseph saw a mistake, but his father, Jacob, saw a pattern. Perhaps the crossed hands are the pattern for God. We so often try to correct what we think is the obvious.
However, whether it is Jacob over Esau, Joseph over his brothers or the cross of Christ itself, the message of God is that He consistently reaches past the expected to rest His hand on the unlikely.
His logic is not ours.
Missions Paul 