The Cross Blessing

As we look at our text we read here where Joseph is presenting his two sons Ephraim and Manessah before his father Israel who by now can hardly see because of his age v.10 He is presented these two boys in whom he is going to make a divine impartation by laying hands upon them that will set them up -Like Issac had done to Jacob - Israel. Israel - Jacob was about to pronounce his blessings on Joseph’s sons. So as Joseph brings them to his father Israel kisses them and embraces them and say’s to Joseph, I didn’t think that I would see your face: for at one time he thought that Joseph was dead. Not only was he alive so that his father could see him. He also sees Joseph’s sons, Joseph’s seed. As Joseph brings them out from near his fathers knees, he shows Joseph respect by bowing his self with his face to earth. After getting up, Joseph takes Ephraim (the youngest) by his right hand and leads him to Israel’s left hand and then he takes Manessah (the oldest) by his left hand and leads him to his fathers right hand.

As Israel stretches out his right hand which represents, impartation, blessings, honor, strength. The hand that should have been placed on the eldest sons head (Manessah),was laid upon (Ephraim‘s) head who was the youngest and places his left hand upon Manessah’s head, the bible say’s “guiding his hands wittingly (the Strong’s Concordance say’s “Expertly, skillfully, understandingly” with Prophetic insight that enabled him to know that the younger son of Joseph would be greater than the firstborn. He knew Manessah was the oldest, the 1st born but Israel didn’t heed his sons careful preparation to make sure that all his father did was stretch forth his right hand straight out. Israel ignored the order of the sons before him and crossed his arms to rest his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on Manessah. It no doubt took his mind back to when God announced to Rebekah his mother that the 2 sons she was carrying would struggle in her womb, but also that the older shall serve the younger. (Gen 25:23) So once again this blessing indicated that the younger would have preeminence. (Read v.17 and 18)as Israel crosses his arms Joseph expresses his displeasure with his father and tries to take his fathers hand and remove it from Ephraim’s to Manessah’s head because he was the 1st born.(v.19) But Jacob refused and said, ”I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. *Let me share some quick facts with you about Manessah and Ephraim:

They both were born in Egypt and were half Hebrew and half Egyptian. They were Jacob’s gentile descendants, since they both were children of an Egyptian mother. But focus is placed upon Ephraim because Ephraim’s name will prophetically represent “the fullness of the Gentiles” and his name would also prophetically speak of Christ as the coming Saviour of the world.

If you know anything about the Sovereignty of God you would know that His sovereign purpose extends to individuals as well as to nations. The scriptures reveal God as an absolute sovereign God who by His own will has chosen to create the universe and to direct its history according to His foreordained plan. Ephesians 1:4 say’s “God has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” not only that but Ephesians 1:5 say’s, “ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 1:11 say’s “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will.”

Tonight I have come to tell those of you that are present tonight that God determined beforehand way back in the council of the eternal Godhead that Jesus would carry out His purpose by way of the cross blessing.

So as God deals with men we need to notice that although Israel had 12 sons:

Reuben,Simeon,Levi,Judah,Issachar,Zebulun,Joseph,Benjamin,Dan,Naphtali,Gad and Asher.

Reuben being the 1st born did not receive the “Birthright” which was a blessing that is usually given to the Eldest son. The reason for this was because He defiled his fathers bed. (Gen 35:22) Simeon and Levi who would have been next in line were also passed over because of their cruel and treacherous conduct at Shechem (Genesis 34) for they slew all the males of that city because they defiled Dinah their sister. Judah prevailed above his brethren (1 Chronicles 5:2) but he was disqualified because he slept with his daughter in law Tamar.( Genesis 38) So the Birthright according to God’s Sovereign will went to Joseph the one who was the favored son of Jacob, who resisted the temptation wherein some of his brothers fell when he fled from Potipher’s wife. Although the Birthright in itself was 2 fold: Spiritually and Materially. The material blessings of the Birthright, the double portion of the inheritance, went to Joseph’s 2 sons who were being counted as one through adoption for the tribe of Levi had been “taken by God” for service that was connected with the Priesthood.