Genesis 48:13-22 (ESV)

And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). And he blessed Joseph and said,

“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since 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 also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”

Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

This passage makes it seem like Jacob’s decision to bless Ephraim as the first born is arbitrary.

But Jacob has been “grandpa” to Ephraim and Manasseh for seventeen years. He knows them well and this is an informed choice by him. The tradition of favoring the firstborn seems to be violated in the Bible as much as it’s followed. There’s a lesson in there somewhere.

But today’s lesson comes from what happens later. While Ephraim will do better than Manasseh, Judah will ultimately be the premiere tribe. Jacob’s blessing is valuable but not that valuable.

The Bible never says that these blessings carry the force of God.

Just as Jacob’s blessing will only be as effectual as God chooses to make it, so our prayers are only as effectual as God chooses to makes them.

But what an incredible honor it is to be able to ask. Praise God for wanting to have anything to do with us. We certainly don’t deserve it, yet He displays the riches of His glory though grace.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies