Joseph reached out to correct his elderly father. Jacob prepared to bless his grandsons, but switched the order, placing his right hand on the head of the younger boy. Joseph thought his father did so by mistake, but Jacob persisted.

May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob pronounced a blessing of prosperity still heard today.

Years before, Jacob deceived his father to steal the blessing reserved for his older brother. Now, in his old age, Jacob showed maturity and wisdom. He listened to the Lord as he crossed his arms to pronounce his blessing. Nice to see how he grew in grace and truth throughout his life.

And the blessing going to the younger son? The Lord directed Jacob’s blessing in that direction, younger before older. This underscores the reality that you and I are not born to God’s favor due to our family line, or ethnicity, or place of birth. Our status in the world fails to guarantee a blessing.

Blessings are ultimately dependent on God’s grace. We see this over and over in the lives of people in the scriptures, and I see this over and over in the lives around me as well.

Genesis 48 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Jordan Whitt