QT 1/16/2026 Gen 48:17-22, God is greater than our situation

Genesis 48:17–22 (ESV) —

17 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. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since 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 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.” 20 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. 21 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. 22 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.”

 

NOTE: Joseph is quite disturb that his aged and mostly blind father has put his right hand on the second-born and not the first-born. Jacob was also a second-born and he was blessed over Esau. Isaac was second-born to Ishmael. For some reason, of God's own choosing, God, in at least two cases, elevates the second-born over the first. From Joseph's perspective, it was an example of an old man who can't even see. But apparently not, Jacob is clear that he knows what he is doing, and he is right. Half the tribe of Manasseh will settle on the other side of the Jordan, and ultimately disappear. Ephraim ends up in the middle of the land and becomes one of the largest tribes despite being a generation behind the others. When Israel splits into two, the norther kingdom of ten tribes is often called Ephraim while the southern kingdom of two tribes is known as Judah.

 

So what does it have to do with us? Our station or position in life does not determine our future. I grew up in a large family. Most of the time we were poor for a variety of reasons. In the best of times, we were lower middle class. No one in my known ancestry had gone to college and it was never discussed or encouraged. Quite frankly, I didn't spend much time thinking about it, and yet still imagined myself in some important job. Due to some strange circumstances (which I believe God orchestrated), I ended up in college. I got a BS in math and later an MS in operations research. I was commissioned in the Air Force. I retired as an Air Force squadron commander. I then worked for a world-renowned think tank. I left that work after over a decade to try out the corporate world. I led a Fortune 100 enterprise data science team which built AI models for the worker. I mention all that to say that one looking at me when I was young would have never predicted such a career. God can use anyone in life. We are not defined by our family or our upbringing. I suppose that is why I detest DEI and other such programs. I had no white privilege and could have easily failed. But I did work hard and God was my privilege, though I didn't know it.

 

PONDER:

1. Where are you in life? Are you using excuses to define yourself?
2. Are you willing to work and seek God in new ventures this year? What will it take?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know I was blessed by you. My circumstances were not good growing up, and the deeper story is even more difficult. But for some reason, you plucked me out of my situation so that I could hear the gospel. And you changed my life for the good. Thank you. I thank you not for the positions I held but for the opportunities to share the gospel and to disciple so many men over the years.