Genesis Chps 46 to 48
Joseph has finally made himself known to his brothers and his brothers have returned home to tell their father Jacob. Jacob of course is ecstatic and will come to Egypt to reunite with his son, whom Jacob thought was dead. Upon the reunion of course their is much joy and Jacob and all of the family settle in Goshen. Jacob is near death and in chapter 48 he blesses Joseph and two grandsons Ephraim (younger) and Manasseh (older).
As Jacob blesses Ephraim, Joseph is "displeased".
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. Joseph said to him, "No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head. (Gen 48:17-18)
However, Jacob indicates that he is led that this is part of God's plan and that both will be blessed and that Ephraim has a "greater" role in God's plan.
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 your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh. So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
I can't imagine that Joseph would have a hard time with the younger playing a greater role than the older son. We don't need to look any further than Joseph's own life where he even boasted to his older brothers (and own father!) about his special abilities and gifts given to him from God.
I am reminded here how we need to be mindful of God's plan and how we need to submit to his will. As part of this we need to be mindful of how we are SO inclined to have things our way - we are human are we not. Stay close to Him and pray that we can lean on Him and focus on His will...this is my prayer.
