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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for collecting daily manna), make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Saturday, September 23, 2017
Today's Passage : Today's Passage: Subject:Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh Bible Verse: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.” " Message:
If you remember the story of Jacob, and how he came to be the third great patriarch of the Hebrews, his behavior will not seem too unusual. He himself was the younger of two sons, but engaged in fraud to deceive his father, Isaac, and get the blessing intended for his elder brother, Esau. So Jacob held little stock in the birthright of the eldest son.
The practice of passing a title, crown, or position of leadership to the eldest son is common in aristocratic societies, but not universal. The Russian czars, for instance, would choose their successor. This would seem to make some sense, as the eldest son is sometimes weak or incapable of leading. Even where it is the rule, it is often bent. The most familiar case to us would probably be the abdication of the profligate British monarch Edward VIII — the Duke of Windsor — after less than a year, so that his younger brother (Queen Elizabeth II’s father) might wear the crown.
So Jacob, having rejected primogeniture for his own benefit, now seems to reject it in general principle. Not only does he give preference to Joseph’s younger son, but he will not leave the eldest of his own children, Reuben, as the leader of the tribe. The brothers will succeed according to their ability, not their age; Joseph and Judah have already become the great leaders among the twelve brothers.
Meditation : Prayer : God of love, Father of all, the darkness that covered the earth has given way to the bright dawn of your Word made flesh. Make me and all who confess your holy name people of this light. Make me faithful to your Word that I may bring your life to the waiting world. Grant this through Christ our Lord...Amen |
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