God's Way

January 27

Genesis 47-48

Psalm 17:1-5

Proverbs 3:19-20

Matthew 17

God’s Way

“Joseph said to his father, ‘Not that way, my father!  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 too will become a tribe, and he too will be great; nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a populous nation.”  Genesis 48:18-19 HCSB

Joseph had brought his sons before their grandfather to receive a blessing.  He thought he knew exactly how it would happen.  As was the custom in the day, he expected his father to place his right hand on his eldest son’s head and bless him first and then give the younger son, Ephraim, a “lesser” blessing.  He expected Manasseh to be the greatest because he was his firstborn.  This seems odd.  Of all people, you would think that Joseph would understand that the firstborn son isn’t always chosen to accomplish God’s purposes.   Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob.  So often we think we know best.  We think we have it all figured out.  It seems obvious to us. That is just the time when God often steps in and does something totally unexpected.  “As the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:9 (NIV) It is in those times that we have to step back and just trust.  Even when it doesn’t seem to make sense, we have to trust that He really does know best, and His ways are higher than our ways.  His sovereignty and foreknowledge give Him a vantage point that we do not have.  When we place our complete trust in Him, He will never lead us wrong.