Genesis 48:15 Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
I don’t fault Joseph for his words in verse 18: “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.” My question is about his motivation and tone. Was he angry? Was he confused? Was he earnestly trying to help his father, who is indeed very old and also blind?
Genesis 48:16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.”
I, too, have this innate sense of fairness, of rightness. “This is not how this should go, dad. Everyone knows you are supposed to bless the oldest.” I also have this innate sense of compassion. “Oh, dad, I love you and appreciate you, and you can’t see this with your eyesight, but you are blessing the ‘wrong’ son, as in ‘not the son you think.’” His reaction to the end of this chapter will reveal his true motivation.
Genesis 48:17 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.
Precious Savior, I am who You created me to be, but I am also human and fallible and messy. Did you create me that way? Is that my mule-headedness coming through? I don’t know, but I know that You love me–deeply, completely, fiercely, EXACTLY as I am. Thank You. Help me to love all the messy bits of myself as well. Amen.
Genesis 48:18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
Have a blessed day.