In Genesis 48:20, Jacob overrides Joseph’s desire to have his eldest son receive the blessing and reverses his hands to grant the younger one the favored blessing. But then blesses both of Joseph’s children, Ephraim and 12 ephraimManasseh. The verse says, “he blessed them that day, saying, by you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, may God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.” It became a standard blessing in all Israel. May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!

The blessing involves two promotions; first, the promotion from grandsons to sons which makes them equal heirs to the father’s estate. Second, in promoting Ephraim, the younger son, over Manasseh, the older son, Jacob makes the least to be the greatest. Though not born into it physically, In Christ we have been made co-heirs. Romans 8, tells us that we call God, Abba, which is Father. We don’t call him Grandpa, or the great force in the sky. We are his children. Romans 8:17 says, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Just as Christ inherited every spiritual blessing, we will share them.

The second blessing is that the least shall become the greater. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jesus said, the one who would be the greatest must become the servant of all. When we humble ourselves, God lifts us up. In Matthew 23:12, Jesus taught us that “If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.” May you become like Ephraim and Manasseh.