Manasseh was Joseph’s oldest son, but when Jacob blessed Joseph’s two boys he put Ephraim first. No reason is given at the time as to why Jacob did that, but in asking God to “bless these boys,” Genesis 48:16, Jacob somehow knew that God wanted Ephraim the younger of the two boys, and not the firstborn, to receive the “greater” blessing (19).
Is there a clue, then, in the names Joseph gave to his boys? For his oldest son, Joseph chose the name Manasseh, meaning “he that causes to forget,” Genesis 41:51, in memory of God giving Joseph cause to forget being ripped out of his family by his jealous brothers and being sold into slavery denying Joseph a normal childhood and a Dad who loved him. And anyone who’s been through that, knows it’s the worst thing that can happen to a growing boy, leaving him feeling very bitter toward his family, as we see later in how harshly Joseph treated his brothers in Egypt. To be able to put his past behind him, then, was a great blessing from God.
It’s also the great blessing Jesus made possible by his sacrifice, that’s enabled billions of people to put the past behind and wash it away like water down a plug hole, and be given a fresh start knowing all is forgiven – and being able to forgive too, just as Joseph was able to forgive his brothers. It’s an essential part of why the gospel message is good news.
But in the name Joseph gave his second son, Ephraim, there’s a blessing even greater. Ephraim meant “to be fruitful,” in memory of God making Joseph “fruitful in the land of my suffering,” Genesis 41:52. Which is what God has offered us in the resurrection of Jesus. Despite our past and despite the suffering of having to live in a world that has little interest in God, we can live a fruitful life, full of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
This is where Jesus put the emphasis with his disciples too, when he told them in John 15:16, “I chose you to go and bear fruit.” We can look forward, therefore, to a productive life, being “able to accomplish infinitely more than we even think to ask for or dream of, through his power working in us,” Ephesians 3:20. So this part of the blessing looks forward to a lifetime of wonderful changes in us. Putting the past behind is great – but a lifetime of growth is even better, which is why Jacob put Ephraim first. Both are essential to the gospel message, which is why “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh” is still a great blessing today – and not just for Jewish sons, it’s for the whole world, as we see in “The impact Joseph had on his world”….(next blog)
Buck To Basics 