"And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine... And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. 14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn...Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow." vv.5, 13, 14, 22
Read chapter 48.
Ephraim is the younger brother and Manasseh the older, firstborn of Joseph. Just like Jacob and Esau, the younger gets the blessing as the firstborn. This wasn't because Jacob couldn't see and blessed the wrong son, but did it "knowingly" as we see his hands crisscross. He must have had a word from God to do so to do it knowingly and mentioned in Hebrews 11:21 that he did so by faith. Even before the blessing Jacob says their names in reverse order saying the younger brother first, already knowing the plans of the Lord. This is the portion Joseph gets above his brothers in that his sons are blessed on the same level as the 12 brothers and counted with their uncles as founders of the 12 tribes of Israel. How great a blessing to to be greater than what expected! How have you seen circumstances go a way you didn't expect and turn out to be a greater blessing than you'd thought?
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