The Potter's House

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Crossed Hands of the Greater Blessing

Adam Dragoon

Sermon Summary

In Genesis 48, we encounter a profound moment where Jacob, nearing the end of his life, blesses Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. This story is rich with symbolism and spiritual insight, revealing God's unexpected ways and the transition from the old covenant to the new. Joseph, who had endured immense suffering and emerged as a leader in Egypt, brings his sons to Jacob for a blessing. Traditionally, the firstborn, Manasseh, would receive the primary blessing. However, Jacob crosses his hands, placing the greater blessing on Ephraim, the younger son. This act signifies God's sovereignty and His tendency to subvert human expectations.

The names of Joseph's sons carry deep meaning. Manasseh means "causing to forget," symbolizing the old covenant and the law, which helps us move past the pain of our past. Ephraim means "fruitfulness," representing the new covenant in Christ, which brings abundant life and spiritual fruitfulness. The old covenant, with its laws and sacrifices, was necessary but incomplete. It pointed to the need for a greater, more perfect covenant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Through the cross, Jesus accomplished what the law could not. He became the ultimate sacrifice, offering us grace and the opportunity to live a life of fruitfulness in Him. Just as Jacob's crossed hands signified a new order, the cross of Christ signifies the transition from law to grace. This story reminds us that God's ways are higher than ours, and He often chooses the unexpected to fulfill His purposes. We are called to embrace the new covenant, living not by the letter of the law but by the Spirit, bearing the fruit of a transformed life in Christ.

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Key Takeaways

  1. Destiny and Transformation: Destiny is not merely a destination but the transformation of our character through life's trials. Joseph's journey illustrates how God prepares us to be the right person for His purposes, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a right heart amidst adversity. [01:52]

  2. The Significance of Names: The names Manasseh and Ephraim symbolize the transition from the old covenant to the new. Manasseh represents forgetting past pain through the law, while Ephraim signifies the fruitfulness of life in Christ, highlighting the progression from law to grace. [08:39]

  3. The Role of the Law: The law serves as a mirror, revealing our sinfulness and need for a Savior. It is a necessary step in understanding our need for grace, but it is not the final solution. The law points us to the greater covenant fulfilled in Jesus. [13:46]

  4. God's Unexpected Ways: God's plans often subvert human expectations, as seen in Jacob's blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh. This act foreshadows the new covenant, where grace supersedes the law, and God's purposes are fulfilled in unexpected ways. [25:10]

  5. The Cross and New Covenant: The cross is the ultimate symbol of God's grace, where Jesus took our place, fulfilling the law and offering us a new life. Through the cross, we receive the blessing of the firstborn, becoming co-heirs with Christ in the new covenant. [31:05]

Bible Reading

  • Genesis 48:8-20 NKJV - Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who [are] these?" 9 And Joseph said to his father, "They [are] my sons, whom God has given me in this [place]." And he said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them." 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, [so that] he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, "I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!" 12 So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. 13 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. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." 17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this [one is] the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." 19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." 20 So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!' " And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh

  • Romans 5:17 NKJV - For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

  • Hebrews 8:6-13 NKJV - 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. 7 For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah-- 9 "not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 10 "For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 "None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." 13 In that He says, "A new [covenant]," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Observation Questions

  1. What significant action does Jacob take when blessing Joseph's sons, and how does Joseph react to it? [04:54]

  2. What do the names Manasseh and Ephraim mean, and how do they relate to the covenants mentioned in the sermon? [08:39]

  3. How does the sermon describe the role of the law in the Old Covenant? [13:46]

  4. What is the significance of the cross in the context of the new covenant, as explained in the sermon? [31:05]

Interpretation Questions

  1. How does Jacob's crossing of his hands during the blessing symbolize God's unexpected ways and the transition from the old to the new covenant? [25:10]

  2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the new covenant in Christ is superior to the old covenant? [17:22]

  3. How does the story of Joseph's life illustrate the concept of destiny as transformation rather than just a destination? [01:52]

  4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of understanding our need for grace through the law? [13:46]

Application Questions

  1. Reflect on a time when your expectations were subverted by God's plans. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [25:10]

  2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of living by the Spirit rather than the letter of the law. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a Spirit-led life this week? [18:23]

  3. Consider the meaning of the names Manasseh and Ephraim. How can you apply the concept of "forgetting past pain" and "fruitfulness" in your current life situation? [08:39]

  4. How can you embrace the new covenant of grace in your daily life, especially in areas where you might be relying on your own efforts? [29:28]

  5. The sermon mentions the fruit of the Spirit. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [20:04]

  6. How can you ensure that your understanding of God's plans is not limited by your own expectations or traditions? [33:49]

  7. Reflect on the idea that God's ways are higher than ours. How can this perspective change the way you approach challenges and decisions in your life? [38:17]

Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for Daily Devotionals based on this message over the next five days.

Written with Love by Pastor Adam Dragoon

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