Genesis 48:17-19 (ESV)

Originally published 01/07/2015

Jewish custom was that the firstborn son of a man was to be in charge of the estate and receive a double portion of it for himself. "When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, 'Not this way, my father; since this one is the first born, put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations’" Genesis 48:17-9 (ESV). Often God chose the least likely persons to show that their success came not from them, but from God. Lord, I want to do my very best to do the work you have given me, but remind me constantly that what is accomplished is from you, not me.