His younger brother shall be greater than he.

Genesis 48:17-19, When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the first-born. Place 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. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

Joseph brought his sons to receive his father’s blessing in the traditional fashion, the older before the younger. Jacob saw that the blessing would be just the opposite. God’s way of blessing doesn’t always line up with tradition or the way that we think it should be. He accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s, He put Jacob before Esau, He brought forth His own chosen nation to proclaim His glory. We are privileged today to be able to participate in His own sovereign plan that will bring the ultimate glory to His name.

Teach us how to walk humbly in Your way, keeping our eyes upon You, Lord.