PRAYER - "Jacob Blesses Joseph and Sons"
You can pronounce a blessing on others with special prayer. When Joseph presented his two sons to Jacob, the old man should have put his right hand on Mannaseh the older, but instead he switched them. He gave the first blessing to the younger son, just like his own father had done.
Genesis 48:16 - "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
PRINCIPALS - "Ephraim and Manasseh"
Joseph begat his children in Egypt's royal household; Manasseh, "causing to forget," and Ephraim, "double fruit." When Grandfather Jacob came to Egypt and met his two new grandsons, he adopted them both. Afterward, Joseph's tribe was listed as two tribes - Ephraim and Manasseh. The priestly tribe, Levi, had no land inheritance, so there were still twelve tribes listed.
Genesis 48:5 - "And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine."
PRINCIPLES - "Reckoning Day"
Jacob's sons hated Joseph because of his dreams. The dreams said they would bow to him. They determined that it would never happen. They would kill him if necessary to prevent it. But Judah pressed them only to sell him to slavery. They thought they were done with Joseph. But God was not through with them. It was all for a purpose. It does not pay to resist God's plan for your life. Sooner or later, reckoning day will come.
Genesis 43:18 - "And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house.""
PROPHECIES - "Corn in Egypt"
The famine in Canaan was no accident. God was orchestrating an epic story. God had warned Abraham many years earlier that his descendants would become strangers in a land that was not theirs. Now it was about to begin, but they had not a clue. Israel would be forced to Egypt to survive. But Joseph was already there with their salvation. So was God.
Genesis 42:2 - "And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die."
Put the Rumor to Rest
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt...but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
– Exodus 10:22-23
Years ago Satan started a rumor. He told a few Christians they had to live like the world, sharing all the same misfortune, defeat, poverty and failure as those around them. Well, the word spread. You may have heard the rumor yourself. But I am telling you right now that it is a crafty lie.
The Word of God says in Psalm 91:10, that evil can’t even come near your house if you are abiding in Him.
In John 16, Jesus Himself says He has deprived the world of power to harm you. And Exodus 10:23 says that when thick darkness surrounded the Egyptians, the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
By these and other scriptures, you can see that God never intended you to experience all of the junk that the world suffers. He’s always wanted His children to live above it, to stand out as light in a dark world.
In the Old Testament, God’s fame was established because of the miracles He had worked for His children. That same thing should be true today with you and me. We should be glorifying God by the miraculously victorious lives we live. People should be coming up to us and saying things like, “I’ve heard how God healed you.” Or, “I’ve heard how your children were delivered from drugs,” or, “God has really brought you out of a financial crisis.”
Can you see now why Satan would spread a rumor that would make you believe you have to suffer with the world instead of live as victor over it? He doesn’t want people running after you asking where you get your power, your peace, your health and prosperity.
But that’s exactly what God wants to happen. So, put the Word of God to work and dare to receive the blessings He has promised to you. Let the light of God’s power in your life put the devil’s dark rumors to rest!
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