S) "14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. ...
18 Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.' 19 But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.'"
Genesis 48:14, 18-19 (NASB)
O) Over and over we have examples showing us that God's ways are not our own. He does things with purpose and planning, not by happenstance or accident. Jacob did not mistakenly cross his arms to bless the younger brother as first; God never gets it twisted. He was obedient to God's plan and, despite being blind, still knew to cross his arms to bless the younger as if he was the firstborn.
A) God can, and often does, break the traditions and expectations of man. I would do well to remember that my traditions might need to be altered according to what God may want. This is also a great reminder that I need to still seek God's plan and will, even for things that "make sense." I cannot rely on my own wisdom, tradition, habit, culture, or society to tell me how to live my life.
P) Father, I want to live my life with complete abandon to obeying You. Even when things don't make a lot of sense to me according to "the norm." Your ways are not my ways and Your thoughts are not my thoughts, just as the prophet Isaiah said. Give me the courage to break worldly precedent and follow Your command, and let me stand firm by my convictions, not relenting to outside pressures of conformity. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) God can, and often does, break the traditions and expectations of man. I would do well to remember that my traditions might need to be altered according to what God may want. This is also a great reminder that I need to still seek God's plan and will, even for things that "make sense." I cannot rely on my own wisdom, tradition, habit, culture, or society to tell me how to live my life.
P) Father, I want to live my life with complete abandon to obeying You. Even when things don't make a lot of sense to me according to "the norm." Your ways are not my ways and Your thoughts are not my thoughts, just as the prophet Isaiah said. Give me the courage to break worldly precedent and follow Your command, and let me stand firm by my convictions, not relenting to outside pressures of conformity. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment