DAY 111 - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE PROMISE
But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger,...
Genesis 48:14
Near the end of Genesis we come to the story of Israel imparting the Promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12, to his two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. This blessing had been passed on from Abraham to Isaac and then from Isaac to Jacob. God is known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob because each one of them demonstrated a growing trust in God to overcome barrenness in their wives and see the Promise of God come to pass.
With Jacob, the Promise is not reserved for his sons but is passed on to his grandsons. This is a pivotal moment because the Promise was destined to extend out from one family to many families, until all the nations of the Earth would become recipients of the Promise by faith. The Promise is not passed on by birth but through the ordinance of the laying on of hands and the declaring of God’s Word. Throughout the Bible the laying on of hands is exercised to impart blessing, authority, healing and spiritual gifts. Along with the laying on of hands comes the declaration of God’s will and word over the person who is having hands laid on them. Just before Israel dies he gathers his sons around himself and prophesies their futures, and the futures of their families. In this process he identified from which family the king would be born who would rule over all the nations. Here at the end of the stirring Genesis account we are given one of the main offices that Jesus would fulfill for all eternity - that of the king of God’s Kingdom and the ruler of all nations and peoples.
It is good to end off this month of devotions by praising God for revealing Jesus as the eternal king who will return to destroy our last enemy - death. Know for certain that you have bowed your knee to the King and invite him to help you live out the Promise on the earth until the day of his return, that is getting closer and closer.
Prayer
Thank You that the Promise made to Abraham has reached my life. As You said, all the nations on earth will be blessed because of him. Praise You Lord for Your faithfulness to fulfill Your Word.
FOR THE FAMILY
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