God Switched Hands

“Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me in this place.”

And he said, “Please bring them to me, and I will bless them.” Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them.  And Israel said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.  And Joseph took them both, Ephraim (the younger) with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh (the older) with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him.  Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. “ Genesis 48:8-14

“Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.” Genesis 4:17

“But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” Genesis 4:19

1. Rulership was the right of the firstborn over the children.

2. Jacob switched hands, exchanging the responsibility.

3. God told Rebecca over her unborn twins, “the elder (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob)."

4. From Abraham’s family - Ismael served Isaac.

5. The elder - Christ - served the younger in life and today.

6. So we, the elder, are to serve the younger in the Christian life

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word (message) of reconciliation.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf (in His absence), be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

1. Switching hands is the ministry of reconciliation.

2. Jesus took our sins, sickness, and curse, so we could have His righteousness, health, blessings, and nature.

3. He has left and we now stand in HIs place.

   a. Servants to those we win to the Lord.

   b. The same gospel - the message of reconciliation.

Ambassadors

1. Another term for a “witness” for the Lord Jesus is an ambassador.

2. As ambassadors, we are royal representatives in this earth for the Lord Jesus.

3. We now stand in His place - His absence - to tell others of the gospel of reconciliation - God’s message of peace.