Moses is now speaking the blessing over Joseph; as he blesses the tribes of Israel before his death and their passing on to The Promised Land.
FATHER OF EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH
For anyone who does not realize the fact; Joseph was the father of Ephraim and Manasseh who were the two grandsons of Israel who inherited from Joseph’s double blessings. Therefore; you can think of this blessing as also being a blessing for the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
Let’s read the scripture found in Deuteronomy 33:13 – 17 to know the words of this particular blessing:
JOSEPH’S BLESSINGS
About Joseph he said: “May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below; with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield; and the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills; with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
This is a full blessing, and it is the longest given to the tribes of Israel.
REMEMBERING THE CHARACTER OF JOSEPH
You must understand who Joseph was to completely understand how this blessing is applied. Joseph was a type of Christ. His life foreshadowed all that Christ did for us in that:
1) his Father was the foundation of the family’s traditions and ways.
2) He was “sacrificed” or destroyed by his own brothers and put into a deep pit in which he was lifted out later, surviving intended death.
3) Joseph eventually rose to royalty.
4) He saved his family and the nation of Egypt.
5) Joseph forgave his brothers for their sins, and brought them into a more abundant and full life.
6) He and his brothers were all united with their Father.
5) His actions allowed his family to grow into a great nation.
NOBILITY AND FAVOR FROM GOD
The trait which is most prominent about Joseph’s character is his nobility. Joseph’s nobility was so great that it was obvious before he ever became royalty.
We can also remember the fact that Joseph was highly favored. He was favored by his father and when he was sold into slavery he was favored in Potiphar’s house. Eventually Joseph was even favored in Pharaoh’s house.
The blessings from this favor are many!
We hear of how Joseph was to be blessed with favor from heaven, the earth, beneath the earth, from the fruits of the sun, and the blessings of time. It is promised that he will be blessed in the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and highly favored by God.
These are all wonderful proclamations that are to be passed on through the name of Joseph to the two tribes called Ephraim and Manasseh.
WHAT HAPPENED TO EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH?
Where are these two tribes today?
We know they were lost from the map in the assimilations from Israel’s enemies that we can read about in ancient history. However; many believe that they settled in lands now known as Brittan (Ephraim) and America (Manasseh.)
Can you see how Joseph’s blessings were eventually passed down to these two countries?
Both of these great countries in times of the past, were known for being nations that believed and honored God. They promoted and shared The Gospel of Jesus Christ with all of the other nations. During that time; God poured the abundant blessings of Joseph out to them; showing great favor and making them both amazingly strong nations.
CAN PAST BLESSINGS BE RESTORED?
Only in recent times have these two nations strayed from the obedience that brought about their original inheritance into disobedience. This disobedience has caused great future loses to all of those still left alive and well today.
Would a return to God restore these nations?
No one can answer that. This is something that would need to be proved out by living. Very few are willing to make that contribution to save these two beloved nations.
Who will come forth and be like Joseph?
The people of both nations now wait in anguish, very similar to the slaves that Pharaoh made in the years after the death of Joseph.
When will we learn?
Israel had to endure 400 years of slavery. How long will it take for us to open our eyes and hearts again?
CHOICE OF BLESSINGS OR CURSES
We have a constant choice before us to live either in the blessings or the curses. A very deceived nation will chose to follow the curses. Let us continue to pray for heaven to open the eyes of the blind.
The blessings of Joseph were such amazing blessings!
They definitely parallel the spiritual blessings of those who have believed on Jesus Christ as Messiah and have now received salvation from sins. May God’s Holy Spirit grow and increase in all of His people on this earth today and bring us back into obedience so that we can once again choose blessings over curses.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FAVORED
The royalty of Joseph came with a grave responsibility. The part of the blessing that speaks of this can be found in Verse 17:
“A firstborn bull – he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”
Most believe that the horns of this animal described represent power. The power comes from God’s glory; and when the passage speaks of
Royalty; that privilege comes with responsibility that precede and come before, power, and authority. Verse 17 makes that clear to us.
WARRIORS IN A WAR
The descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh and all of those who have the heart of Joseph toward God today must rise and fight the fight against Satan. We are warriors in the war to free his slaves from the chains of the world.
God wishes for his chosen and favored to rise up and fight like the children of The King of Kings. We have royal blood covering us. None of us are meant to live a life of scarcity. Our Father has provided for us with abundance and provision from these gifts that belong to the descendants of Joseph.
We must live like true princes and not paupers. Our nations must take on the inherited nobility of Joseph again and rise up to become Godly nations once again.
This cause could mean that we need to be tending to the courts of our own kingdoms and remove ourselves from the global activities going on elsewhere. We must repair our homelands and restore the hearts of our people toward God. At the point that we manage to take care of our own homelands; God will grant us the strength and power to once again walk among the nations with strength.
FIGHTING WITH PRAYER AND FASTING
Ephraim and Manasseh realized this before they crossed over into their inheritance. We too must realize our plan and purposes and walk in God’s grace and mercy and love. All of God’s people must ban together and fight the battles of the enemy on our knees in prayer and fasting.
Like Joseph; from time-to-time we may feel as if we all live inside a prison on this earth. The politics of the pandemic have helped us to feel that way. Yet; the day is coming when we will become the royal people we are destined to be.
God is watching.
He has perfect timing.
Don’t forget; and don’t give up.
Keep living in the blessings!