The Older Will Serve The Younger

The time for Jacob's departure is approaching in Genesis 48. He has one last thing to make sure he communicates before he departs this life. So he calls for his son Joseph, adopts his sons out of Egyptian life and into the Covenant family and then blesses them in the strangest way:
Genesis 48:14 (ESV) And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

Genesis 48:17–19 (ESV) When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

What is the lesson? Through the Cross, the older will serve the Younger.

Jacob had learned first hand through no merit of his own, he had indeed fulfilled the blessing and promise of God to his mother Rebekah that he, the younger, would indeed become a more powerful and substantial nation than his older brother Esau. This was what God declared would happen before either of them were born and it came to pass. 

Joseph is largely detached from this promise until now. He's lived in Egypt for most of his life and was unfamiliar with the ways of Jacob concerning the promises and ways of God. When Jacob crosses his arms before him and lays his right hand on the younger son, Joseph is confused and tries to correct it. 

But it will not be corrected. God has declared it to be so that the younger will rule over the older. 

What does this mean for us?

As Christians we have two births. The first birth is to our long distance father Adam. Paul says every person at birth in "in Adam" so we all are "in sin." It is why we are continually disobedient to God. We cannot serve Him because we will not serve Him. But when we are born again which Jesus said MUST HAPPEN for us to see the Kingdom of God (His rule and reign), we become Spiritual sons of God through Jesus Christ. 

Technically, Jesus was with God in the beginning. There's NO denying that from Scripture. But in relation to historical records, Jesus was born much later than Adam was created. Adam is our older brother. Jesus our younger brother (in relation to Adam and thus our sin nature). Therefore, the power over our sin nature resides in the new birth of Jesus Christ as Lord of our Spirits! When He is Lord in our hearts, He subdues our older brother and rules and reigns!

Now historically for Israel, it will be a long time for the nation to fully and finally overcome the nation of Edom (Esau's descendants). But it will happen. There are no Edomites living today, but there are millions of Jews - the visible sign of a deeper and more incredible spiritual reality and promise for us.

Will you struggle with sin? Yes. 

Will you be alone in the battle? NEVER! 

Is God done with you? Nope.

Through the CROSS, Jesus made a spectacle of the powers against us and put them to shame forever. They are defeated. It may not always seem it, but your brother Jesus is working in you to subdue that older nature of sin in you. 

God promised it so many years ago.

IT WILL HAPPEN.

Trust and Believe!