EPHRAIM 04/03/12

EPHRAIM

And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Gen41:52.

Joseph named his son Ephraim. In those days they used to keep a meaningful name with a great revelation. “Ephraim” means “double fruit”. We are going to meditate some of the four blessings he received. But every blessing was given under certain conditions. May the Lord help you also to do according to His will and bless you with all these blessings. An important thing here is Joseph’s faithfulness in times of his affliction and the Lord saw that and made him multiply. Likewise when you are faithful in times of affliction, the Lord will bless you double-fold and multiply you.

1. A blessing beyond traditions:

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. Gen48:14.

As Joseph wanted his sons to be blessed by his father Jacob, and he took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. But his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. Gen48:19.

It was a tradition that the elder should be blessed more but here the tradition is broken. That is, though the younger was unworthy to enjoy the more blessings than the elder brother he was blessed more. Likewise there will be people around you more talented and truly worthy for that higher position but that is going to be changed for your sake.  Regardless of your unworthiness, you will enjoy the best position and others will be wondering about your renown. In the period of affliction if you are faithful to God without murmuring, God will change the laws and bless you.

Prayer: O Lord, I believe You will change the tradition for my sake and bless me abundantly that others will marvel at it.

2.  Overtaking Blessing: 

And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. Gen48:20.

When you drive if you overtake some cars or vehicles you will have a kind of thrilling, which you cannot experience or experiment these days as you do not have such big roads as before. A thrilling more than that, like you will be taken up by surprise, a rapid growth.

A Pastor was running a church for about 40 years and he did not see any growth. His son with a revelation started a church near Chennai and within 3 months time the church growth was tremendous and unbelievable.

God will give you wisdom and skill and He will also teach you new tactics to handle everything brilliantly and peacefully that the people will praise you. Do not look on the situations, only look upon God. He is with you and He will never let you down but lift you up higher and higher.

Our parents were faithful to God. They had spent so many nights in tears because of the afflictions and only those times when I saw that, I came to a decision I am not going to do this ministry. But God cornered me that I cannot escape from doing His ministry and I am blessed. God will bless you to the extent that others will envy you.

Prayer: Lord, I believe You will overwhelm me by Your blessings and also very soon.

3.  A matchless blessing:

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. Deu33:17

This is the glory compared to the horns of the Unicorn. Unicorn is a very strong animal. God’s people who are faithful in the place where God has kept them will be blessed beyond comparison. We live one life and that should be for Jesus alone. You do not know what is tomorrow and when His coming is. But before that you have to  achieve something for Him. God will bless you in a perfect and matchless way.

Prayer: Lord,  In what all I do there should be an uniqueness and it should be inimitable.

4. A blessing of crown:

Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver; Psa108:8

“Ephraim” means strength of the head. The brain is place in such a way that it is place in a liquid like a shock absorber. Crown is the blessing for our head. In the Buckingham palace,  England, Queen Elizabeth used to peep through a window and used to wave her hand for some minutes. To see that there will be a crowd gathered near the palace to see her. But this crown is a temporary one, this crown will pass on to the other heads of her generation.

Our great God is going to crown you with much blessings and He is going to exalt you to hit the highest point.  Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. Only be faithful to Him in all situations. The Lord will crown you with a crown of blessings in this world and on the day we meet Him He will crown you with a new crown and welcome you to be with Him forever.

Prayer: Lord, Bless me because that is Your will that I should be blessed. But I very much long and desire for the permanent crown You are going to crown me with when You come to take me with You. Amen.