God's Sovereign Blessing

Aim: To strive to realize fullness in Christ, so as to glorify God.

The absoluteness of God's sovereign blessing: it is as sure as the decree of the Most High, yet it must be subject to His means.

Exegesis: The strangeness of God's sovereign blessing: it does not always accord with our assumptions (vv. 12-14); it is often given in a foreign context (vv. 15-16); it sometimes goes contrary to our (initial) wishes (vv. 17-20); it always anticipates the inconceivable (vv. 21-22).

Further application: The appropriation of God's sovereign blessing: it is received in humble faith and is expressed in loving service.

Key verse: v. 20 ''So [Jacob] blessed them that day, saying, 'By you Israel will bless, saying, ''May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!''' And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.''