Gen 48:17-22

When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.”

But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

He blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.

“I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Joseph was displeased.
He desired his first-born to receive the blessing of the first-born.
God had other plans.

God had revealed to Israel that the younger would be greater than the older.
Israel understood his son’s reaction…”I know, my son, I know”.

The younger would become a multitude of nations.

Both Ephraim and Manasseh would be blessed.
But, Ephraim, the younger, would be first.

Israel then acknowledged the inevitable.
He was about to die…then “but”.
God would be with Joseph.
God would bring Joseph back into the land of his fathers.
Joseph would receive an extra portion of the land.

God revealed it to Israel.
Israel spoke forth the blessing.

God honored His Word.

Rest in His Word.

God will be with you.