Genesis Chapter 48: Verses 17-19 (NLT Translation)
But Joseph was upset when he saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head. So Joseph lifted it to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. “No, my father, “he said. “This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
But his father refused. “I know, my son; I know,” he replied. “Manasseh will also become a great people, but his younger brother will become even greater. And his descendants will become a multitude of nations.”
How do we react when we find out that God’s plans are not the same as ours? Jacob had just finished blessing Joseph, which must have brought great joy to them both, and now it was the turn of Joseph’s sons. But we read that Joseph got upset when he saw that his father intended to bless the younger over the elder. The NIV (Anglicised) translation of that verse says that Joseph was “displeased.”
Jacob had just told Joseph that he had known God’s guidance throughout his whole life. In this context therefore, he would have been confident that in pronouncing blessings in this order, he was acting as God wanted him to. The Bible tells us that God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, “says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: Verses 8-9 NIV Translation.)
God knows what He is doing, and his plans are always better than ours, so although we may be disappointed when they seem to take a different direction to the one we had hoped for, its wise to trust God and not get upset about it. When we see the outworking of God’s plans, we will rejoice when we realise the outcome is far better than if ours had gone ahead.
We may have great hopes for our children and families, as Joseph would have had for Ephraim and Manasseh, but God’s plans for them are even better!
Dear God,
Sometimes I do get disappointed when my hopes and plans for myself and others are thwarted. Help me to trust that You have everything in hand and therefore everything will work out for the better. Help me not to “go in the huff” or throw a strop when things don’t go my way. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.