God has the final say

“And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand … who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn,” Gen. 48:13-14.

The action of Jacob in blessing Ephraim over and above Manasseh is ordinarily mind-boggling. But no matter how we look at it, our ways are not like that of God. The scripture says: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” Isaiah 55:9. This implies we must follow God in all His dealings with us for He has the final say.

However, we recall God’s earlier rejection of David’s elder brothers in preference to him, even though at the time he was young and a mere shepherd. The reaction of Samuel suggests that he will not go contrary to the demands of God: “So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” There is still the youngest, Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives…. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he”, (1 Samuel 16:11-12). Also, God’s preference of Jacob over Esau is another case in point. For God has said: “Jacob I have loved but Esau I have hated”, (Rom. 9:13). Again, despite Joseph’s displeasure at his father’s blessing upon Ephraim, instead of Manasseh such could not hinder the father from carrying out a divine purpose, Jacob insisted being a divine approach. These, portend that in the affairs of men, God has the final say. To reinforce it, sing the song: Who Has The Final Say…3x!

Indeed, we cannot successfully blame Jacob for what he did. Think of it at the time of the blessing his physical eyes were dim, although he was spiritually alert. But let it be stated that he was simply responding to the mind of God, for when God wants to favour somebody, He can break protocols. Yes, God will break protocols for your sake today. Amen! Moreso, the Hymn Writer in Ancient and Modern 181 in stanza one of his hymn noted that: “God moves in a mysterious ways, His wonders to perform, He plants His Footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.” Remember, “God’s foolishness is greater than man’s wisdom.”

Impliedly, nothing restricts God from achieving His purposes in life. Hear it, God is a purposeful and a master strategist. He can look into the future in order to take care of the present. At other times, He can look at the past to take care of the present. Therefore, as believers, we should not judge Him by hindsight. Interestingly, the Hymn writer, A & M 181 stanza 4 admonishes us: “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace, behind a frowning providence, He hides a smiling face”, Alleluia!

So, when we are being maltreated or cheated or subjected to one form of hardship or the other let us be encouraged that the God we serve, the living God, has the final say in all things. Yes, He can move us out of nothing into something and could cause the oppressor to be oppressed by the reversal of fate. The scripture was right when it says: “He raises one up and brings down the other,” Psalm 75:7. More so, He says: “I will make all my goodness pass before you … I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion,” Exod. 33:19. Therefore, as we go through this week, may God’s unhindered blessing be upon us, our businesses or whatever we lay hands upon to do. And may God’s favour of Ephraim be upon each and every one of us even if we don’t merit it for the sake of His Son and Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen!
• Ven. Ernest Onuoha is Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State. www.ibrucentre.org.