He blessed them that day and said, “In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing:‘ May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Genesis 48:20 NIV
When you want to pronounce a formal blessing over someone, which Bible verse do you choose? I generally reach for Numbers 6:22-26 – the priestly blessing. Aaron, the high priest, spoke this blessing over the nation of Israel regularly.
Today I read in the notes of my “New Spirit Filled Life Bible” (pg.69) another blessing that was regularly pronounced in ancient Israel: “May God make you as Ephraim and Manasseh!”
The blessing makes no sense until you understand the meaning of the names. Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph’s sons born to him in Egypt. Manasseh was the first born; his name means “making forgetful.” Joseph chose that name to honor God for helping him forget the trauma of being sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen. 37) and the years of toil in prison (Gen. 39-40).
Joseph named his second son Ephraim, which means “Fruitfulness.” Again, Joseph is honoring God. This time he is thanking God for making him fruitful in the land of his affliction.
Joseph’s father, the patriarch Jacob, and his whole family came to join Joseph in Egypt. At the end of his days, Jacob blessed all his children. When he did so, he blessed Ephraim before Manasseh. He was putting fruitfulness above forgetfulness.
In other words, “May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!” really means, “May God cause you to forget your painful past and give you an abundantly fruitful future.”
So, beloved, that is what I pray for you today. May God cause you to forget your painful past and bless you with an abundantly fruitful future. Amen!