Manasseh and Ephraim

One Year Bible
Old Testament passage for Sunday, January 20, 2013: Genesis 41:17-42:17

⁵⁰ And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. ⁵¹ Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh:   “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” ⁵² And the name of the second he called Ephraim:  “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”  Genesis 41:50-52 (NKJV)

God gave Joseph a new life in Egypt.  He rose from obscurity to the second highest position in the kingdom.  He is a beautiful picture of REDEMPTION.  The crowning moment came in Genesis 41:42 where it says, Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.  This is ADOPTION.

Not only was Joseph delivered out of prison, he was brought into rulership.  Not only was the bad past wiped away, but he now was given a fantastic future.  He was given access to the riches of the throne.  Joseph is a picture of full redemption - not just release from bondage but also recognition of royalty!

Jesus does this for us.  Salvation is far more than the forgiveness of our sins.  It is also the imputing of righteousness.  Not only did Jesus take our wretchedness, we also receive His worthiness.  He takes who we are, and we get who He is!

These are the two sides of biblical redemption.  They are pictured in the life of Joseph.  In fact, they become the names of his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.  Manasseh means "forgetting."  Ephraim means "fruitfulness."  One deals with the past and the other speaks of the future.

We each must have both Manasseh and Ephraim working in us.  Allow God to cover the past with His grace and forgiveness.  Ask The Lord to help you forget all the hard days and the painful betrayals.  May they no longer carry a sting in your heart.  But even more, claim the new days of fruitfulness that lie before you.  Take up the new levels of authority and privilege that belong to you in Christ.  

This is the new day to which God has called you.  Not only is the past now covered, but the favor of God is yours.  May you prosper in your new identity in Christ.