1 Chronicles 7

I am really getting tired of these genealogies and I feel fooled by Tommy for getting this week in devotions.

Lets discuss Ephraim.

It appears that God has a special relationship with the tribe of Ephraim. Once Israel (Northern Kingdom) and Judah (Southern Kingdom) split up, often times the Northern Kingdom would be recognized as Ephraim. Why is this? Read the text from Genesis 48 with me:

Gen 48:13-20 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. (14) Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. (15) And he blessed Joseph, and said: "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, (16) The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." (17) Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. (18) And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head." (19) But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." (20) So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will bless, saying, 'May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!' " And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph. Yet Ephraim was set before Manasseh. Was this because Jacob just wanted to do with them what happened to him? No. Jacob is no longer the deceiver but now referred to as Israel. He knew by divine inspiration that Ephraim would be great. This is the son that would carry on Joseph's line in a great way and turn into many nations.

Now turn with me to Hosea 11. Read the entire chapter (It is only 12 verses long). This is the love story between God and Ephraim. When Ephraim falls into sin, and for that matter the rest of the Northern Kingdom, God discusses His possible options. One of the options was to obliterate them altogether, but God says, "How can I give you up Ephraim."

The application is simple: God will not give us up. Ephraim was expendable in many ways. No prophecies were made through their tribe. The Messiah was to come through Judah. Ephraim was just one of the tribes. I sometimes think, I am just one of the guys. God could easily make another Hector should He choose. If I were to die today, His work would continue just the same. Yet for some reason, when I mess up God seems to always go after me as if I matter in the grand scheme of things. God's love for Ephraim reminds me of His love for me.

I know that really was not on 1 Chronicles 7 but please forgive me, I can only take so many of these names. Should anybody else want to post some thought on this chapter or Ephraim please expand upon this.