Genesis 48:5-6
“And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”
Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were born in Egypt, far from the Promised Land. Their mother, Asenath, was Egyptian, and by all appearances, they didn’t belong to the covenant family of Israel. But in Genesis 48, we see something unexpected happen. Jacob, their grandfather, claims them as his own sons. He gives them the same status as Reuben and Simeon, making them equal heirs of the promises God gave to Abraham.
Not only that, but when Jacob blesses them, he crosses his hands, placing the greater blessing on the younger son, Ephraim, over Manasseh, the firstborn. Joseph tries to correct him, but Jacob stands firm, saying this was God’s plan. This adoption and blessing changed the course of Israel’s history, making Ephraim and Manasseh foundational to the twelve tribes of Israel.
But what does all this mean for us today? Let’s look at three lessons from their adoption and see how it applies to our lives as believers.
1. Outsider Brought Into the Fold
Ephraim and Manasseh were not full-blooded Israelites. They were half-Egyptian and raised in a foreign land. Yet Jacob brought them into the family and gave them a full inheritance.
This is a picture of how God includes Gentiles (non-Jews) into His family. In the New Testament, we see that salvation is not just for the Jews but for all people who trust in Jesus. Ephesians 2:19 says, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”
It doesn’t matter where we come from or what our background is. Through Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family. Just like Ephraim and Manasseh, we didn’t start out as part of the family, but God brings us in by His grace.
2. Grace Unearned
Manasseh was the firstborn, and by tradition, he should have received the greater blessing. But Jacob, led by God, chose Ephraim instead. This reminds us that God’s blessings are based on His grace, not on human tradition or expectations.
God doesn’t bless us because we deserve it or because of who we are. He blesses us because of His grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Like Ephraim, we receive blessings we didn’t earn. God’s grace reaches us no matter where we stand in life, and His plans often defy what we expect.
3. Spiritual Adoption
When Jacob adopted Ephraim and Manasseh, they became his sons and heirs, equal to his other children. They didn’t do anything to earn this status—it was a gift. In the same way, God adopts us into His family when we trust in Christ.
Romans 8:15 says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” As Christian believers, we are not just followers of God; we are His children. We are heirs of His promises and part of His eternal family.
This means we have a new identity. We are no longer defined by our past or our sins. We belong to God, and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
The adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh shows us how God includes the outsider, blesses by grace, and adopts us into His family. These truths should remind us of the incredible love and mercy of God.
If you’ve trusted in Christ, you are part of God’s family. You have an inheritance waiting for you, not because you earned it, but because God adopted you. What a blessing to know we are His children, just like Ephraim and Manasseh!
