Manasseh
“Joseph named his first born Manasseh
and said, ‘It is because God has made me
forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’”
Genesis 41:51
Manasseh’s name made me stop a minute and think about if his birth was the culmination or catalyst to Joseph’s healing.
Let’s just take a minute to remember all the things that Joseph went through:
* He was favored by his dad, Jacob, and therefore, despised by his brothers.
* He was sold into slavery at 17.
* He was put in charge of Potiphar’s house, wrongfully accused and put into jail
* He found favor with the warden and put in charge of the prison, he was then forgotten by the cupbearer after he gave an interpretation to his dream.
* He was brought to the Pharaoh to interpret his dream and placed over all of Egypt. He was 30 years old.
* He was given Asenath for his wife and had Manasseh and Ephraim.
* He executed his plan to save grain during the seven years of plenty.
* He saved his family from starvation and brought them to Egypt.
OK! Whew. That’s a lot! Let’s pick up where Joseph has Manasseh, who’s name means: “…God has made me forget all my trouble and my father’s household.”
An interesting thing about that word ‘trouble’, you can also use toil, anguish, unjust decisions, misery, pain, sorrow, labor, one’s own suffering.
That kinda puts in a whole new light for me.
After all that God had done in and through Joseph, as well as being faithful to him through all the ups and downs of life, Joseph still carried around hurt. He carried around the hurt for what was done to him and he obviously had a lot of feelings about “all” of his family.
So much so that the birth of his firstborn son was a balm of healing for him.
I can relate to Joseph in that so much! I have seen God’s faithfulness in my life and in my family’s lives and God has even given me opportunities to serve Him and His people while I have held onto hurt, anger, bitterness and offense. Have you seen that in your life?
One commentary I read said that it was 50 years before the famine that Joseph had his sons. If so, he had all that time to reconcile what had happened in his life with God’s plan and faithfulness. Because sometimes I find that really hard to do.
It can be difficult to see God’s plan while running the gauntlet that is life. We’re busy dodging and jumping our way through the maze.
Remember that Manasseh’s name begins with “God made me forget…and all my father’s house.” Joseph put out of his mind any thoughts his family. Joseph never reached out to his family when he knew he was safe or when he knew there was going to be a famine. Maybe, Joseph was able to put aside his hurt and anguish when he started his own family.
And he thought he was good until…
Genesis 42 tells about when Joseph saw his brothers and how ole’ Joe dealt with unresolved feelings and his broken heart. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns.
God will allow a little wiggle room in dealing with those unresolved areas in our lives, but loves us too much to allow us to continue in brokenness, anger and unforgiveness. Even though we can be faithful to what God has placed in our hands to do. Even though we find favor and see change happening. God pursues us to bring healing, wholeness and true transformation.
Let me bring Ephraim into the mix for a quick minute. His name means: “He has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Joseph recognized the hand of God on his life, even with all he had been through.
Let it be the same with us!
“Abba, we recognize Your faithfulness in our lives, as we look back, we can see the tapestry You have made with all we have and still are walking through. We give You the glory and thanks for all You have given us, even in the midst of our affliction and brokenness. “
As we close, I pray that God will meet you in a special way today, this weekend, next week. I pray we have eyes to see His hand working in our lives.
Have the most amazing day, Loved of God!
All My Love ~
Jodi xo
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