The God Who Crosses His Hands

“But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭48‬:‭14‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

It was supposed to be simple. Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to his father Jacob (also called Israel) for a blessing. In Jewish culture, the right hand symbolised power, favour, and inheritance — it was reserved for the firstborn. Manasseh, as the elder, was positioned at Israel’s right. Ephraim, the younger, stood at his left.

But something surprising happened. As Israel raised his trembling hands to bless them, he deliberately crossed his arms. The right hand of blessing fell on Ephraim, the younger. The left on Manasseh, the elder. Joseph tried to correct his father, but Israel refused. “I know, my son, I know,” he said. “He too will become a people… yet his younger brother will be greater” (Genesis 48:19).

In that simple act, we see a profound truth: God often crosses His hands. He blesses the unexpected, chooses the overlooked, and anoints the lesser. In human culture, the firstborn gets the double portion. But in God’s Kingdom, the rules are reversed.

We see this pattern throughout Scripture. Abel’s sacrifice was accepted over Cain’s. Jacob, not Esau, received the promise. Joseph, the youngest but one, rose above his brothers. David, the forgotten shepherd boy, was anointed king while his older brothers stood by. God told Samuel, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Again and again, God crosses His hands. Gideon was the least in his family, yet God called him a mighty warrior. Esther was an orphaned exile, yet she saved a nation. Mary was a young village girl, yet she carried the Son of God. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the child, the servant, the meek, and the mourning are called blessed. God chooses “the foolish things of the world to shame the wise… the weak things to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Perhaps you feel like the lesser one — not as clever, not as confident, surrounded by people who seem more gifted, qualified, or spiritual. Maybe you battle the quiet voice of imposter syndrome. But take heart — you are exactly the kind of person God delights to use.

When God crosses His hands, He confounds expectation. He reverses the order. He lifts the humble, honours the hidden, and crowns the overlooked.

Don’t be surprised if His blessing finds you when you least expect it. The God who crossed His hands over Ephraim still crosses His hands today — to rest His favour on those the world would never choose. Look for it. His hand is reaching for you.

The Lord rejoices over me with singing, just as His Word says: “He will take great delight in you… He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). I declare that I am His beloved child, chosen, wanted, and dearly loved. “The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11). As I trust Him, His pleasure rests upon my life.

I declare that God’s delight in me is not based on perfection but on His grace. He sees me, knows me, and delights to walk with me. “The LORD delights in you” (Isaiah 62:4), and His joy is my strength.

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