Day 2: Vayechi/Genesis 48:15-22

Although Yacov had the privilege of receiving the first-born blessing, even though he was the second-born son, it cost him the closeness of his relationship with his parents and a brother. The repercussions of obtaining the coveted birthright and the first-born blessing influenced Yacov to mislead his father; caused him to flee from his home into a strange land; and caused him to live in fear for twenty years. While YHVH made Yacov’s actions a prerequisite in establishing Israel, it still cost him dearly.

Looking back, it’s clear to see the initial family of the nation of Israel was birthed beyond the appointed boundaries of the land of Israel, with the exception of Benjamin. Moreover, as we look at the end of Yacov’s life we see he finds himself outside of his promised inheritance and longing to be reunited with the land of covenant.

The blessings that come to the first-born were above and beyond what all the other siblings were to receive. It is a double portion and must be placed on the child that is capable of bearing an extra portion upon his shoulders. It is a mantle and establishes hierarchy and heritage. Yacov was well acquainted with this mantle and was obligated to pass his blessing along to the one that could muster it.

It must have been revealed to Yacov that Ephraim would be the bearer of the blessing. Ephraim was a second-born from Yosef, not the firstborn. However, he received the first-born blessing. It was a fitting inheritance for Yacov to give since he was a second born. He was the mantle bearer whose future role in Israel would be the continuation of the Covenant given to Abraham’s seed. The role of the blessing bearer was to appropriate the blessing to his son for the sake of the future Israel and ultimately the nations of the earth.

Historically, the children of Israel have rejected the graciousness of YHVH. He even called them stiff-necked and stubborn hearted all the way through their wilderness journey. The first-born of the nation of Israel rejected their birthright by believing desiring the corrupted truth instead of longing for the Truth Giver.

The children of Israel, whom YHVH gave a writ of divorce, and the modern-day church are no different. They have left their first love and denied the pure call of being sons of the Most High, YHVH. As such, they sold their birthright to satisfy their appetite for the lust of the world and have not withheld their carnal desires. YHVH sees the rejection of His people and said that He would send a diluting spirit among them so that their eyes would become dim and their ears no longer hear Truth. (2 Thess. 2:11)

The foremost responsibility of Israel is to continually crossover and progress from glory to glory. It is an ongoing process of the walk of those called out to be Israel.

Ephraim, as a people, would eventually reject YHVH, but come back through Yeshua. Yacov’s blessing to Ephraim, as a first-born, was lived out through his own life. Sojourning through a strange land, only to be called back and become a people for YHVH’s own possession.

This is precisely where we find ourselves today. Whether natively from the House of Judah, another tribe, or grafted into the Olive Tree [Israel] by Yeshua, we are being made, accordingly, into one nation, one people, and one new man.

The first Adam rejected the anointed mantle given him when he was created to know and walk with YHVH. As a result, he was spiritually displaced for his actions and condemned to experience the consequences of ingesting the fruit the knowledge of good and evil instead of knowing the Essence of Truth personally.

The second Adam, Yeshua, embraced all of YHVH and chose to experience the horrible consequences of the forbidden fruit of the knowledge of good and evil as He paid the debt for mankind of rejecting YHVH.

If the nations recognize Who Yeshua is, they run into Him and become one with Him. They are no longer nations, but abide in the vine, just as Ephraim no longer was just a grandson, stranger, or Egyptian, but was made one with Israel. This does not exclude Manassah, yet, Manassah was included within Ephraim as the two sticks of Judah and Ephraim are prophesied to join together and make one stick according to Ezekiel 37.

With whom are you counted? We need to understand that we are one in Messiah goes deeper than just a spiritual reckoning. We must be known as part of the One Stick otherwise we are considered as part of the nations. While the nations are blessed through the Righteousness of Yeshua, it is experientially and personally living and walking in Yeshua that rewards eternal habitation with Him.

Recognize your portion of the inheritance that has been given to you by the death of the second Adam. Then, realize that the wilderness experience taking place right now will yield the benefit of entering and possessing the Land of Covenant upon the arrival of the King.

Allow the Father to proclaim your birthright over you through Himself. He is the YHVH of Abraham, Isaac, Yacov, and He became flesh and dwelt among us as Yeshua our Messiah.

Dwell upon Ezekiel 37:19, “Thus says the YHVH Elohim, “Behold, I will take the stick of Yoseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”