For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Old Jacob, near the end of his life, blesses Joseph's two sons — and surprises everyone with how he does it.
Today's Story
Jacob was very old now, and nearly blind, and his life was almost over. Joseph brought his two sons — Manasseh, the older, and Ephraim, the younger — to see their grandfather one last time and receive his blessing.
Joseph placed the boys carefully: the older one by Jacob's right hand (the hand for the bigger blessing), and the younger one by his left.
But then Jacob crossed his arms! He put his right hand on the younger boy, Ephraim, and his left on the older. “Father, you've got it backwards!” Joseph said, trying to move his hands. But Jacob said, “I know what I'm doing, son. Both your boys will be blessed, and both will become great — but the younger one will be greater still.”
This was just like Jacob's own life — God had often chosen the younger and the unexpected. God doesn't pick people the way the world does. He has His own surprising ways.
Then Jacob blessed the boys with beautiful words, calling God “the God who has been my shepherd all my life, the One who has rescued me from all harm.” Every good thing, Jacob knew, comes from God — the Shepherd who guides us our whole lives long.
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Jacob crossed his hands to bless the younger boy more — God's ways surprised everyone. How are God's ways sometimes different from what we expect?
- Jacob called God “the Shepherd who has led me all my life.” Looking back, how has God taken care of you and your family?
- Jacob blessed his grandsons with words. What's a blessing — a kind, hopeful thing — you could speak over someone you love?