SUNDAY - 15TH OCTOBER, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
ON ELECTION
Read Gen. 48:8-20
Genesis 48:14, KJV
"And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn".
We are choosing beings just like God is a choosing Spirit. There's none of us here who has not chosen something or someone above another before. It just pleased us to choose what we chose. At times, we even choose the unpopular and what others would demean if they heard of our choice of same. Somehow however, we liked it, was attracted to it and even though without any special good in that thing, we chose it above others that may even have better qualities.
Election runs through the Bible both subtly and obviously. Election which is a debatable doctrine in Christendom is a truth that we can't still deny because election of God has even found expression in each and everyone of us. You might be there doing something the other is not, having an equipping for the work the other doesn't know how to do and one may wonder why the other (though more eloquent, brilliant or even more presentable at times) isn't the one doing it. That'll be because he was not chosen for it. As far as I know, you can't call yourself and it'll work. That's election in expression. If you ask any married man, they'll tell you there were many women on offer when they chose their wives above others. Same applies to the woman. One troubling truth that all of us have come to face is to ask people who are about getting married why they'll get married to somebody we believe is lesser than them. Yet to them, that's just a perfect fit. That's what they've elected or chosen above others. It means if it were left to us, we wouldn't have considered that fellow as a choice but the fellow turns the other person's choice. That's election in expression.
In today's reading, Joseph hearing that his father is sick brings his two sons with him to check on him. In the course of Jacob's recounting of the days of his pilgrimage on earth, he has eyes for these two sons of Joseph and even adopted them. But with the adoption comes a blessing which necessitates Jacob's crossing of hands. Though Joseph brought the children in a manner that his blind father won't have choice but naturally fall his hands on them and blessed them that way, yet Jacob, being a man of the spirit could smell their destinies and so followed the order of that dictate.
Genesis 48:13, KJV
"And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him".
Joseph seeing that Ephraim has therefore being set before Manasseh refused it but the response of Jacob shows he didn't make mistake with what he did. The Bible even says, "Jacob guides his hands wittingly". Though Ephraim facing him is positioned towards his left hand and Manasseh facing him is positioned towards his right, yet Jacob crosses the hands to lay the right hand on Ephraim (the younger) and the left on Manasseh (the elder). Joseph himself who had enjoyed the mystery of election over his brothers till this time hated the fulfilment of that. He wanted his first born to be ranked first - having the blessing commensurate to the first born and the second born following. However, the mystery of election still cries and fights for expression that Ephraim the youngest be called and set over Manasseh, his elder.
Herein is the mystery of election revealed. You might fight it; you might detest it but indeed election is true. The Bible says this of Jacob and Esau while they were yet in their mother's womb. Rebecca knew this when she went for consultation (Gen. 25:23).
Romans 9:10-12, KJV
"10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger".
Mark it, election is not of works or any good that anyone has done as to please God or make himself attractive to Him. No! It is basically of Him (God) Who calls. On this matter, no one toasts or woos God. He rather woos us! He makes his choice out of mercy. You might have all perfectly in place and God might still elect you to the dismay of others looking up for the same election that could make their valleys to be exalted and so commensurate to yours or He acts vice versa. I know you might have chosen some things above others before but with confrontational questions from friends or parents on why you'd chosen that. Your simple answer might be, "I just did". While God has a purpose for each vessel He chooses yet it is basically of He that calls. You can't charge God with unrighteousness. He's simply expressing His choice the same way you'd done if you walk into a shopping mall for purchases. It is, "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion" which consequently makes it, "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy". That's what is at work. I pray for you, may God come to you. May you hear God's voice where you lay above Eli's children. May you begin to have dreams of a glorious destiny in Jacob's house even while among the children of Bilhah and Zilpah. May you be preferred above others whereever you are or find yourself. Be favoured!
PRAYER: I receive mercy and favour of God today.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 23:21-25:38; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 25:15
Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Share with others in English, French, Arabic, Swahili and Chinese. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ www.morningwingsministry.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment