Our Father has this way of doing things contrary to what is expected. Here in Genesis 48.13-20 Israel blesses Ephraim the younger son ahead of Manasseh the elder. God chose Isaac to be the son of promise, not his older brother Ishmael. Israel himself, as Jacob, become the heir of the promise of Abraham and Isaac, not his older brother Esau. Later on Gideon who was “least in his father’s house” is chosen to be the deliverer of Israel. And of course there is David, the youngest and “least” of Jesse’s sons, but who out of all his older brothers was the man after God’s own heart. And then there is you and me.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (1 Cor. 1:26-29)

• In Genesis 48:14; Jacob prays for Joseph’s sons, and blesses the younger sibling, but when Joseph tries to move his hand, Jacob rebukes Joseph and tells him that he knows that he is the younger brother. And so the younger brother gets the bigger blessing.
• 1 Samuel 16:11-13 came to my mind; where The Lord chose David, the youngest and least loved brother, because he saw his hearts and how he was a Man after Gods own heart.
• In Matthew 20:26-28; Jesus says that whoever wants to be first must be a servant and a slave. Also in Matthew 19:30, and Matthew 20:16; Jesus says that the First is Last, and the Last will be First.
• In Psalm 15; David talks about how to be a man who Dwells on the Lords mountain, and will not be moved is, the one who walks blamelessly, who speaks truth not by words but Accually in his heart. One who does not speak hate over anybody, who does no evil to his neighbor, who does not criticize or blame a friend, who honors those who fear the Lord and disposes the vile man, who swears to someone and keeps his promises even if they hurt himself. Who does not give out money at interest or is not greedy to give money, etc.

Personal story: When I was little, (as many of us) My Mom taught me that Gods will was for us to do the right thing. This specifically stuck with me, and I remember one point where I specifically mentally decided to start doing everything right, and to never do evil intentionally (I am also imperfect). During this time, me and my close brother had a really good relationship with each-other, but all the sudden he started to hate me, to the point where he didn’t even want to sit next to me. Even though I didn’t do anything to him. Recently he told me that he started to envy (I forgot the specific reason), but I think it’s because of what Im about to say: when I started to pursue good, soon I started to notice that people started to favor me, and notice my purity. I knew that this was Favor from God, and I thought of the verse that was Proverbs 3:4; which speaks about finding favor with God, and with Man.

My relationship with my brother has gotten way better, The Lord has worked sooo greatly on him. And I Love him.

Take Away: God is reminding me to pursue what is good, and not to intentionally hurt anyone, and his Favor will uphold my life, and I will not be moved or rattled because of purity of heart.