When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know… ”
…he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
The Election is Over, Now What?
“When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased.” (v.17)
He put Ephraim, Joseph’s second born, ahead of Joseph’s first born, Manasseh — and Joseph didn’t like it.
How about this election? One man was put ahead of another. How did you like it? I find it interesting we find ourselves at this precise point in Genesis, the day after the election. Because whether your guy was elected or defeated, this passage couldn’t be more relevant to what happened yesterday. Whether your guy won or lost you have to approach it by saying, Praise be to the name of God, he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (Daniel 2:20-21)
Let’s be frank with each other. You and I have spent hours in front of the TV and radio watching and listening to election coverage. You and I have spent hours reading articles and blog posts, and listening to podcasts about what’s wrong with our country.
But God said, “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
God didn’t say, “…if my people, will watch FOX News or CNN, and listen to Rachel Maddow or Glenn Beck, and read the New York Times or the Washington Post, then I will hear from heaven and will heal their land.”
What if, instead of doing what we’ve always done, we did what God said to do? What if you and I really did humble ourselves? And what if you and I really did pray and seek His face?
What if we became serious and intentional about our relationship with God?
Why wouldn’t we? There’s nothing more important.
Right now there’s a temptation to dwell on the results of the election. There’s a temptation to dwell on what the next four years are going to look like, politically.
But I think those who have wisdom, and knowledge, and discernment, recognize it’s time to move forward. (Daniel 2:20-21)
Rather than focus on who’s in office, I think it’s far more important to focus on where you have real control.
What will the next four years look like for you?
And most important of all,
What will your next four years look like to God?
[Image via hpebley3, Creative Commons]
[HT: TJ Lathrom, Jeff Hensley]
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I am so thankful that my future, and the future of my country and not in the hands of any man. It is only because of this truth that I can have peace and security in the midst of such turmoil. Lord bless. Thanks for a much needed reminder.
We have become the divided states of America, for sure. Christians above all need to get priorities right not only for the comfort that it brings, but for the good of the future. Jesus is our hope.
“Jesus is our hope.”
Well said!
Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. (Psalm 146:3,5)
I have mixed emotions on the outcome of the elections, my choice was not the current outcome however by the same token I know that God is Sovereign and this is part of the fulfillment of His plan, more than this I will also say that why should God bless America? The people have turned away from Godliness and I have also been tweeting and Facebooking this verse “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) because I truly believe that this is what God wants us to do.
This election turnout sure re-energizes my desire to share Jesus even more because we don’t know how long we have before these tools will be regulated ( twitter Facebook, Blogs Internet freedom) so my goal is to best I can be for Jesus and pray for my land and the autorities by doing what Colossians 4:2-6 reveals to us
2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Well said Mirv. Our country needs more people with a heart like yours. I pray God answers your prayer.
I’m guilty as charged, Kurt 🙁 I have been dwelling on the election results and I have to say that I haven’t been taking it very well. Obviously, that’s because “my guy” didn’t win. I’m just devastated at what this means for our country and about the choices that our people are making. They are clearly rejecting God and saying that we are not a Christian nation.
I personally am in a state of mourning and all of my friends have been encouraging me to snap out of it. I hope that I can 🙂
Peter, I truly believe the Holy Spirit Who lives inside you, the same Spirit Who raised Jesus Christ from the dead, will revive and inspire you. It’s not a matter of if, but when. You’re in my prayers.
May God continue to richly bless all you do for His kingdom.