November 12,2006
THE BLESSING OF CROSSED HANDS
Hebrews 11:21

   Hebrews 11:21 says, "By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff." Genesis 48:14 explains how "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 knowingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn." By crossing his hands Jacob blessed Joseph's second son, exactly as God intended, a lesson he had learned the hard way when he was blessed by his father, Isaac. Jacob, like Isaac, was old, blind, and on his deathbed. Passing on God's sacred blessing was his final duty. But where Jacob walked "by faith," Joseph walked "by sight," for he protested "Not so, my father...this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head." But Jacob "...said, I know it, my son, I know it... And he blessed them that day... and set Ephraim before Manasseh." (Gen 48:18-20).
   This blessing of crossed hands dealt one more blow to the passing system of the Law and Jewish privilege. In Hebrews thus far the Aaronic priesthood has given place to the order of Melchisedek. The sacrifices of bulls and goats has passed away for the one great Sacrifice for sin. The Old Covenant has been set aside for the new Covenant. A better covenant with better sacrifices, better hopes, and better promises greatly exceeds those of the law, which made nothing perfect, but a better hope did!
   Is it without meaning that in Jacob's final hour he worshiped, "leaning on the top of his staff." If for "leaning" we read "halted," we will remember that night when Jacob wrestled with God. They had wrestled all night and near the break of day, "when He (God) saw that He prevailed not against him, He touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with Him..." God blessed him there, "and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Peniel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh." Jacob's lameness continued until his death. When he was weak, then was he strong! Because of this Israelites "do not eat of the...hollow of the thigh...because God touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh, the sinew that shrank" (Gen 32:25-32). Is not Jacob's life depicted by Solomon's proverb, "the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).

Ivan L. Burgener