God’s Upside Down Kingdom (Sermon Recap Week 8)
When we meet someone new, we often ask questions like "Where did you go to college?" or "What do you do for a living?" “What do you drive?” While these might seem like innocent questions, if we're honest with ourselves, we sometimes ask these questions to size people up. We've been conditioned by culture to value others based on their achievements, possessions, and status.
But God's kingdom operates differently. In God's kingdom, everything is upside down - He exalts the lowly and humbles the proud. As we explore Genesis 48-49, we see this principle in action through Jacob's final blessings to his sons and grandsons.
God Gives Grace to the Unlikely
In Genesis 48, we find Jacob (also called Israel) on his deathbed. Joseph brings his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to receive their grandfather's blessing. What happens next demonstrates God's upside-down kingdom values.
Jacob does something unexpected - he adopts Joseph's sons as his own, saying, "Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are." This means these two grandsons, who were half-Egyptian, would receive full inheritance rights among the tribes of Israel.
Then Jacob does something that disturbs Joseph. When blessing the boys, Jacob intentionally crosses his hands, placing his right hand (the hand of greater blessing) on Ephraim's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn. When Joseph tries to correct him, Jacob refuses, saying, "I know, my son, I know... his younger brother shall be greater than he."
Jesus would later explain this kingdom principle: "The first shall be last, and the last shall be first." In God's kingdom, He humbles the proud and exalts the humble.
God Gives Grace to the Unworthy
In Genesis 49, Jacob calls all his sons together to give them their final blessings. These aren't just well-wishes but prophetic words about their futures. As Jacob addresses each son, we see a remarkable truth: God uses deeply flawed people to build His kingdom.
Consider who these brothers were:
Reuben lost his firstborn position due to sin and pride
Simeon and Levi were consumed by anger
Judah, who once suggested selling Joseph into slavery, would become the lineage of kings
Each brother had significant character flaws, yet God would use them to establish the twelve tribes of Israel
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the Bible's divine authorship is its consistent portrayal of its heroes, revealing them with all their flaws and failures. Unlike human autobiographies that highlight achievements and hide weaknesses, Scripture reveals the dirty laundry of faith's heroes to point us to a God who redeems broken people.
God's Grace Points Us to the True King
As Jacob continues his blessings, he gives special attention to Judah and Joseph. To Judah, he prophesies: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him." From Judah's lineage would come kings like David and Solomon, and ultimately, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.
Joseph receives a blessing that highlights not his achievements but his faithfulness through suffering. Throughout his life, Joseph never strived for greatness but quietly and humbly followed the Lord - in the pit, in prison, and in the palace. God blessed him not because of his ambition but because of his faithfulness.
What This Means for Us Today
If you feel overlooked, remember that God sees more in you than what people miss. He created you in His image and values you beyond measure.
If you feel broken, whether by your own actions or the wounds others have inflicted, know that God breaks the chains of sin and heals our deepest wounds.
If you feel weak and wonder how God could possibly use you, you're in good company. Throughout Scripture and church history, God has consistently used weak, flawed people to accomplish His purposes. As Paul wrote, God's "strength is made perfect in weakness."
Life Application
God builds His kingdom by His grace, not our greatness. This week, consider how this truth might transform your life:
How might you view others differently if you stopped evaluating them based on achievements and status?
In what areas of your life are you trying to earn God's favor through your own greatness rather than receiving His grace?
Remember, God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. His kingdom advances not through human strength but through His amazing grace working through ordinary, flawed people who trust Him.
