An Unconventional Blessing | Hebrews 11:21 & Genesis 48

1. The younger brother is consistently blessed over the older in the Old
Testament. What do you think the Lord is trying to teach us in this? (Genesis 48:
13-19) What other stories can you remember when the younger was blessed
over the older son?

2. In Scripture, how many stories can you remember where God raises up and
blesses someone who is undeserving? What does this say about His character?

3. This morning we said, ‘God blesses based on who He is, not who we are.’
What does this mean? What confidence does this give us as followers of Christ?

4. What can we do to root our faith in God’s character and not our own? How
can we re-train our minds to trust God is good and wants to bless me, instead of
doubting His love for me based on my mistakes?

5. Read 1 Peter 2: 9. Why does God call us ‘chosen?’ How do you think 1 Peter
2: 9 ties into the story of Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh? What
similarities do you see in this story and your own?

6. This morning we referred to Colossians 1 and said, ‘we were not just born
outside of God’s family, we consistently choose to walk away from Him.’ What
does God’s willingness to redeem us say about His character? What disciplines
can we set in place to keep ourselves from so quickly walking away from Him?

7. After all we know about the Lord, why do you think we still struggle to believe
He loves and desires to redeem us? What does this struggle say about our view
of ourselves verses our view of who God is?