The birthright blessing, a significant element in identifying modern-day Israel, carries profound implications for future generations. Israel, as a patriarch, did not grant the birthright blessing to any of his own sons but bestowed it upon Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. He declared to Joseph that these two grandsons, born in Egypt, were to be considered as his own, stating, "Your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt . . . are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine." As part of the blessing, Israel ensured their identity by saying, "Let my name be named upon them," affirming their place within the family of Abraham and the structure of God's promises. In the act of blessing, Israel crossed his hands, placing his right hand on the head of the younger son, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older son, Manasseh, despite Joseph's concern. Israel refused to adjust his hands, asserting that he had guided them knowingly. He bestowed the greater blessing on Ephraim, declaring that he would become a multitude of nations, while reserving a lesser blessing of greatness for Manasseh, the firstborn. This intentional crossing of hands holds critical importance in understanding the whereabouts of modern-day Israel, as it shapes the future prominence of Ephraim's descendants.

The two sons of Joseph received the birthright blessings because their father was separate, ethically and morally, from his perfidious, scheming brothers. For purposes of inheritance, Jacob adopted Joseph's sons, claiming them as his own. Jacob asserted that his name be named upon them and gave to Joseph one portion above his brothers. The children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. Joseph received two portions, his own and another above his brothers. When it came time to divide Canaan among the tribes, the tribe of Joseph was to receive a double inheritance, one for Manasseh and another for Ephraim. To the early American settlers, the land seemed a never-ending, multicolored tapestry. Using the various resources that God provided them, the folk of Manasseh put mind and muscle to work and built the American phenomenon, a rich, powerful nation, greater in scope if not in wealth than even Solomon's Kingdom.

God chose Ephraim and Manasseh to be the recipients of the birthright blessing. As the birthright tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh eventually received the great physical blessings. Ephraim roamed around in Northern Europe and eventually invaded England in AD 449. In the course of time some Ephraimites migrated to Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and other nations of the now-defunct British Empire. Ephraim grew to become that company of nations promised to descend from Jacob. The British peoples became that multitude of nations prophesied to descend from Ephraim. The peoples of the British Empire and later the Commonwealth are the ten thousands of Ephraim who were said to push the peoples to the ends of the earth. Britain grew slowly and was protected by her geography and by the hand of God. All that changed in the early 1800s when the 2,520-year punishment had reached its term. God was now prepared to bestow the birthright blessings on Ephraim. After defeating the French dictator Napoleon at Waterloo in AD 1815 Britain virtually redrew the boundaries of Europe. The birthright blessings included far more than domination over Europe. They included economic and in some cases political and military dominance over much of the world. Britain through its maritime supremacy created a worldwide Empire an order of magnitude larger than that of Rome. Her folk pushed to India, Africa, North and to a lesser degree South America, China, Australia, New Zealand, and various islands around the globe. Britain maintained a heavy economic influence over China for years. As time went by Britain assumed control of a large number of gates located in or near her enemies' territories in fulfillment of the relevant promises. These strategic positions placed her geopolitically on the top of the world ensuring her of military and commercial hegemony.