Genesis 48:20

And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Ver. 20. And he set Ephraim before.] God many times sets the younger before the elder; makes the last to be first, and the first last; to show the freedom of his grace, and that "he seeth not as man seeth." 1Sa 16:7 The maids were first purified and perfmned, before Ahasuerus chose one. But Christ first loves, and then purifies his Church, Eph 5:25-26 and loves, because he loves. Deu 7:7-8 "And hath mercy on whom he will have mercy." Rom 9:18