The Blessing

Jacob finally blesses his sons right before he dies (Genesis 49).  Better late than never.  Jacob tried to love his sons, I'm sure.  He did the best he could.  Jacob had received the blessing from his father through deception.  The two boys, Jacob and Esau, were twins but they were as different as night and day.  Esau, tall and strong, was a hunter and an outdoorsman. He watched ESPN Sports on TV and went to all the NASCAR Races and his favorite magazine was Field and Stream.  Jacob, on the the other hand, was softer and more subtle in his manliness.  He liked to watch The Food NetWork and Rachel Ray on TV and his favorite magazine was GQ. 

Not surprisingly, Isaac, favored the elder twin, Esau. And their mother, Rebecca, favored Jacob.  It was no secret who Isaac wanted to bless -- It was Esau all the way.  But in stepped fate ... or the sovereignty of God ... or whatever you want to call it ... and Jacob manipulates the blessing to go his way instead.

What do you think that did to the family?  Isaac was crushed.  Esau was more devastated at losing the blessing than he was at losing the birthright (in fact, there is indication he never really wanted the birthright to begin with -- but he desperately wanted the blessing).  Rebecca was living in fear, knowing that one of her sons, Esau wanted to kill her favorite son, Jacob.  And Jacob was running for his life.  He left town under the cover of night ... and would never see his mother again.  Tragic.

There was, it seems, a curse on this family.  They will be reconciled years later. Although Rebecca will not live to see it.  But there was a lot of pain before they ever got to the joy.  I guess one lesson that could be learned is that each of your children is very different and needs your blessing. 

Fast forward almost 2000 years:  There is another Son who is being blessed.  He is being baptized and when he comes up, out of the water, his Father speaks and says, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  God the Father blesses his Son.  A very important moment in Jesus' life ... and in history.  I want you to notice a couple of things about the blessing.

1. It is unconditional. God, the Father, blesses His Son at the beginning of his ministry.  Jesus hasn't done anything yet ... and God is already blessing him.  Blessing your children does not depend on how good they are or what they have accomplished.

2. It is personal.  God the Father speaks a personal word about his Son.  He says three things: This is MY Son;  I love him; and I'm proud of him.  Start there.  Say those three things to your children every day and you will bless them.

3. It is public.  God says good things about his Son in front of the entire world.  God wants everyone to know how much he loves his Son.

The world will try to drag your children down.  Look at what the world did to God's Son.  You bless them. If you don't ... there's no guarantee that anyone else ever will.
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