Once again we see the worth the ancients assigned to the parental blessing. Does it make you wonder if we’re missing out by not blessing our own children? I covet such blessings for my children that others hold them up as a standard of great blessing and want to be blessed as they are blessed. Jacob’s blessing for Ephraim and Manasseh has changed the way I pray for my children.
It’s also interesting to note that Jacob blessed each one “with the blessing appropriate to him,” not with equal blessings. How sad for those whose legacy was defilement, violence and anger, and for those whose legacy wasn’t worth mentioning. Judah received his blessing by God’s sovereignty, not by any merit we can see from the account of him in Scripture (remember that thing with Tamar, and his role in Joseph’s being sold into Egypt?). Might our intercession for our children impact God’s sovereign choice on their behalf? Might our rewarding of little effort or no accomplishment impede their developing anything worthwhile?
Joseph received his blessing by merit gained by much suffering and doing the hard things – submitting to God; waiting on God; being faithful with the small things, even in prison; forgiving his brothers their awful deeds against him. Are we prepared to do the same so that we might stand out among even our brothers, so that we might leave a lovely legacy? This account is an opportunity to consider the legacies we are building with our lives.
So we understand the beginning of mankind’s story. God created well, man chose poorly, and corruption resulted. God promised to redeem that poor choice and its consequences. He implemented His plan by establishing the nation of Israel, the people through whom He intended to fulfill His promise.
If you have read this far, you have completed two books of the Bible, one of which is not the easiest reading! Good for you! If you haven’t read faithfully, don’t let that defeat you. Rather, seek to do better in the next month. There is still much opportunity to improve!