The Lord bless you out of Zion... (Ps. 128:5)
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when he saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, 'Let Me go, for the day breaks.' But he said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me!' So He said to him, 'What is your name? He said, 'Jacob.' And He said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.' Then Jacob asked, saying, 'Tell me Your name, I pray.' And He said, 'Why is it that you ask about my name?' And He blessed him there.” (Gen. 32:24-29)
When Jacob was blessed as he wrestled with God, his name was changed from Jacob = “deceiver” to that of Israel = “God prevails [1]”. Jacob had saw the damage his deceit caused in his relationships to his family. Both his brother and father felt deceived by him (Gen. 27:35). The anger of his brother over Jacob's deceit forced him to separate from his family and go back to Haran (Gen. 27:41-43).
In Haran, Jacob served under Laban, who was even a greater deceiver than him. Laban promised Jacob Rachel if he would work for him seven years for free, and then he gave him Leah instead (Gen. 29:25). Laban then gave Jacob Rachel as long as he agreed to work another seven years without pay for her. After this, Laban deceived Jacob by changing his wages ten times (Gen. 31:7).
And when Jacob finally left with what was his, Laban pursued Jacob. Laban told Jacob. "These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let is be a witness between you and me." (Gen. 31:43-44)
At the time of Jacobs wrestling with God to be blessed, Jacob was going to face his brother and was both afraid and hopeful Esau would forgive him for all his past deceit. He prayed, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you': I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant' for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children." (Gen. 32:9-11)
Jacob wrestled with God for victory over his deceit. To prevail is to overcome, be victor, have the strength and power to be able to accomplish. [2] Through God's blessing, Jacob was given the prevailing strength to overcome his tendency towards deceit. As some sources note, Israel also means to rule or to reign, 'Prince with God.' [3]
David cries out in Psalm 24, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.
Blessing, berakah, Strongs#1293, as it relates to God blessing man means “to fill with potency, to make fruitful or to secure victory.” [4] Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
The first blessing on man occurred in Genesis 1:28. God blessed man and said, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
God then blessed Noah and his sons as they came out of the ark to start their lives. He told them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. 'Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” (Gen. 9:1-7)
God had promised to bless Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. God told Abram that not only would he make his name great and he would be a blessing, but that he would bless those who blessed him and cursed those who cursed him. He promised Abram that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Later, God blessed Abraham. He told him, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.” (Gen. 17:5-6).
God also blessed Ishmael. He said in Genesis 17:20, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”
Besides blessing being an expression of God, it has also been used by men. When expressed by men, a blessing is a hope, prayer [and/or I would add a prophetic proclamation, see Gen. 49:1] of what is to come in the future. [5]
Cursing is the opposite of blessing. Noah, both cursed and blessed. He cursed Ham's son Canaan. At the same time, he blessed Shem and Japheth (Gen. 9:24-27).
A curse, is “a prayer for injury, harm, or misfortune to befall someone.... In Bible times, a curse was considered to be more than a mere wish that evil would befall one’s enemies; it was believed to possess the power to bring about the evil the curser spoke.... In the New Testament, Jesus cursed the fig tree, saying, “ ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’ And immediately the fig tree withered away” (Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:14). He also taught Christians how to deal with curses: “Bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:28)... John promised that the day is coming when “there shall be no more curse” (Rev. 22:3); all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enjoy the abundant blessings of God." [6]
Blessings were frequently extended from patriarchs to their sons, especially at the time right before they died.[7] Just as with curses, blessings were believed to possess the power to bring about what was spoken. Jacob blessed each one of his sons before he passed on in Genesis 49:2-27. He spoke words to each of the twelve sons representing the twelve tribes of Israel about what would “befall” them “in the last days” (Gen. 49:1, 28). He "blessed each one according to his own blessing.” (Gen. 49:28)
Jacob also blessed Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as Jacob's own children (Gen. 48:9). When Jacob blessed them, he place his right hand on the head of the younger brother and the left hand on the head of the older brother (Gen. 48:14). It was custom to place ones right hand on the eldest son because, using one's right hand signified a greater blessing than using one's left hand (Gen. 48:17-19).
Besides at one's death, blessings were also at other times in ones lives and by other people than one's father.
Rebekah's mother and brother blessed Rebekah as she left Haran to meet Isaac. They told her. “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; and may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.”
Blessings can also be added to each other and strengthened by each other. One can be blessed more than once and by more than one person, as well as be blessed by ancestors through one's family line. Genesis 49:26 says, “The blessings of your father have excelled [or added to, strengthened by [8]] the blessing of my ancestors...”
Isaac blessed Jacob (for a second time, the first time he blessed him he thought he was Esau) when he sent him off to get a wife from Rebekah's family. This time he asked that God would give him the “blessing of Abraham.”
Genesis 28:3-4,
“May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and your descendants with you, that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.”
God then confirmed this blessing to Jacob in Bethel as he was on his way to Haran. The Lord spoke to Jacob in a dream, “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (Gen. 28:13-15)
Jacob told Joseph about this in Genesis 48:3-4. He said, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz [that is Bethel, see Gen. 35:6] in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'”
Paul notes in Galatians 3:7-14 that through faith in Christ, we are blessed with the same blessing of Abraham. It says, “ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many are of the works of the law are under the curse' for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.' But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.' Yet the law is not of faith, but 'the man who does them shall live by them.' Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
So what is exactly the 'blessing of Abraham'?
One commentary notes, “God had promised to bless Abraham and to bless all the world through him. The blessing of Abraham is really salvation by grace through faith. The penalty of death required by God must first be paid. So the Lord Jesus was made a curse in order that God might reach out to both Jews and Gentiles in grace. Now in Christ (a descendant of Abraham), the nations are blessed.
God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 does not mention the Holy Spirit. But Paul tells us here, by inspiration of God, that the gift of the Holy Spirit was included in God’s unconditional covenant of salvation with Abraham. It was there in embryo. The Holy Spirit could not come as long as the law was in the way. Christ had to die and be glorified before the Spirit could be given (John 16:7).” [9]
Blessing can also be extended to oneself and/or others. David speaks the blessing of salvation over himself and others in Psalm 144:9-15, “I will sing a new song to you, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, The One who gives salvation to kings, who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lying words, and whose right hand is a right and of falsehood[a] –
And In 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez gave an example of saying a blessing over himself. It says, “Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested.”
The Lord told the priests Aaron and his sons that they should bless the people of Israel and showed them how (like we are given a format for the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13). In Numbers 6:23-26 the Lord says, “'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you should bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
One commentary notes about this, “Perhaps the most impressive element of the passage is this conclusion. God intended to place His name on the people. They would bear the benediction of His name as a spiritual brand, a mark of identification that they were a people peculiarly related to God Himself.” [11]
Psalm 128 is a blessing upon everyone who fears the Lord:
Jesus talks about what it looks like to walk out our spiritual blessings in Matthew 5:3-12,
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
So what can I learn from all this?
Mainly, I think I am learning that blessing has significance. It is more than just words. The words have power to change people's lives.
God blesses us as believers, both individually and corporately. We are blessed all the way back through our ancestors Abraham and Sarah (Is. 51:2). And we are imitating God to bless others. Blessing from God is one expression of His love for us and our blessing others is an expression of love for them. Speaking blessings over others matter.
In some cases people have been cursed by their parents rather than blessed. They have been told that they are worthless and that everything that they do and touch is wrong, and that they are a total failure. These curses have had tremendous power in their lives. It impacts them in many ways – in the way they think and they way they live their lives.
However, when someone comes to Christ, they are no longer under the curse. Jesus became a curse for them. They are blessed as believers through Jesus --all the way back to their ancestors Abraham and Sarah.
Isaiah 51:1-2 says,
“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.”
While it may take them time to become free from what one previously believed about themselves by the curses spoken over them, they are set free from any curses in Christ and under the blessing of Abraham!
2 Corinthians 3:17 say, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
“What if taking the Lord's name in vain is more than just words?” sings
In the same way that people are sometimes cursed and it significantly impacts their lives, so blessings have power to significantly impact other's lives. Parents blessing their children and their children's children matters. In blessing, rather than cursing others we come into contact, we can have impact on other's lives.
“We're on are way to something, to someone, to becoming,...”
If I am speaking to someone who is deeply hurting and I don't know if they know Christ, I will often express my prayer for them in my heart as a hope for them. I'll say, 'What I hope for you is...' Often it feels so little and insignificant compared to the problems they are facing as I say what I hope for them in their future. I most often think it has no impact at all. I think what I hear God speaking to me is that what I am really doing is speaking a blessing over them. And when I bless others, it is an expression of God and it does have power more than words, it, like prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit who resides inside of me when it is in line with God's will.
Lord, that we may posses all in You!! I pray a blessing that I received in leadership training at Open Door this past weekend:
1-2. Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (H3201). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
3. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ge 32:28). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
3. Uittenbogaard, Arie. Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Israel. Located at: http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Israel.html, Last Accessed: 9/14/10
4. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Is 19:23-24). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
5, 7. Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words. Nashville: T. Nelson.
6. Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.
8. See Darby Bible Translation. Also, Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. Located at: http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/genesis/49.htm. Last Accessed: 9/13/10.
9. MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ga 3:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
10. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ps 144:11). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
11. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Nu 6:27). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
12. Ephesians 1:3-14,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He mad to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."
When Jacob was blessed as he wrestled with God, his name was changed from Jacob = “deceiver” to that of Israel = “God prevails [1]”. Jacob had saw the damage his deceit caused in his relationships to his family. Both his brother and father felt deceived by him (Gen. 27:35). The anger of his brother over Jacob's deceit forced him to separate from his family and go back to Haran (Gen. 27:41-43).
In Haran, Jacob served under Laban, who was even a greater deceiver than him. Laban promised Jacob Rachel if he would work for him seven years for free, and then he gave him Leah instead (Gen. 29:25). Laban then gave Jacob Rachel as long as he agreed to work another seven years without pay for her. After this, Laban deceived Jacob by changing his wages ten times (Gen. 31:7).
And when Jacob finally left with what was his, Laban pursued Jacob. Laban told Jacob. "These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let is be a witness between you and me." (Gen. 31:43-44)
At the time of Jacobs wrestling with God to be blessed, Jacob was going to face his brother and was both afraid and hopeful Esau would forgive him for all his past deceit. He prayed, "O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you': I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant' for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children." (Gen. 32:9-11)
Jacob wrestled with God for victory over his deceit. To prevail is to overcome, be victor, have the strength and power to be able to accomplish. [2] Through God's blessing, Jacob was given the prevailing strength to overcome his tendency towards deceit. As some sources note, Israel also means to rule or to reign, 'Prince with God.' [3]
David cries out in Psalm 24, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah.
Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.
Blessing, berakah, Strongs#1293, as it relates to God blessing man means “to fill with potency, to make fruitful or to secure victory.” [4] Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.”
The first blessing on man occurred in Genesis 1:28. God blessed man and said, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
God then blessed Noah and his sons as they came out of the ark to start their lives. He told them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as green herbs. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. 'Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.” (Gen. 9:1-7)
God had promised to bless Abram in Genesis 12:1-3. God told Abram that not only would he make his name great and he would be a blessing, but that he would bless those who blessed him and cursed those who cursed him. He promised Abram that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Later, God blessed Abraham. He told him, “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.” (Gen. 17:5-6).
God also blessed Ishmael. He said in Genesis 17:20, “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.”
Besides blessing being an expression of God, it has also been used by men. When expressed by men, a blessing is a hope, prayer [and/or I would add a prophetic proclamation, see Gen. 49:1] of what is to come in the future. [5]
Cursing is the opposite of blessing. Noah, both cursed and blessed. He cursed Ham's son Canaan. At the same time, he blessed Shem and Japheth (Gen. 9:24-27).
A curse, is “a prayer for injury, harm, or misfortune to befall someone.... In Bible times, a curse was considered to be more than a mere wish that evil would befall one’s enemies; it was believed to possess the power to bring about the evil the curser spoke.... In the New Testament, Jesus cursed the fig tree, saying, “ ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.’ And immediately the fig tree withered away” (Matt. 21:19; Mark 11:14). He also taught Christians how to deal with curses: “Bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:28)... John promised that the day is coming when “there shall be no more curse” (Rev. 22:3); all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enjoy the abundant blessings of God." [6]
Blessings were frequently extended from patriarchs to their sons, especially at the time right before they died.[7] Just as with curses, blessings were believed to possess the power to bring about what was spoken. Jacob blessed each one of his sons before he passed on in Genesis 49:2-27. He spoke words to each of the twelve sons representing the twelve tribes of Israel about what would “befall” them “in the last days” (Gen. 49:1, 28). He "blessed each one according to his own blessing.” (Gen. 49:28)
Jacob also blessed Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh as Jacob's own children (Gen. 48:9). When Jacob blessed them, he place his right hand on the head of the younger brother and the left hand on the head of the older brother (Gen. 48:14). It was custom to place ones right hand on the eldest son because, using one's right hand signified a greater blessing than using one's left hand (Gen. 48:17-19).
Besides at one's death, blessings were also at other times in ones lives and by other people than one's father.
Rebekah's mother and brother blessed Rebekah as she left Haran to meet Isaac. They told her. “Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands; and may your descendants possess the gates of those who hate them.”
Blessings can also be added to each other and strengthened by each other. One can be blessed more than once and by more than one person, as well as be blessed by ancestors through one's family line. Genesis 49:26 says, “The blessings of your father have excelled [or added to, strengthened by [8]] the blessing of my ancestors...”
Isaac blessed Jacob (for a second time, the first time he blessed him he thought he was Esau) when he sent him off to get a wife from Rebekah's family. This time he asked that God would give him the “blessing of Abraham.”
Genesis 28:3-4,
“May God Almighty bless you, and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and your descendants with you, that you may inherit the land in which you are a stranger, which God gave to Abraham.”
God then confirmed this blessing to Jacob in Bethel as he was on his way to Haran. The Lord spoke to Jacob in a dream, “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (Gen. 28:13-15)
Jacob told Joseph about this in Genesis 48:3-4. He said, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz [that is Bethel, see Gen. 35:6] in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'”
Paul notes in Galatians 3:7-14 that through faith in Christ, we are blessed with the same blessing of Abraham. It says, “ Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 'In you all the nations shall be blessed.' So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many are of the works of the law are under the curse' for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.' But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.' Yet the law is not of faith, but 'the man who does them shall live by them.' Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
So what is exactly the 'blessing of Abraham'?
One commentary notes, “God had promised to bless Abraham and to bless all the world through him. The blessing of Abraham is really salvation by grace through faith. The penalty of death required by God must first be paid. So the Lord Jesus was made a curse in order that God might reach out to both Jews and Gentiles in grace. Now in Christ (a descendant of Abraham), the nations are blessed.
God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 does not mention the Holy Spirit. But Paul tells us here, by inspiration of God, that the gift of the Holy Spirit was included in God’s unconditional covenant of salvation with Abraham. It was there in embryo. The Holy Spirit could not come as long as the law was in the way. Christ had to die and be glorified before the Spirit could be given (John 16:7).” [9]
Blessing can also be extended to oneself and/or others. David speaks the blessing of salvation over himself and others in Psalm 144:9-15, “I will sing a new song to you, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, The One who gives salvation to kings, who delivers David His servant from the deadly sword. Rescue me and deliver me from the hand of foreigners, whose mouths speak lying words, and whose right hand is a right and of falsehood[a] –
'That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style; That our barns may be full, supplying all kinds of produce; That our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields; That our oxen may be will laden; That there be no breaking in or going out; That there be no outcry in our streets. Happy are the people who are in such a state; Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!'”a. One commentary notes, “the principal lie of the enemy was that the Lord could not save His people (Ps. 12)” [10]
And In 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez gave an example of saying a blessing over himself. It says, “Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!' So God granted him what he requested.”
The Lord told the priests Aaron and his sons that they should bless the people of Israel and showed them how (like we are given a format for the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13). In Numbers 6:23-26 the Lord says, “'Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the way you should bless the children of Israel. Say to them:
'The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.'”The Lord then goes on to say, “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel and I will bless them.”
One commentary notes about this, “Perhaps the most impressive element of the passage is this conclusion. God intended to place His name on the people. They would bear the benediction of His name as a spiritual brand, a mark of identification that they were a people peculiarly related to God Himself.” [11]
Psalm 128 is a blessing upon everyone who fears the Lord:
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in all His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. Behold, this shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!”And Paul says in Ephesians 1:3 that all believers are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ and describes what this looks like in Ephesians 1:3-14.[12]
Jesus talks about what it looks like to walk out our spiritual blessings in Matthew 5:3-12,
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
So what can I learn from all this?
Mainly, I think I am learning that blessing has significance. It is more than just words. The words have power to change people's lives.
God blesses us as believers, both individually and corporately. We are blessed all the way back through our ancestors Abraham and Sarah (Is. 51:2). And we are imitating God to bless others. Blessing from God is one expression of His love for us and our blessing others is an expression of love for them. Speaking blessings over others matter.
In some cases people have been cursed by their parents rather than blessed. They have been told that they are worthless and that everything that they do and touch is wrong, and that they are a total failure. These curses have had tremendous power in their lives. It impacts them in many ways – in the way they think and they way they live their lives.
However, when someone comes to Christ, they are no longer under the curse. Jesus became a curse for them. They are blessed as believers through Jesus --all the way back to their ancestors Abraham and Sarah.
Isaiah 51:1-2 says,
“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.”
While it may take them time to become free from what one previously believed about themselves by the curses spoken over them, they are set free from any curses in Christ and under the blessing of Abraham!
2 Corinthians 3:17 say, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
“What if taking the Lord's name in vain is more than just words?” sings
In the same way that people are sometimes cursed and it significantly impacts their lives, so blessings have power to significantly impact other's lives. Parents blessing their children and their children's children matters. In blessing, rather than cursing others we come into contact, we can have impact on other's lives.
“We're on are way to something, to someone, to becoming,...”
If I am speaking to someone who is deeply hurting and I don't know if they know Christ, I will often express my prayer for them in my heart as a hope for them. I'll say, 'What I hope for you is...' Often it feels so little and insignificant compared to the problems they are facing as I say what I hope for them in their future. I most often think it has no impact at all. I think what I hear God speaking to me is that what I am really doing is speaking a blessing over them. And when I bless others, it is an expression of God and it does have power more than words, it, like prayer, the power of the Holy Spirit who resides inside of me when it is in line with God's will.
Lord, that we may posses all in You!! I pray a blessing that I received in leadership training at Open Door this past weekend:
And may we daily find our greatest treasure lies in You."For One Who Holds Power
May the gift of leadership awaken in you as a vocation,
Keep you mindful of the providence that calls you to serve.
As high over the mountains the eagle spreads it wings,
May your perspective larger than the view from the foothills.
When the way is flat and dull in times of gray endurance,
May your imagination continue to evoke horizons.
When thirst burns in times of drought,
May you be blessed to find the wells.
May you have the wisdom to read time clearly,
And know when the seed of change will flourish.
In your heart may there be a sanctuary
For the stillness where clarity is born.
May your work be infused with passion and creativity,
And have the wisdom to balance compassion and challenge.
May your soul find the graciousness
To rise above the fester of small mediocrities.
May your power never become a shell
Wherein you heart would silently atrophy.
My you welcome your own vulnerability
As the ground where healing and truth join.
May integrity of soul be your first ideal,
The source that will guide and bless your work.”
From “To Bless the Space Between Us – A Book of Blessings” by John O'Donohue
1-2. Strong, J. (1996). The exhaustive concordance of the Bible : Showing every word of the text of the common English version of the canonical books, and every occurrence of each word in regular order. (electronic ed.) (H3201). Ontario: Woodside Bible Fellowship.
3. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ge 32:28). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
3. Uittenbogaard, Arie. Meaning, origin and etymology of the name Israel. Located at: http://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Israel.html, Last Accessed: 9/14/10
4. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Is 19:23-24). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
5, 7. Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine's complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words. Nashville: T. Nelson.
6. Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.
8. See Darby Bible Translation. Also, Clarke's Commentary on the Bible. Located at: http://clarke.biblecommenter.com/genesis/49.htm. Last Accessed: 9/13/10.
9. MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ga 3:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
10. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1997). The Nelson study Bible : New King James Version. Includes index. (Ps 144:11). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
11. Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Nu 6:27). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
12. Ephesians 1:3-14,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He mad to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -in Him. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."
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