In this place - by Ben Bonython
A young man is on the run from his very angry brother whom he cheated at least once, if not twice!
Genesis 28 records his departure and even though Jacob also cheated His father, Isaac blesses his son with a profound blessing:
May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a company of peoples. And may He give the blessing of Abraham to you and your descendants, so that you may possess the land where you dwell as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.”
Can parents actually bless their children? Can we bless one another in the same way?
Theologians spend hours debating and formulating their views on this issue. Was Isaac prompted by the Lord to bless his son? Or did Isaac bless his son in and through the Lord or out of his own heart and desire? I hope you are curious!
Because I want to say is that we have been given the capacity to bless one another too. Paul blesses the Corinthians saying:
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; (2Cor9:8)
In James 3:10, James says that:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
And then there is the benediction we pray over our gatherings:
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26)
My point is when Isaac should have disowned Jacob for betraying both his brother and himself, Isaac instead blessed him. Notice that this is exactly what Jesus commands us to do also:
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Lk 6:28)
Maybe there is an opportunity for each of us to bless someone in the name of the Lord! May we do it too!
However, Isaac blessing Jacob however is not the main focus of this encouragement, but it is certainly connected!
Jacob left blessed, but he also left behind mess, and he was probably a mess too! Yet in the midst of the mess, Jacob realised that the Lord was not far from him. In resting, Jacob had an incredible vision, and was absolutely convinced that the Lord was with him, even affirming the blessing that Isaac had spoken.
Jacob realised the Lord was near, not far – and the presence of the Lord changes everything (Ps73).
Isaac blessed, the Lord promised and Jacob gave confession to his acceptance as the object of God’s vessel in fulfilling His promises.
Two thoughts then for us that will help us to follow Jesus with confidence and anticipation:
1 – We can bless others with the promises God has given.
What does the bible say about us? What promises do we have because we are in Christ? What has Jesus said about us? The Word of the Lord has been given and it can be trusted, and we can take those Words and promises, and speak it over those around about us.
If you are not sure, read through Ephesians 2 and rediscover again everything we are through Jesus.
We are blessed to be a blessing!
In the midst of mess, Jacob was affirmed by his father and by His Father in heaven. To be affirmed and built up and encouraged and strengthened is a wonderful and powerful gift. Ultimately, it is an expression of love, and that means discipleship. Because Jesus said that we are His disciples if we love one another (Jn 13:34-35).
2 – We can be sure that the Lord is at work, even when we are not aware of it. Jesus says not to allow our hearts to be troubled but believe in the Him (Jn 14:1). This intrinsically means that the Lord is with us and at work in every situation, and therefore if the Lord is present and at work, how can our hearts be troubled? The Lord knows everything that is happening and is always concerned (Ex 3:16). The Lord hears our thoughts and our cries (Ps 34:6) and Jesus says that the Father is always working…and so is Jesus (Jn 5:17). After the ordeal, Joseph said with confidence that he was in the good plans of the Lord (Gen 50:20). Paul says that what we face is nothing compared to what is to come in Jesus (2Cor 4:17-18) and that the Lord is at work in us now (Ph 2:13).
Therefore when we look back while we are in the ‘thick of battle’, may we also testify ‘…the LORD is in this place with me! Because the Lord has stairs everywhere!