A Thorough Blessing

A Thorough Blessing

Genesis 27: ²⁵ He said, “Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, so that my soul may bless you.” So he brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. ²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come near now and kiss me, my son.” ²⁷ And he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him and said:

 

“Surely, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field
Which the Lord has blessed.
²⁸ Therefore may God give you
Of the dew of heaven,
Of the fatness of the earth,
And plenty of grain and wine.
²⁹ Let peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you.
Be master over your brethren,
And let your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
And blessed be those who bless you!”

 

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After eating the food Rebekah made, Isaac smelled Jacob and determined that it must be Esau whom he was blessing. He gave Jacob a thorough blessing.

 

My Observations:

• Isaac blessed Jacob with plenty.
• Isaac blessed Jacob with protection.
• Isaac blessed Jacob with people.

 

Jacob’s deception gave him the blessing he was looking for. This blessing was not taken lightly. It included GOD providing plenty, protection and people to Jacob. This blessing was binding, meaning GOD would agree with the terms.

 

HE already knew HE was going to bless Jacob in this way, anyway. Isaac’s blessing needed to be said to everyone so they understood who was supposed to receive the blessing. The blessing was given.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Jacob’s deception to get the blessing?
• Have you ever been blessed undeservedly?
• Will you praise GOD for the undeserved blessings HE provides to you?

Blessings Upon Blessings

Blessings Upon Blessings

Genesis 26: ¹² Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. ¹³ The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; ¹⁴ for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. ¹⁵ Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. ¹⁶ And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.”

 

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Isaac stayed in the area that had a famine which was in the land of the Philistines in Gerar. There he was able to plant in fields. Supernaturally, his fields grew faster and more plentiful than anyone else’s.

 

My Observations:

• GOD blessed Isaac because HE promised HE would.
• Isaac did not do anything special, BUT GOD did.
• Abimelech became a hater because Isaac was blessed.

 

Seeing Isaac prosper made the Philistines jealous. Isaac followed in his father’s footsteps by believing and trusting in the LORD. I believe it was JESUS who met Isaac and told him to “Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you.”  HE did as HE said.

 

Blessings kept coming towards Isaac. Crowds flocked to him and soon he was growing stronger than the Philistines. Following GOD was attractive to people. Abimelech knew that the way of the Philistines was being threatened. He sent Isaac away before war broke out. GOD blessed Isaac tremendously!

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about blessing Isaac?
• Has GOD kept you all these years?
• Will you praise GOD for all the blessings HE has given you and will continue to give you?

Great Blessings

Great Blessings

Hebrews 7: ⁴ You see, then, how great he was. Abraham, our famous ancestor, gave him one tenth of all he got in the battle. ⁵ And those descendants of Levi who are priests are commanded by the Law to collect one tenth from the people of Israel, that is, from their own people, even though they are also descendants of Abraham. ⁶ Melchizedek was not descended from Levi, but he collected one tenth from Abraham and blessed him, the man who received God's promises. ⁷ There is no doubt that the one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed. 

 

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A customer left a great rating about my service. I was honored to receive the rating and realized how much the good word meant to other people. My service was not as important as the rating received because other people believed in the ratings.

 

• I was the recipient of a blessing.
• My word about my company was not as powerful as my customer’s word.
• I wanted “my” word to be enough, but it took the blessing of a customer to get others to believe.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, spoke highly of Abraham. He mentions that Abraham was “famous”, yet still gave Melchizedek one tenth of all he collected in battle. The writer goes on to mention that priests still follow this example, showing the greatness of the act. He then closes with speaking about greatness.

 

My Observations:

• JESUS has blessed me to be one of HIS servants.
• I can never be greater than JESUS.
• GOD wants me to be a servant, which will translate to HIM declaring me as “great.”

 

The first will be last and last will be first” is one of JESUS’ promises. HE sees “greatness” when I follow HIS example by serving those who do not look or act like me. Even when I fall, JESUS is great enough to pick me up and use me for HIS good.

 

Feeling blessed is different than being declared blessed. I mean, when JESUS mentions “blessed are the…” HE is talking about me and you. HE is greater than us and pours out HIS blessings on us. I gladly accept HIS blessings today.

 

Challenge

• What blessing is the writer speaking of?
• Have you ever had a reference or a referral from someone who spoke highly of you?
• Will you speak highly of someone so he or she can see JESUS and accept HIS great blessings today?

No More Ruin

Isaiah 60: ¹⁸ No longer will violence be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
    and your gates Praise.
¹⁹ The sun will no more be your light by day,
    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.

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“I AM going to ruin you” were the words I heard as I prayed about my situation.  “Ruin” I thought to myself. Why ruin me? I mean haven’t I done X, Y and Z? This was not the best choice of words during an already stressful time. I expected GOD to say to me “Everything will be fine or don’t worry” instead HE told me to “Pray for my enemies.” Wait a minute, what about me?

• As a young follower of GOD I thought nothing should go wrong?
• As an immature follower of GOD I thought everything should go my way and I could act any old way towards anyone and still be forgiven and blessed.
• As an infantile flower of GOD I never thought I would hear the words “I AM going to ruin you.”

I don’t think I uttered these words to people around me. I mean I was used to being on top and having many people praise “me” for my stature. I was on the very top and I loved the respect it brought. Who wants to be “low” again?

• Looking back I can see GOD wanted me to see HIM no matter where HE took me.
• Looking back I can see GOD wanted to remove distractions to doing HIS will.
• Looking back I can see GOD wanted me to have a real relationship with HIM, not one that only depended on HIM giving me everything I wanted, like a spoiled brat.

GOD only “ruins” HIS children for a short time, otherwise who would stand. HE wants me to depend upon HIS salvation and have true praise within my walls. HE wants me to look on HIS everlasting light and know I am protected only by HIM.

• Is GOD ruining you?
• Are you squirming because it seems hard and difficult?
• Will you stop squirming and know HE is making you stronger?
• Will you allow HIM to grow you up for HIS purposes?

Ready to Soar

Isaiah 40: ²⁷ Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?
²⁸ Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

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“Great job” were the words that fueled my zeal. When I heard these words I was ready to work harder and longer. I put in my best work when I hear a compliment. On the other hand when I heard a complaint, work seemed to be WORK. It dragged on for seemingly days in one shift. It seemed like during those long times, I complained to GOD. “Where are YOU?” I would yell out.

• Sometimes it seems like life beats me down.
• Sometimes it seems like I will not “get my way.”
• Sometimes it seems like GOD is off somewhere making thieves rich and wealthy meanwhile HE is punishing me for even my tiniest sin.

Blind to the compliment, I put my trust in those who would feed my ego more and more. I mean it felt good to receive accolades and when they ran out, it was time to change jobs or locations or relationships. BUT GOD says to do something different.

• GOD says to me “I do not grow tired or weary” which means HE can take anything I give HIM no matter how many times I give it to HIM.
• GOD says to me “I give strength to the weary and power to the weak” which means HIS strength and power is being used on a daily basis.
• GOD says to me “I will make you soar on wings like eagles” which means I will run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint.

Sometimes I think GOD wants me to run out of steam. I mean when I stop thinking “I” am in control then GOD can do HIS best work. Relying on GOD’s strength means truly believing HE can do anything. HE places me in positions for HIS purpose. I should not complain, rather compliment HIM for where HE has me. HE gives me strength that only comes from HIM.

• Are you growing weak?
• Do you feel weary?
• Can you rely on GOD’s strength?
• Will you put your trust in HIM instead of trying to win HIS favor by working your fingers to the bone?

Getting Away with It

Ecclesiastes 8: ¹² Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. ¹³ Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

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Scared to even cuss, I tiptoed around doing “bad” stuff. I went to another school and met more people. They had some great ideas about doing stuff that seemed like “fun.”  Leaving the house without permission was my first test. I had never done that before and it felt great until I got home, late, to worried parents.

I then started trying other stuff. Lying felt pretty good and so did cursing. After a while I asked myself, why was I worried about being “bad?” This stuff did not feel “bad” and besides, I hadn’t killed anyone!

• There were times when I tried sin and it never felt “bad.”
• There were times when I dabbled in sin and the crowd was pleased with my actions.
• There were times when I tested my “sin boundaries” to see what I could get away with.

Little did I know that I was headed in the wrong direction. I was chipping away at my character a little at a time. I did not know I would be out on my own someday with fractures in my character here and there. When I went to my next place in life I faced some difficult times that sin could not fix. What was I to do?

• GOD said to me “Come unto ME all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD said to me “Return back to me and I will wipe away your tears.”
• GOD said to me “I sent you the COMFORTER who will be with you always.”

Forgiven was the feeling I missed when I was engulfed in sin. I could not do things right and it seemed like my road was getting harder and harder. BUT GOD rescued me and put me back on HIS path. HE said to me “I have a plan for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I believed and HE blessed me thoroughly!

• Do you feel you “got away with it?”
• Are you on the wrong path?
• Can you stop with your plans and start following GOD?
• Will you start looking at GOD as the solution instead of thinking HE is the problem?