July 04, 2025 | Be God's Family
The Power of Blessing
Scripture: Hebrews 11:20(NIV)
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
Devotional
There is nothing like good old sibling rivalry. I grew up the third of four brothers. Tim is the one in line above me, six years older. When we played basketball, he would block all my shots. When he got his driver’s license, I was stuck at home playing with Hot Wheels. When he graduated from high school, I was navigating my way through middle school. Whatever he had, I always wanted.
In the book of Genesis, Isaac had two sons who put sibling rivalry on steroids. Jacob, the younger, cajoled, deceived and manipulated his way to the top position. Their father Isaac blessed Jacob with words normally reserved for the oldest son. You can’t blame dear old dad, as his eyesight was gone, and his judgment was fading.
Once Esau found out, he was incensed. The twirp had stolen his blessing. Isaac then gave a blessing to his oldest saying, “You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck” (Genesis 27:40).
I can just imagine my dad saying to Tim, “You will give your driver’s license and car to Mark, and you will go to seventh grade for him.”
Still, the writer of Hebrews looks at these blessings Isaac gave to his sons as steps of faith. Indeed, Jacob would be renamed Israel, and the entire nation came from his family line. Esau was angry enough to kill his little bro, but eventually reconciled with him, though his descendants the Edomites continually battled with the Israelites.
Let’s consider the power of blessing. The words we speak over others can have power in their lives. When Lisa and I were raising our four daughters, I spoke these words into their lives as often as I could:
“I love you”
“You are pretty”
“You are smart”
“You have God’s favor”
Later I did similar things with our nephew Abraham when we were raising him. Now I am doing so with my grandchildren.
Be a blessing to those around you, and while you are at it, speak a blessing to them as well.
Poem
The Lord Does As He Please
Psalm 135
Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant. For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, Israel to be his treasured possession. I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The Lord does whatever pleases him, n the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.
Psalm 135:3-6
Despite lies and deception
Despite vain trickery
God’s will cannot be shaken
His plan will come to be
In faith, we sing God’s praises
By faith, we rise to bless
In faith, we ask forgiveness
By faith, we find deep rest
For truly it is written
God works all things for good
This truth is held in myst’ry
And oft misunderstood
But for the true believer
An anchor’s hope this be
To trust always, “the LORD is great!”
The LORD does as He please
