Kingdom Covenant Part 7
At Keys Vineyard Church, we present a series called ‘Kingdom Covenant,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
Last week, in our series ‘Kingdom Covenant,’ we examined the lives of Esau and Jacob and discussed the birthright. This week, we continue with their story and examine the blessing.
Genesis 27:24–29 (NIV)
24 “Are you really my son Esau?” he asked. “I am,” he replied. 25 Then he said, “My son, bring me some of your game to eat, so that I may give you my blessing.” Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.” 27 So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he blessed him and said, “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed. 28 May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”
In the Bible, blessings carry a profound significance that transcends wishes for good fortune or casual affirmations. They serve as conduits of divine grace, influencing and molding lives in substantial and enduring ways. The notion that our words possess the power to shape reality is not just a philosophical musing but a biblical truth deeply embedded in the stories and teachings of the Scriptures.
The account of Jacob and Isaac, as detailed in Genesis, compellingly illustrates the lasting impact of a true blessing. When Isaac blesses Jacob, he does more than utter hopeful words; he invokes a divine mandate that charts the course of Jacob’s life and the history of an entire nation. This blessing, given under remarkable circumstances, includes promises of abundance, protection, and leadership, laying a foundation for Jacob to evolve into Israel, the patriarch of the twelve tribes.
This narrative underscores the intentional nature of blessings. They are not casual affirmations but deliberate acts that acknowledge and affirm the recipient’s inherent value and divine purpose. Isaac’s blessing for Jacob is a powerful recognition of Jacob’s potential and his rightful place in God’s plan, empowering him to step into that role with divine favor. This transformative power of blessings resonates throughout the biblical texts, where words are not just spoken but are viewed as vessels of creative and prophetic power.
The biblical concept of blessings and curses illuminates spoken words’ dual nature and potency. Blessings, like Isaac’s for Jacob, can construct and elevate, while curses can bind and dismantle. This duality serves as a stark reminder of the weight of our words. Every word, whether spoken in earnest or in passing, can shape lives for better or worse.
In the biblical context, a blessing is a powerful and intentional declaration that seeks to align the blessed with their God-given destiny. The story of Jacob and Isaac teaches us that blessings have the strength to transcend time, impacting lives and generations far beyond the moment they are spoken.
This weekend, Keys Vineyard Church will offer all this and a lot more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.