January 27 - Jacob’s Blessing

Genesis 48 - 49

Now Jacob saw that his life was near the end so he requested of Joseph that he not be buried in Egypt, but in the land of Canaan.  Then he blessed Joseph’s sons, crossing his hands so that the second born received the blessing of the first born.  He blessed Joseph, giving him an extra portion of his inheritance, and told him that God would be with him and would bring him back to the land of his fathers.  

Jacob also blessed each of his sons by name, giving them an appropriate blessing, telling them what would come of them in the days ahead.  He declared Judah as a leader of the tribes and predicted that the Messiah would come from Judah’s line---Shiloh, meaning “the one who brings peace.”  See Revelation 5:5, the lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome.

How will you bless your children?  Will they receive the blessings of Judah and Joseph?  Those were good blessings.  Some of the other sons were not blessed with such a pleasant future or outlook.  Blessings are not our custom, but we give them or withhold them throughout life.

Lord, we bless you.  Thank you for blessing us with your presence.  May we intentionally show your love to those in our families and thus give a special blessing to them.