Gods blessing
Deutsch
English Jacob obtains the blessing
And Jacob rose up in the night and took his two wives and the two maidservants and his eleven sons and passed through the ford of the Jabbok. He took her and led her across the river so that what he had came across. But Jacob stayed behind alone. Da rank one with him till dawn broke. And when he saw that he could not overcome him, he touched the joint of his thigh, and the joint of Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him.
The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacobs hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. Genesis 32,22-29 (ESV)
Jacob lives in Haran with his uncle Laban for 20 years. God gives him two wives and 12 children. With his cattle herds he now has a large property. Now it’s time to return home, everything urges to leave.
But Jacob is very afraid and first needs an encounter with God, the blessing of God, in order to meet his brother.
Desiring to be blessed means overcoming obstacles: e.g. sacrificing sleep. Get up like Jacob, send his wife and children ahead and stay behind alone. Crossing a creek, perhaps, and then persevering in battle until answer comes.
Above all, it means recognizing my inadequacy and imploring the one who can bless. This is what Jacob does: He wrestles with the angel of the Lord and says, „I will not let you go unless you have first blessed me“ (verse 27).
Blessing Is the granting of divine salvation to people. The angel of God lets himself be asked and blesses Jacob, He blesses him in the same place. According to verse 30. Today the Lord wants to bless us in the place where we are right now.
The cross a sign of blessing
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1.Corinthians 1,18 (ESV)
As Jesus overcomes death on the cursed tree, the cross becomes a sign of blessing for us, a sign of life. Guilt is forgiven and death conquered. We are marked by God and life.
A boy asks his father on a mountain hike: „Father, did people fall on the mountains where the crosses are?“ „No,“ explains the father, „a cross on a peak means that people have conquered the mountain with its dangers . Here the cross is a sign of victory.”
How many mountains are there in our life? Mountains of troubles and troubles. mountains of suffering and guilt. heaps of old age burdens. But Jesus conquered all these mountains. His cross is a sign of victory!
As Pastor Blumhardt lay on his deathbed in 1880, he put his hand on his son’s shoulder and said to him, „Boy, I bless you to win!
So Jesus wants to lay his hands on us and say to us in fear and weakness: „I bless you to win!“ No one is born to lose.
Let’s put our lives completely under his hands and cry like Jacob: „I won’t let you, you bless me!“
Blessing gives strength for reconciliation
Jacob needs the blessing to meet Esau. Who are we meeting today? Let us take care of one another and meet one another in blessing!
Five steps to reconciliation between Jacob and Esau:
1st step:
Jacob sees his brother Esau.
2nd step:
Jacob runs at the head of the procession and bows seven times. reconciliation through his attitude. Jacob brings himself.
3rd step:
Esau runs towards Jacob, hugs him and kisses him. What a sight, two brothers hug and cry together. Separated geographically – and internally by strife – for twenty years, they make peace. The hardest of hearts melt when God changes them. Note: The betrayed takes the first step. Esau approaches Jacob. As a reconciled person, he immediately asks how the family members are faring. Let’s learn from Esau.
4th step:
Jacob calls himself servant and his brother lord, so that he may be reconciled with him.
And Esau calls Jacob his brother. As reconciled, they are now not only physical – but also spiritual brothers.
5th step:
Jacob says, „When I looked you in the face, it was as if I were looking at God’s face, and you looked at me kindly.“ or „You met me kindly“
People who are at odds with each other separate. They take the longest detour to avoid meeting each other. But reconciled see the friendliness in the other. They see themselves as if they are looking into the face of God.
As reconciled, the two brothers separate, but before that Jacob explains again:
„The only important thing for me is that you accepted me again“!
Genesis 35:27-29 Jacob and Esau stand as reconciled at their father’s grave. A journey home could not end more beautifully. Family united by reconciliation.
Application
Everything depends on God’s blessing! Do we desire to be blessed?
Then let’s pray right now, and say to the Lord:
„I won’t let you bless us then!“
Author: Egon Waechter
Images:
Picture 1: https://unsplash.com/de/
Picture 2+4 https://www.pexels.com/de-de/
Picture 3 https://pixabay.com/de/
