The Power of a Father's Blessing

Introduction

* People often use the phrase, "Bless his heart!" especially in the South. We say "Bless you!" when someone sneezes. You may have heard that the reason we have come to use that phrase is because your heart stops for a split second when you sneeze. We are saying, God bless you because He started your heart back. Well, that's actually a common misconception. We actually say "bless you" because...

* One rational explanation for the exaggerated attention paid toward sneezing comes from the 6th century, when the Black Plague killed half the population of Europe. Sneezing was a symptom of the disease and was viewed as a sign of impeding death. People thus began to say “bless you” in hopes that the sneezer would not succumb to the infection, or, some say, as a final blessing. Source: http://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=157001

* The blessing is also something we do at the dinner table, whether or not we mean it as a way of truly acknowledging God as the source of our food and sustenance, or just do it as a religious ritual in case someone spit in our food!

* But, what does a blessing really mean? Should be bless more people than we do? Is it just a religious superstition to hope for good omens.

Read Text. Pray.

Genesis 27:1–10 ESV

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.” Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “I heard your father speak to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me game and prepare for me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you before the Lord before I die.’ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. Go to the flock and bring me two good young goats, so that I may prepare from them delicious food for your father, such as he loves. And you shall bring it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.”

Genesis 27:1-10

Explain the Story

What Is a Blessing Anyways?

First, a blessing was a public declaration of a favored status with God. Second, the blessing endowed power for prosperity and success. In all cases, the blessing served as a guide and motivation to pursue a course of life within the blessing.

Expositor’s Bible Dictionary

Explain the Story

* Isaac knew that he was getting old and wanted to pass on the blessing to his oldest son, even though God had said that Jacob would be the one who was blessed.

* Family division and rivalry -

Genesis 25:27–28 ESV

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

* Rebekah asked that Jacob's curse be upon her in verse 13 - after this story we don't hear of her again

* The idea of the curse as a counter to the blessing was always present. Both carried very real consequences, even though people were still free to make their own choices. -

Genesis 27:33 ESV

Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.”

* Perhaps the choice of favorites came down to who spent more time with each parent - Jacob was a man of the tents -

* Perhaps the choice of favorites came down to who spent more time with each parent - Jacob was a man of the tents -

1. There is Power in a Father’s Words (v.26-29)

2. Our Children Are Crying Out for a Blessing (vv. 34-36)

Application:

Ephesians 6:3–4 ESV

“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:2–4 ESV

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Fathers Must Take Responsibility for Spiritual Training of their Children

Fathers Have the Power to Bless or Curse

Conclusion:

Language Disclaimer!

The Help - Woman speaking to the children telling them they are somebody special.

* “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”