HEIRS OF BLESSING

09_16

“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. May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. 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.”

Genesis 27:27-29

Dr. Derek Prince tells a story about a mother and her two daughters. One day, one of the daughters knocked on the door of the room where their mother was supposed to be. The mother called out from inside the room, “Is it you, Darling?” The daughter replied, “No, it’s the other one.” These words made the mother think about how much it was affecting her daughter the fact that she preferred her other daughter. Something similar happened in Isaac and Rebekah’s house. Isaac’s favorite son was Esau, since he was the first-born; while Rebekah’s favorite was Jacob. Even when Isaac knew that his oldest son was on the wrong path, hanging out with the wrong women and in total opposition to God’s preordained principles; he still considered giving Esau the blessing just because he was the oldest son. However, when Rebekah heard Isaac from behind the door saying that he would give the whole blessing to Esau, she completely disagrees with his decision. In fact, she was so worried, because she knew that the decision would affect all of her descendants that she decided to do something crazy. She suggested that Jacob disguise himself as Esau in order to protect her descendants. One of the great questions that has always existed is whether or not Jacob was able to deceive his father. What happened in that moment? Jacob entered dressed up as Esau. Isaac was blind, but we know that the auditory perception of the blind gets sharper. In my opinion, Isaac knew what was happening because he initially recognized Jacob’s voice. Besides, hunting takes some time and the meal was ready way before it could have been. What probably happened, is at the very moment Isaac was about to make a mistake and give the blessing, he decided to give the whole blessing to Jacob. Later, even when Esau, in tears tried to move his father’s heart, it was too late. Since he had disqualified himself with his lifestyle. Isaac told Esau: “Son, your brother has the whole blessing already. I blessed him and blessed he will be.”

The Apostle Paul compares the people of Israel with an olive tree, and says that some of its branches were broken off for us to be grafted in and take our place. God used their unbelief to break them off, and our faith to graft us in. The Apostle advises us: “Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you either” (Romans 11:20-21).

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
We must understand that the strategy Jacob used to get a hold of the blessing that belonged to his brother Esau was something that God did not approve of. In fact, this almost cost Jacob his life. “The LORD has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel; as a man he struggled with God. He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor. He found him at Bethel and talked with him there—” (Hosea 12:2-4). Thanks to his genuine repentance, Jacob received God’s forgiveness and his tears moved the Father’s heart. God’s richest blessings are available for His children to receive them by faith (Ephesians 1:3).

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I walk in the blessing because I found favor in the eyes of God.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Three.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: Isaiah 42-43; Proverbs 26:1-16
    • New Testament: Luke 23:26-31; Hebrews 9:11-28

HEIRS OF BLESSING