Stolen Blessing
You are blessed so you can become a blessing to others. A stolen blessing is stolen from one's own soul.
“When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim…he called Esau his elder son…go out to the field, and get me venison. Make me savory food…that I may eat, and that my soul may bless you before I die…Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son…my son, obey my voice…Go now …make them savory food for your father, such as he loves. You shall bring it to your father, that he may eat, so that he may bless you before his death…Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice..Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.” Isaac his father said to him, “Who are you?”..He said, “I am your son, your firstborn, Esau…He smelled the smell of his clothing, and blessed him, and said, “Behold, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Yahweh has blessed. God give you of the dew of the sky, of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be Lord over your brothers. Let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you. Blessed be everyone who blesses you…As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had just gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting…He said, “Your brother came with deceit, and has taken away your blessing…Esau hated Jacob…Esau said in his heart…I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Genesis 27:1, 3-10, 13, 15-16, 27-30, 35, 41-45
Continuing the pattern of sibling rivalry like that of Cain and Abel, Esau and Jacob do not treat each other well. Each is out for what they can get rather than what they can give. Jacob wins the blessing but loses his relationship with his brother.
In a competitive, self-centered world we can get caught up in focusing on what we can get for ourselves. Where in your life do you feel the pressure to get ahead, make more, get more, or do more for your own gain?
“One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life, to see Yahweh’s beauty…I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.”
Psalms 27:1, 4, 8, 13-14
David was a king. He had all the possessions and power he could want, but what he desired most was to dwell in the glory of the presence of God. No wonder he is called a man after God's own heart. Ask yourself what you desire. Make a list. Where is glorifying God on that list? In heaven, all our joys will be found in dwelling with the Lord God.
“A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother…Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart…Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.”
Proverbs 27:10-11, 17
Wisdom says that our lives are meant to shape and sharpen each other. Think of someone who has shaped you. What did they say or do that impacted you? What lives is Jesus calling you to impact?
“let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Let him make peace with me… by this the iniquity of Jacob will be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin” Isaiah 27:5, 9
The first place we need to find peace is with God. We cannot be people who give what we do not have. God desires to restore us to a place of peace so that we can then make peace with others. Where do you need the peace of God in your heart?
“the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor…Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”…Pilate…took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person…They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him…When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots, They set up over his head the accusation against him written, “THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”…Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit…the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. Now the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were done, were terrified, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!””
Matthew 27:1-4, 21-24, 28-31, 35, 37-38, 42, 46, 51, 54
Jesus teaches us a new model for love. He shows that there is always a blessing on the other side of sacrifice. He models the double win of living out a life of love for others by holding nothing back, not even death, in order to bless others. He teaches us to become the blessing.
What would happen if we woke up every day asking God who and how He would like to use us to bless someone that day? How would that free our soul to receive a heavenly blessing? Jesus invites us to live for a blessing that cannot be stolen. One that can only come from doing God's will in order to please Him.