TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE
Please read Genesis 27:1-33
“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.”
Genesis 27:28-29
DEVOTIONAL
by Sandra Chua
The Filipinos have a tradition called Pagmamano. It is a gesture wherein the elder extends his hand, and the younger bows and puts the elder’s hand on his/her forehead. It is a way of showing respect to elders. Usually, the elders speak out a blessing like “God have mercy on you” or “God bless you.”
What’s in a blessing that it caused so much drama in Isaac’s Family? Why was Rebekah so bent on getting the last blessings from Isaac for Jacob? Why did Esau let out a loud and bitter cry over losing that blessing? Why couldn’t Isaac retract the blessing from Jacob?
People always picture Jacob as a bad Bible character. He is the grabber and the deceiver. I appreciated, however, one Bible study I attended, which pictured Jacob in a different light. They explained how Jacob believed fully in God’s promises and that he wanted to claim the promises so badly. Jacob’s zeal to get hold of God’s promise of blessings made him do the things he did.
So, the blessings mentioned here are actually the promises of God passed on from Abraham to Isaac and then to Jacob. Before the twins were born, the Lord told Rebekah that the sons in her womb would become two nations. And that the older son will serve the younger son. (Genesis 25:23) Rebekah and Isaac know what God has pronounced. But Isaac loved Esau and probably wanted to pass the blessing to him instead; thus, he shook violently after finding out that God’s will had prevailed, and he couldn’t take the blessing back because it was God’s to give.
REFLECTION
Which promises of God are your favorites? How do His promises give you hope, comfort, or peace?
PRAYER
Dear heavenly Father, Your promises give me hope for the future. They give me comfort when I am sad and peace in times of trouble. Help me, like Jacob, delight greatly in Your promises, which are unshakeable and unbreakable, in Jesus’ name, amen.
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