Text: Hebrews 12

Key verse: It was faith that made Jacob bless each of the sons of Joseph just before he died. He leaned on the top of his walking stick and worshiped God. verse 21

Living by faith is not just about how we live but also about what we believe. If you have lived by certain principles and belief systems and it has worked well for you, it’s only natural that you will want to pass it on. 

Jacob had lived a beautiful, long life that had started with manipulation and scheming against his twin brother, along the line he took a hold of the blessing after he realized that wits and grit alone, were not enough to guarantee him a fulfilling life. He is a perfect example of a man who discovered and enjoyed the power of the blessing.

In our key verse, we meet him at the final days of his life, after God had given him a wonderful reunion with his son Joseph and the beautiful gift of reconciliation in his dysfunctional family. He had seen and drunk the dregs of polygamous marriage to the full but God’s mercy gave him a second chance through the eternal working of the blessing. 

It is good to be thankful to the one who has treated you well, as Joseph had done for his father, but even better to pay it forward. Jacob even at his age raised himself and leaning on a staff, blessed the children of Joseph. He empowered them spiritually notwithstanding they were born into affluence. He not only spoke good over them but elevated them even to the status of children and not grandchildren anymore. The tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim now became heirs too of the promise. 

Jacob knew his words would not have much power or influence except it was backed by the power of God, therefore he worshipped God acknowledging him as the source of the blessing. 

As a parent or grandparent, how have you prepared for your grandchildren spiritually? We who are Africans have laboured to remove and dislodge the influence of negative foundations laid by our forefathers rooted in idolatry and dark practices. You must now go a step further to replace those curses with blessings backed by the word of God and his promises.

We must not wait to see our children treat us well before we start to pray a blessing over them. We don\’t have to rely only on the quality education we have given them as a guarantee for a fruitful and meaningful life.

It was faith that made Jacob bless each of the sons of Joseph just before he died.

Bless them because you have faith in what God can do. Speak those words as led by the Spirit notwithstanding what their present conditions are. In Genesis chapter 49, Jacob spoke into the future of his children prophetically, not just wishes but spirit inspired words. This is part of his blessing on Joseph;  

May the God of your father help you; may the Almighty bless you with the blessings of the heavens above, and blessings of the watery depths below, and blessings of the breasts and womb.
²⁶ May my fatherly blessings on you surpass the blessings of my ancestors, reaching to the heights of the eternal hills.
May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, who is a prince among his brothers.

You can partner with God to shape the destiny of your children, biological or spiritual children you have birthed in ministry. Speak in faith and God will back it up as he did for Jacob. 

We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says, “First I believed, then I spoke in faith.” So we also first believe then speak in faith. 2 Corinthians 4:13

We who are believers know how tough it has been to thrive in our days not to talk of Gen Z who are faced with more aggressive agendas and trends that are authoritarian and skewed away from the faith. They need to function even on a higher level of spiritual blessings for them to thrive. The blessing has been given already, you just need to declare it over them.

Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm has already been lavished upon us as a love gift from our wonderful heavenly Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus—all because he sees us wrapped into Christ. This is why we celebrate him with all our hearts! Eph 1:3

Believe it and Speak it!

Roses & Thorns