Today’s chapter furnishes us a peek into one of those biblical families that put the “fun” in dysfunctional! There is so much that is going wrong in this family: we find selfishness, scheming, manipulation, deceit, lying, stealing, bitterness, and murderous anger. Reading about this family will help most of us feel a lot better about our families!
- Ken Jackson
Rather than attempt to untangle some the unhealthy dynamics that we see at work here, I want to highlight one important thing that the dad gets right. He blesses his child. I observe three ingredients of Isaac’s blessing that I want to unpack very briefly. I would encourage you to reread verses 27-29.
· Meaningful touch: Jacob moved close to his father, who almost certainly touched his son as he tenderly kissed him. It is a fact that appropriate touch communicates affirmation and affection in a way that words cannot.
· Words of love and affirmation: Now I am not sure that either of my sons would consider it a compliment to be told that they smell like a field! But to an old outdoorsman like Isaac, the smell of a field ready for harvest was a great smell. It was a compliment, a positive message that communicated his love and affection. As parents, we are often too quick to criticize or remind our kids of their faults. We need to speak words that affirm, value, and nurture our children, and they need to be spoken over and over again.
· Vision for their future: Look again at verse 29. Isaac is helping Jacob raise his sights and see that his future is bright. As parents, we want to speak words that help our children discover who they are and how they have been made. We want to help them discover, develop, and deploy the gifts and abilities that God has given them. We want to speak words that will help them pursue their calling in life, not just a career.
Imagine, what if these three ingredients of blessing were present and practiced consistently in our homes? How might our children be impacted?
I am loving this blog! Having it pop up in my reader reminds me to do the reading, and it's nice to hear from the different staff members. This breakdown of Jacob's blessing is really neat.
ReplyDeleteQuick question- would it be possible to put the day's chapter in the title headings, too?
Here I was thinking I really felt for Esau..thanks for pointing out the positives of Isaac's blessing and how to apply it daily!
ReplyDeleteI love the emphasis on Issac's abundant blessing upon his son and reminder of what we hope and pray for our children in a world of manifest trouble and blessing. So poetic! "May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness---"
ReplyDeleteJulia
I don't really understand the idea of "blessing." What Ken writes makes complete sense to me (about blessing children), but while I was reading this chapter, I struggled with the Biblical concept. Why could Issac only give one blessing? And clearly Rebekah understood it's importance (did she love Jacob more?) My heart broke for Esau as he was saying, "Me too! Me too!" I just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteRebekah did love Jacob more, while Isaac favored Esau - not healthy, but not hard to imagine either.
And Isaac, in his culture, would have understood he could bless all his children, but could give only one blessing to his firstborn son. He obviously gave greater significance to the words once spoken that we perhap would - something like a prophecy he gave as the family patriarch. Once it was given, it was given. it couldn't be taken back.