Blessing. "What is a blessing?" The Dictionary defines a "Blessing" as: 1. the act or words of a person who blesses, 2. a special favor, mercy or benefit, 3. a favor or gift bestowed by God, 4. the invocation of God's favor upon a person, 6. approval.
Until you read the above definition of "blessing" you may have had your own ideas or thoughts on what a blessing may have been. One idea may have been to be very wealthy or own a lot of land. Another may have been to live a life with no wants or unmet needs. Therefore, depending on who you ask you will get a different answer. We can all relate to that can't we? Let's look at a type of blessing you may be unfamiliar with.
Using "The Message" version of the Bible we will examine a non-material blessing. Genesis 27: 1b-4, 6, 27-29
Issac called for Esau his eldest son and told him "I am an old man and I might die any day now so go hunt some wild game, then fix me a hearty meal to eat so that I can give you my personal blessing". Rebekah was eavesdropping and she told her younger son Jacob what Issac's plans were. She instructed Jacob to get two goats for her to "prepare into a hearty meal the kind your father loves". Once the meal was prepared Jacob put on some dress up clothes that smelled and took the food to his father.
He came close to his father and kissed him and Isaac smelled the smell of his clothes. Finally, he blessed him, "Ahhh. The smell of my son is like the smell of the open country blessed by God. May God give you of heaven's dew and the Earth's bounty of grain and wine. May peoples serve you and nations honor you. You will master your brothers, and your mother's sons will honor her. Those who curse you will be cursed, those who bless you will be blessed."
My guess is very few of us have personally received the type of "Blessing" described above. As a parent I can't help but wonder how our children would act as adults if we blessed them in this way?
A Personal Note to Readers: Please suggest ideas for future "Blessings" postings in the "Comment" section.
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