Sermon notes
November 25th, 2007
“Blessing Your Family”
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By Dan Armstrong
Today's scripture:
Genesis 48:8-20
Biblically, the giving of a blessing is not an innocuous “I wish you well”. The family blessing had 5 distinct elements that insured a good future.
1. The first element of a blessing is meaningful touch.
“Then Israel said, ‘Bring them to me so I may bless them.’ Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.” Genesis 48:9-10
2. The second element of a blessing is a spoken message.
. “Then he blessed Joseph and said, ‘May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm --may he bless these boys’”. Vs. 15-16a
3. The third element of a blessing is attaching high value.
“May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth." Vs. 16b
4. he fourth element of a blessing is picturing a special future.
“When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to him, ‘No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.’ But his father refused and said, ‘I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.’" Vs 17-19
5. The final element of a blessing is active commitment.
“(Jacob) blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.' So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘I am about to die, but God will be with you and take you back to the land of your fathers. And to you, as one who is over your brothers, I give the ridge of land I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.’” Vs 20-22
This holiday season, think about how you might bless members of your family in a way that ensures their good future.
