My Father's Blessing Series

2020.01.17. My Father’s Blessing

William Akehurst, HSWC

BIG IDEA: It is “The GOD of my father and mother” who blesses me, and I want to be that ‘father’ so my children will also know the Blessing of the LORD GOD my HEAVENLY FATHER.

My father’s blessing

In July 2004, I met with my father and mother at their home and shared the thought that the LORD was calling me into the ministry. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I knew I needed something from my parents. On their back deck, I asked my father specifically for his blessing. I had recently learned about the Father’s Blessing and wanted my father to give me his blessing. While he wasn’t expecting such a request, he agreed and placed his hands upon me and prayed over me his words of blessing over my life and family. While I don’t remember his exact words, I do know I received his blessing that day.

It’s interesting that less than 2 years later, my father was called to his eternal home, and I was immediately called into ministry by the LORD. I was deeply impacted by Psalm 40 that day, (a story for another time) and it became my heartsong:

Psalms 40:1-4, 8-10

1I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.

10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy loving kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.

In the weeks and months that followed, many people stated that my father’s mantle was placed upon me at his death. But I believe the transfer started at his blessing. And in a sense, since that time, I have been “going about my father’s business” in many ways. Aren’t we all called to be “about our HEAVENLY FATHER’s Business?” I believe JESUS mentioned something like that at the age of 12.

Many times throughout scripture, we see the father figure blessing his children. Remember Isaac and his sons Esau and Jacob and the misdirected blessing. The father’s blessing was tradition, and Jacob and Esau were familiar enough with it to know about birthright and the importance of that blessing. Through deception Jacob received the blessing and when Esau asked for his from his father, Isaac said it was too late and had already been given and there was none left to give. That shows the significance of how important the blessing is. But I believe that our HEAVENLY FATHER’s Blessings will never run out!

Later in scripture, knowing his time was short, the aged Jacob called his sons to receive their blessing and he spoke words of blessing over each son. As we read through Genesis 49, we realize some of his words are harsh and direct and speak to the character of the son. Yet when he came to Joseph, Jacob spoke a greater blessing over him, a spiritual blessing and pointed out that it was GOD who gives the actual blessing.

Genesis 49:22-26 22 “Joseph is a fruitful tree, a fruitful tree by a spring, with branches climbing over a wall.

23 Archers provoked him, shot at him, and attacked him. 24 But his bow stayed steady, and his arms remained limber because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, 25 because of the God of your father who helps you, because of the Almighty who gives you blessings from the heavens above, blessings from the deep springs below the ground, blessings from breasts and womb.

26 The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the oldest mountains and the riches of the ancient hills. May these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the prince among his brothers.

That is one magnificent blessing! In Jewish tradition, the oldest son receives the greatest blessing, a double portion of what each of the rest of the heirs would receive. Yet here we see Jacob pronouncing his greatest blessing upon Joseph, the 1st born of his first love, but second wife Rachel; and not to his oldest son Ruben of Leah, his first wife by more deception. It’s also interesting that Joseph brought his young sons to Jacob to be blessed and that Jacob blessed the younger over the older. So we see it’s not always the oldest or firstborn that receives the greatest blessing. But that’s for another discussion.